The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-07-31
Letter from Gen. M. C. Butler.

Editors Chronicle and Sentinel, augusta, Ga:
In an editorial in your issue of the 18th inst,
headed "Beauregard and Unifcation," you re-
fer to a canvass made in this State in 1870 and
say: "We have pretty much the same opinion
Of the present movement in Louisiana as We
had of the Reform movement in South Caro-
lima, a few years since. While we could not
and did not approve of their platform, which
was of the pepper and-salt complexion, we de-
teymined that if the people of Carolina could
stand it, we could" And furthermore: "Why
should we people of Georgia repudiate and de-
nounce Hampton and Butler and Kershaw for
making square, manly effort to redeem their
State from Radical misrule?"
You will pardon me for excepting to the
tone of the above extracts, and suggesting that
you should have informed yourself more thor
oughly of the "Reform movement in South
Carolina" before making this sweeping com;
parson, and have understood the status of all
the gentlemen referred to touching said Gre
form movement" before committing them all
to its support.
General Kershaw and did endorse and sup
port and, in fact, prepare the platform of the
reform movement of 1870. General Hamp-
ton had not only nothing to do with the pre-
paration of that platform, but disapproved of
it, and his support of it was due entirely to his
personal regard and relations to General K.
and myself This much is due to General
Hampton. Herewith enclose the platform of
the "Reform movement" of 1870, and | beg
that you will either publish it side by side with
the "Unifcation Address" of Louisiana, or
point out to your readers the analogy between
the two. If you will do this, shall be con-
tent; but have no idea of permitting you, in
this cursory manner, to pass judgment upon
two movements, which regard as essentially
different without hearing of both sides.
Do not understand me as repudiating the,
Reform movement" of 1870. went into it
advisedly. thought it wise, proper and judi
cious then, I think so now, and in support Of
this opinion, and in the light of subsequent
events, 1 refer your readers to the action of the
Democratic party in the last Presidential elec-
ton, and, if stronger proof were necessary,
refer them to the action of eve, the people<of
Georgia" in said election, and in fact, may
refer them to the staunch, uncompromising adj
vocacy of the Chronicle and Sentinel, Of 'the
pepper-and-salt complexion" of the Greeley
movement.
I held the opinion in 1870, and so hold now,
that the only hope of the South is a ''uni6ca-
ton" of the whites not against the negro, but
for the protection of themselves, and by a candid
recognition of the rights of the negro as Sc
cured to him by the Constitution and laws 10
recover his confidence and secure his aid i'll
restoring order and prosperity to the country.
may be permitted in this connection to
commend the spirit with which you have al-
luded to Gen. Beauregard's recent position.
with us in opinion, and less personal villifca-
tion and aspersion of motives of those whose
services to the country entitle them to some
consideration would accomplish better results.
Gen. Bsauregard undoubtedly lays himself
open to criticism when he assumes to suggest a
policy for the public, but ne is gentleman
whose character and public services should pro-
tect him against iliberal comment and misrep-
resentation. Very respectfully, your obedient
servant, NJ. Y. BUILEk.
Columbia, S. c., July l6, 1878.