The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-07-24
Letter fun Gen. s..iS. Ss..s=.

AoStcC aSSsSscss
EDTroRs CHRONICLE AND sEEST1NEL,
AUGUSTA. GA: In an editorial in your
issueo the 18th instant, headed "Bsac-
regard and Unifoation. " you refer to a
canv4ss made in this State in 1870, and
say: "We have pretty much the same
opinion OF the present movement in
Louisiana as wehad of the Reform move
ment in South Carolina, few years
since. While we could not and did not
approve OF their platform, which was Of
the pepper and salt complexion, We de-
termlned that if the people Of Carolina
could stand it. we could" Aud further:
why should we people of Georgia &C.
pudiato and denonnce Hampton md
Butler and Kershaw for making q square,
manly effort to redeem their State from
Isatical nisrule?"
You will pardon mo for excepting to
the tone of the above extracts, and sug-
costing that yon should have informed
yourself more thoroughly. of the "Re.
form movement in South Carolina" be-
fore making this sweeping comparison,
and have understood the status Of ull the
gentlemen referred to touching said
"Rsform movement" before committing
them aN to it's support.
General kershnw and I dit! endorse
and support, and, in fact, prepare tho
platform of the 'Reform movement" Of
1870. General Hampton had nc. OILY
nothing to do with the preparation
OF that platform, but disapproved of it,
and his support of it was due entirely to
his personal reghrd aud relations to
General x. und myself. This much is
due to General Hampton. Herewith I
enclose the platform of the "Heform
movement" OF 1870, and beg that you
will either publish it side by side with
the Qualification Address" Of Louisiana,
or point out to your readers The analogy
between the two. IF you will do this, I
shall be content; but have no idea OF
permitting you, in this cursory manner,
to pass judgment upon two movements,
which l regard as essentially different,
without hcaring os both sides.
DO not understand me as rcpudiatiug
the reform movement" of 1870. /
went into it advisedly. 1 thought it
wise, proper and jndicious then, think
80 now, and in support OF this opinion,
and in the light of subsequent events,
refer your readers to the action Of the
Democratic party in the last Presidential
election, aud, if stronger proof were
necessary, refer them to the action of
1--WE, the people of Georgia." in said
election, and, in fact. I may refer them
to the stnunch. uncompromising advo-
cacy Of tho Chronicle and Sentinel, of
''thc pepper-and- salt complexion" OF the
Greeley movement.
l held tic opinion in 1870, and so hold
now, that the only hope Of the South is
a ''unification" of the whites not against
tho negro, but for the projection OF them.
seloey and bJ u candid recognition of the
rights of the negro as secured to him by
theC Constitution and laws. to recover his
confidence and secure his aid in restor-
ing order and prosperity to the country.
| may be permitted in this connection
to commend tho spirit with which you
have alluded to Gen. Bcauregard's re-
cont position. Greater tolerance to-
wards those who differ with US in OPT
Mon, and less personal villiGcation and
aspersion Of motives of those whose SER
vices to the country entitle them to
some consideration, would accomplish
better results. Gen. Beauregard un.
doubtedly lays himself open to criticism
when be assumes to suggest policy fur
the public, but he is gentleman whose
character and public services should pro-
tect him against illiberal comment and
misrepresentation. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
NJ. c. BUTLER.
COLUMBIA. S. c., July 16. 1873.