The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1871-06-02
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

Aue OTcNt M0SSscnuSettS Dem.
Ocrat OH the Essence of Demo.
cracy---A Strong Letter.
Form the ST. Louis Republican
Quincy, May 6. 1871
A. WARREN KELSEY, Esq.
DEAR SIR: / have the honor TO nc.
knowledge the receipt of a comrnunica.
ton from you inclosing two extracts
from newspapers upon which you request
my criticism and infer from your let.
ter that You wish 10 learn my opinion
upon the public questions disscussed in
those articles.
You are quite welcome TO know them
II you arc willing 10 accept them as
simply the speculation of an individual.
represent nobody. and do not boast I
follower in the world I; nor do know
that my notions are shared by any cStf.
siderable portion of any party.
The People of the United States feel
instinctivciy that they arc going
wrong, but they arc told that Il will be
dangerous to rctricc their steps They
know that the path upon which they
have entered is bcsct with pitfalls but
even bad pass is better than the preci-
picc. The sweep Of reaction is STAYED
by the dread Of revolution. The policy
Of shrcwd Democrats and tie duty Of
good citizens il to dispcl this apprclicn.
sion, no matter how foolish il may seem
to them. Short Of honor and good faith
no sacrifice should be deemed TOO severe
which should suffice TO lay that haunting
spcctcr. For that reason tcplorc the
hating. hcsitaling step with which the
Democracy is sncaking up 10 its incyit.
able 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 whiic better like the spirit II
equally condemn the policy of those who
openly proclaim their purpose of revo- I
luton. Such Indications of sentiment
annoy me, simply because they prolong
situation fraught will, great danger 10
The dearest interests Of us all. The
dominant party can retain pow er
which has grown too great for the pub
lie welfare only by an indefinite extern
sion Of the moral conditions Of the civil
war.
The Republican organization can rally
10 no cry but slogan and conquer under
no standard but spear. The party
needs strife TO insure its success, but
good feeling is necessary for good gov
enmcnt.
Now the hostility to the Fifteenth
Amendment is the stock in trade Of the
ofstrifc is II worth gratifying
1t the risk Of permanent subjcctionY
The South is CALLED to-day. not by the
presence ofthc amendments to the Con.
,tituticn. but by the utter absence Of the
Constitution itself They feel Con-
yrcss which assaults them, but they find /.
10 Constitution TO protect them.
Is it not silly then to; squabble about
III amendment which would cease TO he
obnoxious if ii was not detached from
Is context?
II is quibbling upon tcchnicality OF !
aw and rclinIuishing tho substance of
liberty. The Constitution was struck :
down by the assault upon Sumpter. as .
III constitutions must necessarily fall be.
Torc tho face Of the supreme arbitramcnt
,f war. 1t can never be lifted up while
war is flagrant. The people will never :
resign the attitude Of hostile vigilance I,
which is the real significance Of The :
present administration, until they know
hat no one Of their war trophies ia long
er disputed. Then they will gladly re-
sumo the habits which they love and tho
rood nature which they rcprcss. =
What then is the meaning Of the gro
Icsque cOntOrtiOns UfthOsc who profess a 4
'ontlncss for camcls and yet strain so /,
mt this gMat! For the cs- )
'cncc Of all Democracy ID equality,
nothing but the equality Of gil men be-
Torc the law. Eqdal AMI exact Justice 10
very man. and cncli to share IN the
government Of all. That is Tho only !
genuine Democratic doctrine. But Win |,