New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-01
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS on THE SITUATION
ANOTHER LETTER.
citizen of Arkansas has received the 1oi-
| loruiur letter from John Quincy Adams:

citizen of Arkansas has received the 1Oi-
lowing letter from John Quincy Adams
QUINCY, Mass, June 8, ISL
DEARaIR: cannot pass over, sliently, ctie. ~,
crstifes me as much yours, when feceINeu ,,t
and vet feel shy OF speaking TO You or any clA n "a
the subject States" dislike 10 earn , have and then
tell us how you feel, and we Will ste 40 S irIT
IL home to myself ana 90 P ot tIov an unrepcnant
rebelp-sore angry, beaten and detant' Anu VII" IN ~
pould doubess have been has been with YOU t1dl
the tcndcr mercies of reconstruction had been hareI
TO bear than all the horrors of invasive war gtad
nave been CALLED by misgovenment, robbed ny impoteH
knayery OF the pittance which the war ma spdI..u'
eXasperated by wul ana persistent EIlsl1 - 90
tion. and cruelty condemned to hopeless Impotence o
tbe imnuted guilt of cowardly crimes | abhorred
should have been condemned, too, To hO1 NY m ,be
6erIy Ut the hoG OF satrnp say that fear should
have been an "irreconoilable" In such case lh
should be sulky; but know should De shy - - ,o,
10 the feeling. For. whence must my relei conc a ~
last estate is not to become worse IMAM t.e sC cb
a course The lost Pause" can be regainedi BY whom
theni II by the North, believe me that the eApere
OF Secession has satisfied Us that no cause Is @ %
civil war That war has confirmed, beyond shdHoM VI
a turning the destiny which decreed that there sai Nv
but conederated people OF the NOit Au ~
Union No. RebeiliOus might be- but weak enough ~
await the resurrection OF Secession 90 115 Ii'h
be. You and and your friends ana helshooIs u ,ho
are Of one blood we were ellowcluzens anu the
oldme kindness must hnger yet IN spots our
were brethren," and that must count TOT .
Tie Whole political problem of the future turns upon
the TO the question shall we I'VE Iiv "f
friends or enemies I" Now the whole lhierha poCs w
the present Administration says war l NJ,
| meant War and the KuKluX bill declared war, lhis
Union is now held together by force. Certainly ts
ia TO 6e permanent it would have been better ~ hnc
parted at first III the struggle to cast out slavery
threw the Constitution, what chance Is tleIo u
free0 Government II the North Is 10 RUE tht
sovth Carolina to-day the NEST shameless ltouy On
Republican institutions since Republican Rome Oesfoue
an the nations Of the ancient world, put the SWORD 10
their throats stripped them bare and then backed
te land the LONELINESS OF liberty YoueanhOt I've SUBJECT
and we he long free. The untrammeled exercise H 10
cal selfgovernment by The people OF the states Is t
salt which preserves whole system Take tpat away
and our frame poty win rapidly rot into despo s
Therefore IL is, that, not as partisan, hut wholy u =
fellow citizen, trust that all the good citizens OF
! the seeded States viii frankly ana honestly
accept the Revolutionary changes whlch nave bttn
forced upon the Constitution, and with them cheeTtul
adopt the new relations Of amy and political aLd CiN
/ equality toward the tmancipated class WhlCh uest
changes involve. And therefore am glad when SEE
the noble spirit OF your letter perya dng the Southern
people "a Il does despite the mahgnity OF partisan
press while the sterling or Mr. Nalandghan nae
reformed the Northern Democracy. Ana II matters h
what may be chosen TO lead us 80 long as Ms hea
is large enough to hold his whole country his soul brave
enough to embrace Confederate as brother, ana ms
platform wide enough for every American cltlzen u
stand upon To compass this END something OF sacr't
il required of all much OF selfcOntrO ID demanded
of the south You and all hear assure me that Inc
| attempt will be made; and made honestly ana II
earnest, II cannot tail. Again thanking you for YOU
letter am very respectfully, your obedlent servant
| J. q. ADAMS.
| tn Trczpvgut. Auglsta. Ark.