The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-05-23
From the South Caroziaiaa.
Letter from General j. B. Kershaw.
CAMDEN, S. c., May IA, 1872.

Letter from General j. B. Kershaw.
CAMDEN, S. c., May IA, 1872.
My DEAR SIR lie am in receipt of your
valued favor and gladly avail myself of the op
portunity you atfored Inc of expressing my
views of the policy proper to be pursued by
our people in the present emergency.
esteem it our first duty to seek the rescue of
the State from ruin and bankruptcy, and the
consequent expatriation of many of her best
people, Our action in general politics should
be controlled by this prime necessity. If we
can promote the establishment of better gov
ernment at Washington, it is our duty to do So,
chiefly because it will relieve our people from
Federal oppression, and check the misrule Of
the State government now emboldened by the
countenance and supposed sympathy of the
General Government. If, however, our partici-
patton in the Presidential canvass will at all
impair our power to wrest the State from the
plunderers who now control her destinies, We
should carefully refrain from it. believe it
to be our duty to lay aside all party preferen-
ces, and, as citizens of South Carolina, seek
her rescue from further ruin and degradation,
as man would fight the fire around his own
domicil before joining his neighbors to arrest a
general fire in the woods. If there be any
hope of present improvement in the State gov
ernment, it is to be expected from a reform
movement within the Republican party. From
indications already observed, am not without
hope that such movement will be developed,
and that it may assume such proportions as
that it may be made to succeed by judicous
cooperation on our part. Should the Repub-
lican Convention happily chance to nominate
persons promising an honest administration,
and having the confidence of our people, the
conquest will be less difficult of achievement,
but in any event our assistance, to avail any
thing, must be cautiously, quietly and saga
ciously employed.
If we avoid any organization of our people
for any polisical purpose whatever-if we re-
frain from antagonizing the Republicans OF
irritating collisions with the colored people
and a policy of conciliation-we may secure
such 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. If this fail u.s. it will little matter what
policy we pursue l trust in God that our peo-
pie will do nothing to hinder the possibility of
any such movement, however tempted by allur-
ing hopes or just resentment
In the view of the case which l have presen-
ted we should take no part in the Presidential
election. The dominant party would yield
nothing to those who oppose their party nomi-
nee for President. In yielding this, we in
fact yield nothing 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 because
we do oppose him.
If we refrain from taking any fruitless part
in the contest, should the Republicans succeed
we will have avoided giving any pretext to the
incoming administration further to oppress and
| md WIG
ton will have disarmed much of that prejudice
which excludes us from participation in the
public affairs of the State. Without such par
, ticipaton ii is vain to hope for any relief. On
the other hand, none of the benefits to ensue
from the defeat of the Republican nominee fol
President can be averted by the course | have
indicated. The Conservatives, if successful
must shape their general policy in accordance
with the principles they have announced, and
must select for Federal office, honest and com.
petent men, whatever may be the course pur'
sued by our people, in the election. We have
therefore, everything to gain and nothing to
lose by non-action.
l do not think we are in q condition Just now
to throw up our hats for any body tor Presi
dent, and consider it unwise in a people, situa
ted as we are, to deude ourselves into the be-
, lief that we can mend our affairs by indulgine
!
to do with this political game, until we car
. strike with effect If the Liberal Republican:
organize in this State, let them to do it. /
they do not, certainly our people could have
no reason to organize for the support of Mr.
Greeley unless they desired to make his defea
in this State doubly secure. The same reason
ing would apply much more conclusively
against the organization of the Democratic
party. In my judgment We would commit :
fatal blunder even to send delegates from thi
State to the Democratic Convention. The.
} would represent constituency who could no
, possibly elect even one clcctor, and whose sup
port would damage the cause they advocate
But, while poweress for good, such actor
would have capacity for evil fatal to all ou
: hopes of relief within the State. Nothing con
ceivable, within the range of probabilities
could so damage us politically as the reviva
at this time Of the Democratic party of thi:
State.
) One other point. If Grant be the nominee
of the Republicans, he will have q greater
power for good or for evil, to our unhappy
people, than any other person or party. 1t is
perhaps, hopeless to conciliate, but, in view oi
his possible election, it would be suicidal to ex-
asperate him by a vain and fruitless opposition
This last consideration you may denounce rs
unworthy free people But remember, We
are not free people. While it might be das-
tardy to suffer our political conduct to be con-
, troled by the fear of personal consequences,
the welfare of the people is the nobest motives
of the statesman SaiuS popuH suprcma h.r.
Very truly yours,
j. B. KERsHAw.
IIon S1,tro>r z A1p Cnlumhia S c.