Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-01-06

the %ois {, most unScrupulous and selfish men.
as rule, aud some idea may be formed Of the
dangers Of the situation.
A danger known is moro than half avcrted
Itslnot our province to suggest remedies
These will be for your determination. Yet
the uttcrancc Of personal views may be par
doned by your Kindness to those fully in sym
pathy with you, and having common inter
est in all that concerns your welfare as u peo
pie.
In the first place, let US set at rest forever
all doubts about our position upon the qucs-
tions of reconstruction, which hive been prac
ticulIy settled, and deal with them as VIC do
with other laws. An accomplished rcvolu-
ton becomes law. A contrary cours solatcs
US from all existing political organizations,
and shuts out all hope of peaceful deliver
ancc Let US retain, in some form, solid
combination of mutual protection and the
preservation Of peace, law and order, under
the lead of the wiscst purcst and best citi-
zcns in every community. Ceasclcss vig
lance, caution and sclf.rcstraint, combined
with adequate and visible preparation for
defence, will insure the preservation of peace.
There are declarations of virtuous purposes Of
late from the Executive of the State and
some of our legislators In all the good they
do let US accord to them our hearty support.
In some form, conservatism will surely tr.
umph in the next Presidential election I'm
der whatever name it comes the leading ideas
will be the same. Free trade, acquicscencc
in accomplished facts, equal rights to all cit.
zcns, the supremacy of the General Govern
ment, but its limitai,a within the scope Of
its Legitimate constitutional sphere, and the
preservation of the rights Of the States under
the existing constitution.
In view Of the probable triumphs of these
principles, as evidenced by the result of re,
cent elections, we may calculate that there
will arise in South Carolina, within the next
two years in the bosom Of the Republican par.
ty, conservatism in harmony with those
principles So far as possible to do so, with
out participating in it, let us welcome, aid
indiscrect action on our part, it may be made
to succeed here two years hence. To be plain,
any organization in which VIC took open part
would concentrate largely against it the col
orcd vote, under the lead of their worst men,
playing, as heretofore, upon their prcjuliccs,
passions and fears. Our support, therefore,
to such party should rather be negative than
positive, moral and passive rather than active
Let us hold ourselves free to act ns circum.
stances may require, remembering that the
restoration Of an impartial and economical
government in South Carolina is of more Vi.
tai necessity to US than anything else to be
accomplished by political combinations. TO.
wards the colored people let us be kind, con
ciliatory, just and forbcaring, but brave, man
ly and selfreliaut Lct us g We them no pre-.
text for violence, but ever be prepared PROMPT.
" to repel it. Should outbreaks occur, let
us localze and suppress them, as nearly un-
der the forms of law as may be. For lesser
outragcs and acts of inccndiarism, let us con.
stitutc voluntary police to bring offenders
to justice, and enforce order impartia)ly.
Let US increase the productive and conscrva
tive population Of the State by most liberal
inducements, dedcatng large portion Of
our cultivated lands to that object, and look
ing to immigration to our sister States as vel
as from abroad. TO all such, como from what
quarter they may, let us extend cordial
welcome. Above all, let us cling together as
brotherhood, and cultivate tho public vr.
tues manifested in tho example of our anccs-
tors, and the deeds of our heroic associates
who sealed their devotion to principle with
their lifo's blood
Cling to tho old State 10 tho day Of he, ad.
vcrsty. TO forsake her now, and abandon
10 their fate tho thousands Of our country
men who can never leave her, would be like
dcscrtion in the face of the enemy 1su true
to her, to them, to yoursolves,to the
graves of your ancestors, to wives, children
aud dependents. TO men who have survived
what you have in the past ten years, there can
be littlo to dread in tho future. Fix your
faith upon tho grand old notices omblazoncd
upon the palmetto hag-"Auimis, Opibusquc
Paati, DUN Spiro Spero" Remembering that
thero is God "who sttoth on the throne,
Judging right"
Very respectfully,
Your friend and countryman,
j. B. KERSHAW,
Chairman Executive cotnmj,fec d.c