Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-12-15
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The Passive 0lICy.
LETTER FROM JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WARM
LY APPROVING IT.

saohusctts, has writton letter, which appears
in the st. Louis (Mo.) Republican, Tho
letter warmly approves the so.called passive
policy Of tho Democrats in tho next Presi-
Dental election. In the course of tho letter,
Mr.. Adams says:
I am satisfied such course will be wise
aud patriotic, and should DO glad to see the
Democracy concur in such resolution. re.
gard the present administration as national
calamity, and its continuance should be aver.
ted at any sacrifice, not because Republican
in politics, but because it is mean in charao
ter, sordid in tone, and ignorant, corrupt, and
arbitrary; because more than any administra.
tion VIC have had, it has disappointed tho
hopes and dcadened the generous aspirations
Of the good men of all parties because it is
moro to permanently dsunite tho States than
tho government of Jefferson Davis ever did
because its chief oonccives there is no means
for free government but military force; no
public action but private profit. Four years
more Of such education, family patronage,
and martial law will so blunt the keen sonsi
biltics of popular liberty that our ignoble.
incubus might we'll remain fixture.
Now, believe the Democratic party to be
powerless alone to relieve us, and think it is
without hope of carrying the next election
No doubt if tho votes of any States lately in
rebellion were necessary to elect Democrat
ic candidate, they would be thrown out in tho
counting. A mere majority, even could it be
mustered, would not be permitted to elect Il
Democrat for tho next President. Nothing
thon remains but civil war or submission to
the usurpcr, and it is difficult to decide which
alternative will inlict the more irreparable
injury upon the habit of free government.
10 dismiss an incompetent official and avoid
governmental crisis, the Missouri policy Of
fers tho only reasonable possibility which has
been presented; but while [ frankly avow a
partiality for tho object, do not blink the
very serious obstacles to its adoption. We
must subdue tho pride Of party and break
the bonds of party discipline. There are few
more obstinate passions than the sentimental
devotion which men offer to the vague abstrac-
ton, party glory; not many creeds, including
theology, which are as despotic as "platform y
1t will be difficult task to bring party,
yet glowing with recollcctions of mighty
past, and but now burning with anticipation
of great future, to yield the head of the
column and the command Of the field to al
lies who wero but yesterday enemies Nor
is there any strong guaranty that these allies
| will not finch at tho last. Party leaders are
seldom famous for high moral courage which
can abide unshaken the stern pressure that
forbids q rupture of party ties but if they
| dare fling down the gauntlct-ducl to death
with the President, it might be possible for
| the Democracy to rise to, the height, where
| humiliation of partisan is lost in the salts.
faction of patriot. But it is charged that
a sacrifice will be in vain, or worse still, it
will surroder tho whole sohcmo of Democrat
| it liberty, bare and bound, to its enemies I
do not so forobodo the event, and cannot be.
| lieve that protest against dictatorial gov.
ernment can bc weakened by joining with a
band which desires it because it is hostile to
OWL liberty, and which will compel the enc.
IN les to corruption in Office to disband, because
they unite with those who have sickcned and
turned away from tho sight of corruption
Can friends of the Constitution preserve Of
protect it moro strenuously than by refusing
to hold up their hands, who have forsakcr
their friends rather than defacc it further
seems to me, on tho contrary. mtnvcmen, tI;@.
strength Of theJslyfessecude' d' of tho principles
OF Democracy would bo in exact proportion
to the severity of tho blow to the pride Of
tho democratic party; for these principles
must DC dear indeed to men who can abandon
for them an ancient and honorcd name. and
not less precious to those who dare follow
them, even through the scorn, contempt and
obllquy which awaits political treason.
"THE TWEEDs OF THE SoUTn."- Buf.
talo On. W Courier, in an editorial boarino
the above caption, says:
| ga Western Republican journal makes the
observation that three years of Radical legis.
latlop in Southern State Is calamity equal
to q Chicago fire. This proposition is borne
out by an exhibit which the New York 1riJ.
atne has just given Of the condition to which
the wretchod State Of South Carolina has
been redu ced by its Radical despoilers."
Here follows an extract from tho editorial
of tho New York Tribune, which appeared
in our columns on Saturday last. Tho editor
OF the buffalo Courier continues thus:
"Wo feel safe in predicting that no nun.
lshment whatever, except such as righteous
Heaven may elect to send, will ever reach
these thieves. Their party will cover their
tracks, and deprecate such talk as tho Trib
"ne holds as 'disloyal,' and will pooh-pooh
every honest statement Of their rascalities in
timc to come, just as it has boon doing for
SIX years past. Moreover, when the people
OF South Carolina make their next desperatc
effort to escape from the clutches of the Rad.
lcal banditti, the whole North will be told
that 1t is tho outbreak of new rebellion, and
Federal troops will be sent to take care of
tho polls and put down 'Ku Klux.' It need.
cd only the oxerton of her regal will for
single day to free New York city from her