The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-10-31
COLUMBIA, Oct. II, 1872.

COLUMBIA, Oct. II, 1872
-- am afraid that you have thought me re-
miss in not having written you earlier-and so
I have been, but was so much discouraged by
the indifference and apathy of our people, and
SO disappointed at the small attendance Of the
the Executive Committee and County Chairmen,
that I have had no heart to write anything about
oitr political affairs.
Of the forty seven whose presence request
ed for consultation, fourteen came from the Ex-
ecutive Committee, and nine County Chairmon.
These did not feel authorized to take any &C.
ton, and the result was complete failure to
suggest any line Of policy, or adopt any course
for the guidance of the conservative strength of
the State.
I was in favor doing something to keep the
white people together, and I fear that our in
tense passiuity will have upon them demorali-
zing influence. Office holding has become so
much of a tradein these latter days, by which
large sums of money have been made, that the
avaricious seek place for the money to be made,
and make the tru,ts imposed matter not deser-
wing Of consideration. r's.%rs ..1.a
Thelconsequcnce is, thatthe idle, the thrifless,
the indolent and e1travagant, resort to means to
reach official station, from which honorable men
turn with disgust. This is certainly true in the
main, in South Carolina, and prevails to an
alarming degree in athar States, ~hara better
things might have been looked for, Money,
money, is the great lever which prizes men into
Office. Intellect, experience, worth, character,
20 for nought, when opposed by money. Look
at Pennsylvania. |2
w Generally speaking, that sterling integrity
(which has hitherto distinguished the public ser
wants in this State-that almost sacred regard
for public trusts-has, up to this time, been
preserved among the white people Of South Cor
olina This virtue is one Of the many ofsprings
of the old regime, which is worth preserving
and my apprehension is, that unless this tenden-
cy TO- specuLcte with official position, is Persis-
tently and increasingly antagonized and combat
ted, we will drift into that, very reprehensible
and dangerous habitef looking TO office simply
as a means Of growing rich by 7prostituting the
advantages which itconfers, into then shame
less specula.ions and jobs. , ..,,s ..,1 ri.
I sincerely trust that there is virtue enough
left with the people to arrest this inevitable
forerunner of despotism. tits not very encour-
aging to contemplate the future of South Caro-
lima, with the political power of the State WELD
ed by universal suffrage and universal .igno-
rance, nor is the prospect frightened when we
consider that the evils which beset US appear to
be sanctioned by majority of the northern peo-
pie. Evils not only sanctioned but actually fos-
tered and sustained. If they ore sustained as a
measure of punishment upon us, then it would
seem that their thirst for vengeance is insatia-
BILE. If sustained because'of the decentralization
and corruption, and hence. active sympathy OF
the people themselves, then the country Is IN
danger Of being wrecked upon the shoals o I
rapidly increasing stream Of corruption
1have always had great faith and confidence
In the power and will, and purpose Of the Anne
rican people to right themselves Of their own
motion. The masses, both South and North,
have always cYinced such an unwavering, abb
ding faith in the greatness, stability and power
of the civilization and lberty( peculiarly their
own,) which they are steadily Developing
knowledge and education have beer, and are
being diffused 80 rapidly all over the coun-
try-an unmuzzled press is progressing 80 ehc-
lively, in influence and power, that it would up
pear almost impossible to build despotism up
on such q development-and yet, we see this
very people, at the same time that they are boas-
ting of the greatness and enlightenment. and
even glory of American liberty and civilization,
majority Of them quietly acquiescing in the
most dangerous assumptions of power, the most
reckless disregard of trusts, the most fragrant
and notorious official corruption, by the govern
ments which their ballots have established, not
only acquiescingin, but clarifying andupholding
them. What does it mean? And where arc
we drifting? : '...- :,
1t is as bad in Pennsylvania Us it is in South
Carolina, and New York is very little better
The party which has the most money, and is ca
pable Of the greatest frauds carries, the day.
I have extended the limits Of this letter far
beyond what i intended. I cannot agree with
those who thought the success of the Tomllnson
ticket the best thing for us. The hackers Of the
movement were generally men who were SO c1'
tremely distasteful to our people, who have
done nothing but plunder, oppress, misrepre'
sent and slander them, that it was really expec.
ting too much of them to ask their support.
could not and did not support or vote for either
because did not think there was any choice
between them. Very truly yours,
O ~ NJ. G. BUTLER.