The Van Buren press., 1871-06-06
Letter from John Quincy Adams.
Duty Of the Democracy.
Quincy, Mass, May 9, 1871.
A. WARREN KELSEY, ESQ.,

DEAR Sir. have the hor
knowledge the receipt ofa CO
ton from you enclosing extfN
newspapers upon which you rnD, c',sa.
criticism; and infer from 20 A''
that you wish tc learn my opini issasasd si % e.
the public questions discussed -
articles. River
You are quite welcome to know
il you are willing to accept them -
ply the speculation Of an individual.
represent nobody and do not boast foi
lower in the world nor do know that
my notions are shared by any consider.
able portion of any parry.
! The people Of the United States feel
inatinctively that they are going wrong,
but they are told that 1t will be danger.
Gus to retrace their steps. They know
that the path upon which they have en-.
tered Is beset with pitfalls but even bad
pass is better than the precipice. The
sweep Of reaction is stayed by the dread
Of revolution. The policy iof shrewd
Democrats and the duty Of good citizens
is to dispel this apprehension, no matter
how foolish it may seem to them. Short
W. hohvi "Hu koOu iaisu uo becIluC8
should be deemed severe which would
suffice to lay that haunting spectre. For
that reason deplore the halting, hcsita.
ting step with which the Democracy il
sneaking up TO its inevitable position
For this cause share your regret at the
studious ambiguity which seems to search
for sally port through which to dodge
its destiny. And while better like the
spirit l equally condemn the policy Of
those who openly proclaim their purpose
Of revolution Such indications Of senti
ment annoy me, simply because they pro
long situation fraught with great dan
ger to the dearest interests ofus all. The
dominant party can retain power which
has grown too great foi the public vel.
fare only by any indefinite extension OF
the moral conditions of the civil war.
The Republican organization can rally
to no cry but but q slogan and conquer
under no standard but spear. That
party needs strife to insure it's success,
but good feeling is necessary for good
government.
Now the hostility to the Fifteenth
amendment is the stock in trade Of the
fomentors Of strife; is 1t worth crafty
| ing at The risk ofpermanent snhjection
The South is CALLED to-day not by the
presence Of that amendment to the con-
stitution, but by the utter absence Of the
constitution itself. They feel congress
which assaults them, but they find no
constitution to protect them
an amendment which would cease to-D6
obnoxious II 1t was not detached from Ito
context?
1t is quibblng upon technicality Of
law and relinquishing the substance OF
liberty. The constitution was struck
down by the assault upon Sumner, a. al
constitutions must necessarily fall before
the face Of the supreme arb:trament Of
war 1t can never be lifted up while war
is fragrant The people will never resign
the attitude Of hostile vigilance which ID
the real significance of the present adj
ministration, until they know that no one
Of their war trophies is longer disputed.
Then they will gladly resume the habits
which they love and the good nature
which they rspress. What then ID the
meaning Of the grotesque contortiens OF
those who profess fondncss for camels
and yet strain so fantastically Mt this
gnat For the essence Of all Democracy
is equality--nothing but the equality Of
all men before the law. Equal and exact
justice to every man, and each to share
in the government of all. That is tho
only genuine democratic doctrine But
who dares face an intelligent people with
that testimony upon his lips, and de-
nounce measure which 10 too democrat
| ic for Democrats only because the en-.
| franchised vre black? Surely thelorth.
ern Democracy should not be forced into
such stupidties by the conscientious
scruples OF their southern brethern. De.
ference is donubtless due to their consti.
tutional qualms, and yet some lenity to.
wards Revolutionary processes Of amend
ment might be reasonably expected from
supporters Of secession. II we can con-
done the fault, is IL too much TO ask ps
rolled prisoners Of war to pardon it
No! You have given our cry. Uni
versal amnesty and universal suffrage" Z"
| would only add the constitutional Un.
ion Of the States. For the old constitu-
ton is just as good as ever it was, for
South as wcii as North, in spite OF the
marks Of the mailed hand which must 70.
main upon it for warning to those that
come after u.s. There is nothing in il
now which is not perfectly compatible
with the happiness, welfare and liberty
of all the people of all the States. Itis
only the administration that is at fault, it
is the Interpretation which is violent
Do you imagine that Thomas Jefferson,
do you think that James Madison would
say that their old organic frame permits
protective tariff or paper money; au.
thorizes national banks or presidential
diplomacy countenances military tribu
mails, Capitalization and the GROWING and
perfect infamy Of the Ku klux billf
1t never was the constitution which in
vaded or conquered State, it is not the
constitution which oppresses the States.
II was war-civil war. Close the war and
you restore self government to the peo
pie Of the States. II they cannot secure
their own peace and happiness, let 10
look around next year, not for the next
president but for the first dictator.
Now if you or any other man doubt
the soundness Of my judgment In this
matter all I ask 10 true democratic 3D.
| hall