The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-04

a restraint can be imposed in our country,
politicians nave responded, "By the vir-
tue and Intelligence of the people," But
this Is q delusire shape. Laboricus atten-
ton, constant watchfulness and combined
action are necessary to practicable results,
and are unattainable. II our. people we're
placed upon a sterile soil their perpetual hand
to hand conflict for subsistence with niggard
nature might qualify them for resistance to
The official plumber. Their poverty would d.
minish this temptation and inVigorale their
defence; but In q great and prosperous coun-
try, such popular guardianship cannot be had,
and the only efficient protection against official
mlsrule Is 10 totally prohibiting t~hose'powers
which cannot be ~efeclually regulated by law.
This fact was asserted In the pubic councils
which gave birth to our constitution, but its
recognition was prevented by O want Of prior
human experience under just systems Of
government. History furnished no precise
parallels, aud consequently the patriotism
which saw and appreciated the right,
was unable to prove lib statement or nam.
lain an argument by convincing lilusLrs-
lions. Failing to engraft upon the written
law the Limitations deemed necessary, the
Democratic boilers sought a practical estab-
llshment of them by advocating strict con-
strucLlon. This doctrine was never thorough
~ enforced by any party, and Is now totally
%dlsregarded. Hence our present political con-
di,ion. Far-reachiDg changes ore needed to
obviale Its evils, and 1t Is only by such changes
that we can successfully iaaugurate the sec.
ond stage in that grand social reform which
wus intended by the fathers. free and eng
llghtened people, with capacities matured
under the benign influence of their experience,
we can now detect aud remedy those defects
In their glorious though unfinished work
which experience has developed. They laid
the foundation. Upon US Is deVolved The duty
of completing lhe supeIslruclure. The official
malversaLion In this city and State which was
brought 10 light during The last year Invited
gnod men to action, The discoveries made
mind to persistent efforts for reform. The OPP
portunily was improved. and, except 30 far as
disturbed by the inopportune recurrence OF a
Presidential canvass, the current OF popular
sentiment has ever since moved steadily in
the right direction. The desire has been ex.
tsnslvely entertained that this movement.
originating In the nations metropolis, should
b. permitted to run its natural course, draw
into harmony with itself The honest masses
throughout our country. and thereby lead to
the establishment OF efficient, self-sustaining
and permanent barriers against the
prevalent evils. The facts, however, war
rant On apprehension that: the pending
conflict for the control OF the Federal power
has broken In upon the tendency to reform,
uuu mby CUupiGlSly hCfDlcC 40 6ONSk auAOht0A
intprmeddll6g with these concerns OF society
which under judlclous laws might be bene-
fetal. The real evil actually developed In h,r
system by this eminence 10 assigned 10 1t be-
cause 1t Is the fruitful parent OF all others ex-
isting, and because the measures required to
It are precisely those which would ex-
llrpate the understandable powers now mis-
chievously exercised by our officials. If, ia-
stead OF prohibiting or diminishing this Vicious
- ~ tim nnr manila ohnulA impurf IN If pQw
sanctions and greater vitality, reform must
become Impossible. Now..fof this practice.
above all oLner living Americans, Greeley Ia The
recognized champion, and no body OF organized
opponents to iG has ever existed In this
country except the Democratic party. yYet
by the decree OF q convention assuming 10
that party, Greeley has been gazet-
ted .as its standard-bearer. Opposition TO that.
proceeding has In my mind q far deeper
leastI AN not unduly influenced by that sem
tlInept !Rs may appear. By the measures
against the recently detected munich
pal defaullers. In organizing the forces the
employers had equal opportunities for purging
tor completely With political par
ties of every class. Thus innocence has been
shiellei from the dlscredlL OF evil association
Inadvertently formed. Official Vlllany stands
iiiiaa Il Idf ID eft, aalaoa u'R8fhest fagHi fShBg4 eas
civ UUu rDk6IC HAlCa SttOe 81
Tor the common defence. Aside, then, from
party sentiment, my views OF puolic In
terest and existing public Necessities
compel me to repudiate the Baltimore nom1-
nation OF Greeley. Whenever speaking or
writing on the subject, | have uniformly ;cou-
demued IL and declared my readiness 10 sup
mort o Democratic candidate. This 'circum-
STANCE has led 10 q supposal IN some quarters
that / had aspirations to Office, and 1t has been
suggested that my name might be offered TO
YOUR acceptance as a Candidate. The oo)ect
or this letter Is To avoid Misrepresentation on
those nOints. If compelled TO decide between
Grant and Greeley as candidates for the Presi-
dency, the Democratic elector must rely very
much upon mere conjecture. Those lnclning
10 the latter Us the cliOice OF evils suggesttnat
q mitigation of The expressions at the Soutn
would result from his SUCCESS. There may,
however, be equal ground TO hope Tor that good
result IN either issue of this rivalry. Once bis
second term shall have been secured,
General Grants only motive for inhlcuDe
misery on that portion OF his conntrymen VIII
ceuse. An effort 10 secure q tnlrd Term OF
establish q dictatorship cannot reasonably 0e
apprehended, and consequently Inc cOr ART
son IF probabilities offers us merely a plank
OlyInplad GU one hand or four years Oh snue.
faiinnble activity on the other. That wise
neuple. whose usages We have generally fol'
lowed, had occasion to pass through . transl.
,orv nerind. somewhat similar 10 that now
uflIcLiDg Southern interests In their actlon
az Ine lime, we could hnd safe precedenls for
a course OF policy which would promptly rein
stale Southern prosperity; but II there Do one
among the muster spirits of the, age who
even II iucllued, could not adopt that pollcy
It. is Greeley. The success OF General Gran
might involve no important consequences
p1I that of Greeley would consecrate the
nro,,ic.a raterrrd 10. which, in nv Judgment
Are absolutely incompatible with the perma
rnence OF Republican Institutions. In sayi nt
this, 1t is not simply TO pronounce for anu
Protectionist ideas. That'qnestionis lelt un
touched. II the support Of home 1ndustr
against foreign competition Is regarded as,
sound policy, It can be effected as far as need
mi nv much simpler and less expensive ant
far less demoraIizing processes than our over
grown customs establishment. me truo poll
cy Is national regeneration. IL 10 laT mUl'
| com orehensive than mere Tree traoe; lus aHI
ia to break the sceptre OF Lhe lraulns poir
| ticlan and e~mancipate the MASSES: FouL
tS,bs of The governmental Intervention nov
nracticed in carrying on the affairs Q
society should be dispensed win. IN
EXISTING Indebtedness should, indeed. o.
| held sacred, and to the last end be faithful.
redeemed, but The power of borrowing none.
on public credit. either by paper issues Q
| otherwise, should BIZ absolutely annuileo
| Neither the Federal government or any otner
down 10 The smallest civil division OF q STATE
snonld possess IL. II is inconsistent WIN u.
nerpelutty of free Republican institutions. /
~ the very lite.bloOd of srisIoerallc RUE. 70
| ira fellow. labor, as the pond.slave Oh capita
in modern times 1t furnishes O llmltatlon ~
| dispepsable to war. without tnat Inc mos
shocking of all national crimes ana a!amlC
t~~noouthln Such commencement