The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-05-30
Letter from Gen. j. B. Eershaw.
CAMDEN, s. c., May IA, 1872.


opportunity you afford ME of expressing my
views of the policy proper to be pursued In
the present emergency, :. -f...
| esteem it our first duty to seek the rescue
of the State from ruin and bankruptcy, and
the consequent expatriation of many OF her
b st people,. Our action in general politics
should be controlled by this prime necessity.
If we can promote the establishment of
better Government 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 countenaDce and
supposed sympathy of the General Govern
ment. If, however, our participation 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. I 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 degradation, as
man would fight the fire around his own
domicil before joining his neighbors to arrest
general fire in the woods. If there be any
hope of present improvement in the State
Government, it is to be expected from re-
form movement withinthe Republican party;
From indications already observed, | ain not
without hope that such movement will be
developed, and that it may assume such pro-
PORTIONS as that it may be made osacceed BY
jud:cious cooperation on our part. Should the
Republican Convention happily chance to
nominate persons promising ah honest ad-
n,instration, and having the confidence OF
our people, the conquest will be less dltlcult
of achievement, but in any event, our assist
ance, to avail anything, must be cautiously,
quietly and sagaciously employed. r--,
If we avoid any organization Of our peo-
pie for any political purpose *hatsver-lf we
refrain from antagonizing the Republicans
of this State on party questions we avoid
all irritating collisions with the coiored peo-
pie and pursue 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. l
trust in God that our people will do nothing
to hinder the possibility Of any such move
ment, however tempted by allurins hopes or
just resentment.
In the view of tho case which have pre-
sented, we should take no part in the Presi-
Dental election. The dominant party would
Weld nothing to those who oppose their party
nominee for President. Iii yielding this,
we in fact yield nothing but q sentiment;
The nominee Of the Republican party will
ret the vote of South Carolina, whether we
oppose him or no. and all the more certainly
if, and because we do not oppose him:
IF we refrain from taking our fruitless part
in the contest, should the Republicans sue
ceed, we will have avoided giving any pre-
text to the incoming administration further
to Cypress and to persecute our people, ana
our wise moderation will have dlsarmed much
of that prejudice which excludes US from
participation 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 tor Presl-
dent can be avertcd by the course have IN
dicatcd. The conservatives, if successful,
must shape their general policy in accordance
with the principles they have announced and
must select for Federal Offices 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.
T do not think we are in condition just
now to throw up our hats for any candidate tor
President, and consider it unRise IN people
situated as We are, to delude ourselves into
the belief that We can mend our affairs by
indulsing in any such amusement. Let us
have nothing to do with this political game
until we can strike with effect. .. If the Lib
eral Republicans organize in this State, lei
them do it,. If they do not, certainly oul
, people could have no reason to organize 1ol
the support of MIR. Greeley, unless they dc
J sired to make his defeat in this State douDij
5 sure. The same reasoning would apply
much more conclusively against the orgInl
: za.Ion of the Democratic party. In my JuuS
| ment, we would commit fatal blunder ever
to send delegates from this State to the Dem
ocratic Convention. They would represent
r Il constituency who could not possibly cleo
even one elector, and whose support would
$ damage the cause they advocate But, while
l. power less for good, such action would have
c = cupacity for evil, fatal to all our hopes o.
S relief within the State. Nothing concelv
c abIe within tile range of probabilities, coul'
t 50 damage us politically as the revival at thl
= time of the Democratic party Of this State
One other point. If Grant be the nomi
nee of the Republicans, he will have create
power for good Or for evil to our unhapP
c tcoplc than any other person OF party. =!
e is, perhaps, hopeless to conciliate; but 1
$ view of his possible election, it would b
y suicidal to exasperate him by vain an
C fruitless opposition. This last considerable
" you may denounce as unworthy free pee
Il pie. But remember, we are not free pei
Is rple While it might be dastardly to sutlc
&c our political conduct to be controlled by I'll
G fear of personal consequences, the welfare
1T the people is the nobest motive OF the STATE i
is man. Salus popuH suprema ;ns Tea: very w 1Tu'
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