The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-27
The following Letter from John Qatpcy

'ZeU:Ot HliSf0uTI, mas D8e0 gwen 10 ,SH6
world by lhe st. Louis Rep pubHsa,p -: Y
& % Qu1NoYi May s. 1871. u
ledge the receipt OF q communicasion
from you enclosing two extracts from
newspapers. upon which you request
my. criticism: and infer from your let
ter that you wish to learn my opinion
upon the public questions discussed in
those articles.
You are quite welcome to know them,
If you arc willing TO nccept thcm as sim
ply the speculation Of an individual. I
represent nobody. and do not boast a
follower in the world; nor do know
That my notions are shared by any con.
siderable portion ot.any party.
The people Of the United States feel
instinctiveiy that they are going wrong,
but they, are told that it will he danger
GUS to retrace their steps. They know
that the path upon which they hove en-.
tered is besot Will pitfalls; but even d
bad pass ia better thnn the preoipice.
The sweep of reaction is stayed by the
dread Of revolution. The policy OF
shrewd Democrats, and the duty OF good
citizens, is to dispel this apprehension.
no matter how foolish it. may seem to
IL,
no sacrifice should be deemed severe
which would suffice to lay that haunting
spectre. For that reaRon deplore the
hnlting, hesitating aEdp with which the
Democracy is sneaking up to. its inevita-
Bile position. For this cause I share
yohf regret at the studious ambiguity
wfieh seems to search for sallypott
through, which TO, dodge its destiny.
And while Z. better like tho spirit, I
'eqlhlly n6rdehn the policy of those who
only pfotlaimed their purpose OF revo-
luton. Such Indications Of sentiment
annoy me, simply because they prolong
a situation fraught with great danger to
the dearest iaterests. Of us all. The
dominant party can retain power which
has grown too great for the public vel
fare only by an indefinite extension Of
the moral conditions of the civil war.
The Republican organization can rally
to no cry buta slogan and conqder nm
der no standard butts spear. That party
needs strife to insuFs its success, bnt
|. good feeling is necessary for good GO
vernm ant.
Now, the hostility to the fifteenth
amendments is the stock in-t trade of the
fomenters OF strife; is It worth crafty
ing ut the risk Of permanent ,subjection?
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 Con.
gress which assaults them, but they fnd
&c Constitution TO protect them. Ia it.
not silly, then, to squabble about an
amendment which would cease to be OBJ
no1ious If it WAS not detached from it's
context? blo
/ It is duibbling upon teohnicality OF
law and retinquishing the substance Of
liberty. Tie Constitution was struok
down by the assault upon Sumter, and
all constitutions must necessarily foil
before the face Of the supreme arbitra-
ment OF war. It can never be lifted mp
while war is fragrant. The people will
never resign the attitude Of hostile vigi-
lancs, which is the real Significance OF
the present administrator, until they
know that no one of their war trophies
rs longer disputed. Then they will glad.
ly resume the, habits which they love
and the good nature which they repress.
What, then5 is tho meaning Of the gro
tesque conturtions of these who profess
fondness for .camels md yet strain SO
Enthusiastically ut this gnat? for the essence
OF all Democracy is equality nothing
but the equality of all men before the
"a" TCluai oho oAACo JtlSLlCS 10 every
man, and caoh to share in the govern
ment of all Tint is the only genuine
Democratic doctrine. But who dares
face nn intelligent people. with that tcs-
timony up,n his lips, and denounce n.
measure which is too Democratic for
Democrats, only because the enfrnn-
chised nre blacks? Surely, the North.
ern Democracy should not be forced into
snch stnpidities by tho conscicptious
sctiples Of their Southern brethren.
Difference is doubtless due to their con.
stitutionai qualms. and yet some lenity
towards revolutionary processes Of
amendment might be reasonably ex.
pected from supporters Of secession. If
we can condone the fault, is it too mucl,
to ask pnroied prisoners Of war to pnr.
don it?
No! Yoh have given our CRY uni
versai amnesty and, universal suffrage. !"
l would only add, the constitutional
Union of the States. For the ola Con
stitution is just rs good as ever it was.
for South as we'll as North, in spite OF
the marks OF the mailed hand which
must remain upon il for o warning TO
those that coma after ma pbara ;e -,