The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-24
THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.
4 STRONG LETTER FROMTHE hon. "
d. PORTER.
The Duty and the Interests OF south
Carolina-A Representation at Baltf~
moro Urgently AdvIsed-Tne Policy OF
tho State-A Democratic Nomination
Must be Opposed.
CHARLESTON, May Is, 1872.
Hon. Simeon Fdir-MY DEAR SIR: am In
receipt of yonr letter of goth, and In reply
would state it as my opinion, that we should
send delegates to the Baltimore Convention
with Instructions to oppose the nomination oil
Democratic candidate.
We are In snch difficult straits that 1t ID no
wonder there should be difference OF opinion,
In all honesty, between our public men. But
the true instinct of the people will carry them
through this, as 1t has through many like
peril.
Ali of our friends seem agreed that change
OF Federal administration is essential to our
welfare, If not to our safety. The present
State Government, which has brought US 30
near the verge OF bankruptcy and ruin, finds
Its support In the present administration. II
could not live without that support. We want
an administration that will frown down and
break up the corrupt conspiracy that Is feed
Ing upon our very vltals. General Granrs
official power has not been brought to bear In
that direction. II there is faith In man, be.
lleve that Mr.. Greeley's will.
Ineed not tell you how much the Federal
Government could do to put down this
fragrant wrong. Let 1t once be understood
that the powers at Washington were deter
mined to make an end of this thing, and the
bold, bad men, the shameless plunderers, who
now hold high carnival in the seats of power
In this State, would shrink away In afrlght.
Mr.. Greeley's election will be the death-knell
OF their sway; and they know 1t None OF
that crowd Will declare tor him
Why should we not go into the Baltimore
Convention, Every other State, sincludlng
the whole South, will be represented there.
Why should zoe hold back Our cause, GER
tainly 80 far as the South Is concerned, is COM
mon. Why should we not consult snd act IN
common, It has long been made matter OF
complaint In regard to South Carolina that she
is eccentric and affects singularity OF action
that she will not consent to do what Others are
willing to do. The great statesman, whose
commanding genius In other days msrshalled
her In the way she should go, no longer in-
spires her counsels or lends her the great
moral and Intellectual weight of his name and
character. We must now choose our own
way according to our best lights. We can
hardly 20 amiss In going with our friends. We
may make fatal mistake In separating our
selves from them. There never was time
when mutual counsel and united action were
more necessary. The votes aud the influence
Of South Carolina may be of real service, and
or friends are entitled to the benefit OF them.
Besides, our State ,oiH be represented, and It
is better that she should have regular than
an irregular representation. Some Rucker
or Commander will be on hand to dispose OF
our vote, II there Is not regular convention
nomination. Send, then, full delegation OF
good, strong, reliable men.
The sentiment of the Democratic people OF
the South Is nearly unanimous, not only that
change of administration Is necessary, out
that the only way to effect it Is to forego q
Democratic nomination under existing extra
ordinary circumstances. The keen Instinct ol
a people in great trial and peril Is unerriog-lt
ia their highest wisdom. However 1t may be
with the Northern section of the party, we,
at least, know what our necessities require.
We can see no hope, no RELIEF, but In the ao'
solute disintegrstion of the Republican party.
Circumstances have thrown this opportunity
In our way. ."Dlvlde ct impera" Is maxim ol
civil wisdom as well as OF war. The Repuoll-
can party Is divided against Itself, because
the Radical element has run into vlolence6
and excesses, against which the more Con
seryatlye element has protested and fought Id
vain. The Republican party will have twe
candidates In the field, unless by our action
we drive them to reunite against the common
toe on the old grounds. The Conservative
Republican candidates stand on platform
which is acceptable to us-whloh promises
I6QI6b6 VI OuI Skoneoot 6AAo'saS'
then, the plain dictate OF reason and o.
true policy to rend asunder this great
dominating power, which, while 1t stands un
broken, must and will be ruled by the more
violent and aggressive of Its elements. ane
which, under such control, threatens to over
throw all the safeguards Of personal and pub
lie liberty: The people of the whole countr!
ara interested In this aspect of the question
and a portion of them at least has beel
aroused to consciousness Of the magnitude
OF the danger. What is done to US to-da!
may be done to them tomorrow. suspensior
of the habeas corpus, the rule of the bayonet
the soldiers In the places Of the magistrates
and all this In time Of peace, may become
their portion as 1t has been and is ours. In
broad question is, whether the Union is u
become Cossack or Republican, For our part
We have seen enough Of the Cossaok, ant
would like to try now little Of the Repuo
ucan. It will be well for the people Of tn
United States if they see this danger In tim
to avoid 1t.
In I. presence of 90 great question, par
+1 hHTda and party considerations shoul