The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-29
letter from John Quincy Adrm
Duty Of the Democracy.


QUINCY MASS, March b, 1871
A. WARREN KELSEY, Esq:
DEAR SIR: l have the honor to aoknowl-
edge the receipt of communication from
YOU enclosing two extracts from newspapers
npon which You request my criticismi and 1
infer from your letter that you wish to learn
my opinion upon the public questions dis
cussed in those articles.
You are quite welcome TO know them if
you are willing to accept them ss simply |
the speculation of an individual. | repre- |
sent nobody and do not boast follower
in the world; nor do know that my notions
are shared by any considerable portion of
any party.
The people of the United States feel in
s.inctively that they are going wrong, but
they are told that it will be dangerous 20
retrace their steps. They know that the
path upon which they have entered is beset
with pitfalls but even bad pass is better
than the preciPice. The sweep of reaction
is stayed by she dread of revolution. The
policy Of shrewd democrats and the duty of
good citizens ia to dispel this apprehension,
no matter how foolish ii may seem 10 them.
Short Of honor and good faith no sacrifice
should be deemed severe which would suf-
fee to lay that haunting Spectre. For that
reason deplore the hating, hesitating step
with which the democracy is sneAking up to
its inevitable position. For this cause
shSre your regret at the studious ambiguity
which seems to search for a sally port
through which to dodge its destiny. And
while better like the spirit l equally con-
denim the policy of those who openly pro.
claim their purpose Of revolution. Such
indications Of sentiment annoy me, simply
because they proloug a situation fraught
with great danger to the dearest interests oil
us all. The dominant party can retain .
power which has grown too great for the
public welfare only by an indefinite extern
sion of the moral conditions of the civil
war.
The republican organisation can rally TO
no CRY but . slogan and conquer under nc
standard but 9 spear. That party needs strife
to insure it's success, but good feeling is
necessary for good government.
Now the hostility to the fifteenth amend.
ment is the stock in trade of the fomenters
of strife; is it worth gratifying at the risk OF
permanent subsection
The South is CALLED to-day, not by the
presence of that amendment to the constitu
ton, but by the utter absence of the oonsti-
tuition itself. They feel congress which
assaults them, bnt they find no constitution
TO protect them.
Is it not silly, then, to squabble about an
amendment which would cease to be obnox
ious if it was not detached from it's contexti
II is quibbling upon technicslity of Law
and relinquishiug the substance Of liberty
The constitution was struck down by the
assault upon Sumpter, as all constitutions
must necessarily fall before the face of the
supreme arbitrsment of war. 1t can never
be lifted up while war is fragrant. The
people will never resign the attitude Of hos
tile vigilance, which is the real Significance
of the present administration, until theJ
know that one Of their war trophies is NJ
longer disputed. Then they will gladly re-
sumo the habits which they love and thu
good nature which they repress. VIVA
then is the meaning of the grotesque con
torti0ns Of those who profess 9 fondness fol
csmels and yet strain so Enthusiastically at THU
gBAt? For the essence of all Democracy il
equality-nothing but the equality of al
men before the law. Equal and exact Just
ice TO every man, and each to share in the
government Of all. That is the only Demo
cratic doctrine. But who dAres face an in
telligent people with that testimony upon hi
lips, and deDounce measure which is toC
IJemoorAsio ~. Democrats, only because The
enfranohised are black Surely the north
ern Democracy should not be forced into
such stupidities by the conscientious scru
pies of their southern brethren. Difference
10 doubtless due 10 their constitutional
qualms, and yet some lenity towards revolu
tionary processes of amendment might bt
reasonably expected from supporters of Sc
cession. II we can condone the fault, lie i
too much to ask psroled prisoners Of war to
pardon it?
No! You have given our cry Universal
amnesty and universal suffrage" would
only add the constitutional union Of the
STATES. For the old constitution is just as
good as ever il was, for the South as we'll as
the North, in spite of the marks Of the
mailed hand which must remain upon it for
warning TO those that come after US.
There ia nothing in it now which is not per
fectly compatible with the happiness, wei
fare and liberty Of all the people of all the
States. 1t is only the administration that ii
at fault, it is the Interpretation which is VIC
lent. Do you imagine that Thomas Jeffer
son, do you think that James Madison would
ssy that their old organic frame permits q
PIONoOhi'o seAA4 Va popOi ~N'NS@ A@-S'
national banks or presidential diplomacy
countenAnces military tribunals, oentralizsI
ton and the browning and perfect infamy o
the Ku.Klux bill
II never was the constitution hich invi
dsd or conquered State, it is not the con-
stitution which Expresses the States. hwa
wAr-civil war. Close the war and you re
store self-government TO the people of tn
States. If they cannot secure their ow
peace and happiness, let us look Aroun
next year, not for the next President, bu
for the first dictator.
Now if you or any other man doubt tn
soundneGs of my judgment in this matter
all ask is true democratic ADMINISTERS
ton, and you shall see it for yoursel
Yours, very respectfully,
john @. ADAMS.