The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1872-05-29
Letter from Gen. ]. B. Ker-
shaw.
CAMDEN, S. c., MAY II, 1872.

My Dear Sir:-l am in recclp
Of your valued favor and gladly
avail myself of the opportunity
you afford me Of expressing my
views of the policy proper to bt
pursued by our people in the pres
ent emergency.
| esteem it our first duty to seek
the rescue Of the State from ruir
and bankruptcy, and the conse
quent expatriation Of many Of hel
best people. Our action in gene,
raj politics should be controlled
by this prime necessity. If We
can promote the establishment Of
a better government at Washing,
ton, it is our duty to do so, chief:
| ly because it will relieve our peo.
pie from Federal oppression, and
check the misrule of the State
government now emboldened by
the countenance and supposed
sympathy Of the General Govern
mcnt. #, however, our particlpa-
tion in the Presidential canvass
will at all impair our power to
wrest the State from the plInder-
crs who now control her destinies,
we should carefully refrain from
it. I believe it to be our duty to
lay aside all party references, and,
as citizens of South Carolina, seek
her rescue from further ruin and
degradation, as man would fight
the fire around his own domicile
before joining his neighbors to ar
rest general fire in the woods.
If there be any hope of present
Improvement in the State govern
ment, it is to be expected from a
reform movement within the Re-
publican party. From indications
already observed, l am not with.
out hope that such a movement
will be developed, and that it may
assume such proportions as that
it may be made to succeed by ju-
dicious cooperation on our part.
Should the Republican Convention
happily chance to nominate per-
sons promising an honest admin
istration, and having the conf
dence of our people, the conquest
will be less difficult Of achieve
ment, but in any event our assis-
tance, to avail anything, must be
cautiously, quietly and sagaciously
employed.
If we avoid any organization Of
our people for any political pur-
pose wbatever-if we refrain from
antagonizing the Republicans Of
this State on party questions-if
we avoid all irritating collisions
with the colorcd people and pur-
sue policy of conciliation-we
may secure such a participation
in the affairs of the State as will
arrest her impending ruin. This
course, to my mind, offers the
only present prospect of relief
II this fail us, it will little matter
what policy we pursue. I trust
in God that our people will do no.
thing to hinder the possibility of
any such movement, however
tempted by alluring hopes Or just
resentment.
In the view of the case which I
have presented, we should take no
part in the Presidential election.
The dominant party would yield
nothing to those who oppose their
party nominee for President. In
yielding this, we in fact yield no,
thing but sentiment. The nom-
inee of the Republican party will
get the vote Of South Carolina,
whether we oppose him or no, and
all the more certainly if, and be.
cause we do oppose him.
five refrain from taking our
fruitless part in the contest, should
the Republicans succeed, we will
have avoided giving any pretext
to the incoming administration
further 10 oppress and to perse
cute our people, and our wise mod
Grafton will have disarmed much
Of that prejudice which excludes
US from participation in the public
affairs Of the State. Without sucE
participation it is vain to hope 70,
any relief. On the other hand
none of the benefits to ensue from
the defeat of the Republican nom
inee for President can be avertec
by the course I have indicated
The Conservatives, if successful
, must shape their general policy
in accordance with the principles
they have announced, and mus
select for Federal Office, homes
and competent men, whatever may
! be the course pursued by our peo
pie, in the election. We have
therefore, everything to gain an'
nothing to lose by non-action.
, lido not think we are in o con
dition just now, to throw up ou
! hats for any body for President
and consider it unwise in people
situated as we are, to delude our
selves in.o the belief that we ca
, mend our affairs by indulging il
!, any such amusement. Let u
have nothing to do with this pc
, litical game, until we can strik