The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-21
Letter from Gen. i. b. Ker.h.,v.
CAMDEN, 8. c.. May IA, 1872

S6lueu 1aSOI, 6uO Slhuiy avail myself OF
the opportunity you afford nae Of ex-
pressing my views of the policy proper
to be pursued by our people in the pre-
sent emergency.
esteem it our first duty to seek tho
ruptcy, and the consequent expatriation
in general politics should be controlled
by this prime necessity. II We can pro-
mote the establishment OF better Go
vernment at Washington, it ia our duty
to do 30. chiefly because it will relieve
our people from Federal oppression, and
check the misrule Of the State Govern
ment, now emboldened by the counte-
nance and supposed sympathy OF the
General Government. II, however, our
participation in the Presidential canvass
will at all impair our power to wrest the
Stato from the plunderers who now con-
troll her destinies, we should carefully
refrain from it. believe it to be our
duty to lay aside all party preferences,
and, as citizens OF South Carolina, seek
her rescue from further ruin and degra-
dation, as q man would fight the fire
around his own domicil before Joining
his neighbors to arrest general fire in
the woods. If there be any hopo of pre-
sent improvement in the State Govern
ment, it is to be expected from reform
movement within the Republican party.
From indications already observed,
am not without hope that such move
ment will be developed, and that it may
assume such proportions as that it may
be made to succeed by judicious oo-ope-
ration on onr part. Should the Repub.
lican Convention happily chance to no.
inmate persons promising an honest adj
ministratiOn, aud having the confidence
of our people, the conquest will be less
difficult Of achievement, but in any
event, our assistance, to avail anything,
must be cautiously, quietly and sngA-
ciously employed.
II we avoid any organization of our
people for any political purpose what
ever-if we refrain from antagonizing
the Republicans of this State On party
questions-if we avoid all irritating col
lisions with the oolored people and pur-
sue O 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, it will little matter what policy
we pursue. I trust in God that our
people will do nothing to hinder the pos
sibility OF any such movement, however
tempted by alluring hopes or just resent
meut
In the view of the case which have
presented, we should take no part in the
Presidential election. The dominant
party would yield nothing 10 those who
oppose their party nominee for Presi-
dent. In yielding this, we in fact yield
nothing but sentiment. The nominee
of the Republican party will get the vote
Of South Carolina, whether We oppose
him or no, and NIL the more certainly If,
and because we do oppose him.
II we refrain from taking our fruitless
part in the contest, should the Republi-
cans succeed, we will have avoided CIV
ing any protext to the incoming admins
tration further to oppress and to perse-
cute our people, and our wise modera-
ton will have disarmed much of that
prejudice which excludes us from parti-
cipation in the public affairs of the State.
Without such participation, it is vain to
hope for any relief. On the other hand,
none of the benefits to ensue from the
defeat OF the Republican nominee for
President can be averted by the course I
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 competent
men, whatever may be the course pursued
by our people in the election. We have,
therefore, everything to gain and nothing
to lose by non-action.
do not think we are in condition
just now to throw up our hats for any
body for President, and consider it un-
wise in o people, situated as we are, to
delude ourselves into the belief that We
can mend our affairs by indulging in any
such amusement. Let us have nothing
to do with this political game, until we
can strike with effect. If the Liberal
Republicans organize in this State, let
them do it. If they do not, certainly
our people could have no reason to organ
ize for the support of Mr.. Greeley, unloss
thoy desired to make his defeat in this
State doubly secure. The samo reason
ing would apply much more conclusively
against the organization Of the Demo
cratic party. In my judgment, We would
commit fatal blunder even to send dele
gates from this State to the Democratic
nEox,