The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-07-03
Hope and Peace.
From the Evening Herald.]

particularly OF Cue DtdIe VI OouIn Oaroiiut
have had enough of broil and excitement
We verify believe that there exists in tn
breast. of every man, independent Of part
politics or individual opinion, an honest, anz
ious long for the quiet ways of peace and tn
hopeful ways Of business. In some wild, rest
less, lawless spirits on both sides, there ma
be a deep, bitter, unconquerable feel
ing, which, in the satisfaction Of privat
feuds, may break out in flame from the ashe
of the old fires; but, apart from this, W,
verify believe that better and moro law
abiding spirit prevails among the leaders ant
the masses. The most terrible struggle that
part of this people was capable Of agains
the denomination of different political faitf
has been fa,fIy tried, and has fairly failed
1t was war between the extreme doctrin,
of States rights and the peculiar institutions
of which it was the defender and exponent
on the one hand, and the extreme doctrine
of individual freedom and national consolida
tion and supremacy on the other. The las
appeal to the God of Battles was made, and
after an exhibition of American heroism
military skill and splendid devotion on each
side, such as challenged the admiration Of
the world, that Supreme Being decided
against the South. 1t became the South tc
yield and obey that high decree, and we be.
lieve that it was disposed to do so in good
faith, the Invisible Empire to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
1t is a good priaciple of moral philosophy
that there is no such thing as pure unmix-
ed evil. Evil is the negation Of good, and
pre-supposes something good in the very fact
of its negative existence. This principle,
we believe, will apply to the late unfortu-
nate experiences through which we have re-
Gently passed. Terrible as have been the
suferings of the people mistaken, and, per-
haps, criminal, as has been the administra-
tion of their public affairs in some instances,
there is yet something of good in the final
results That good, in our view, consists in
the firm establishment of the fruits Of. the
war and in the complete vindication of the
national authority. The people have learnt
this much-that the national will is the law
of the land, and that the citizen Of the State
must, at his own freside, if need be, respect
the uniform of the Federal soldier. 1t is con-
solidation, Capitalization, one flag, the wiping
out of State lines, the concentration ofpower
in the Federal government. 1t may be all
this and much more that appears abhorrent
to the strict constructionist of the old school.
But it is certainly the assurance doubly sure
ofthe peace, prosperity and integrity of the
.1.sk.,. t. to1l., &c fh;c Gfofo tho cfuh
born fact that under no circumstances, how
ever aggravated, we can take the law in our
own hands. If bad men come down upon
us like the wolf on the fold and sweep away
our substance, we must go to the law, to the
proper tribunals, the courts. 1t will not do
to say the courts are partial and will furnish
no honest redress; that we cannot try the
farce, and that all that is left us is guerilla
war, murder and midnight raid. It'efects
nothing but retaliation, suppression and a
delay of that better time which will surely
come, when quiet and order obtains. That
time, we sincerely hope, is frightening along
the sky. In this State the government has
put its foot down; in Louisiana it has done
the same thing; and Grant says, plainly and
decisively, that
"The States lately at war with the general
government are now happily rehabilita-
ted, and no executive control is exercised in
any of them that would not be exercised in
any other under like circumstances"
This language.is unmistakable. 1t means
an unconditional surrender of all domestic
trouble to the general peace of the country.
It means the end of Lynch law, of vigilance
committees, and all unlawful organizations,
no matter how evident and grievous the con-
dition it is proposed to remedy, or how pal
pably the excuse for their being. 1t means
that this is one country, with its business,
political and civil life so essentially inter
twined and dovetailed that the general ma
tional peace depends on the quiet Of every
section, and that no community, no State, no
man or set of shall right any wrong, real OF
Imaginary, except through the courts of the
land. and never at the slightest expense Of
the public peace.
The sooner we appreciate this great fact
the better. We believe. in this State the
people have taken the important lesson tc
heart 1t is fact, hard, stubborn, iron fact
and cannot be gainsayed, neither in the
streets of the city, in "the narrow woodland
path," nor in the lonely cabin near the
mountain. If there is a man among us who
knows of another driving a spanking team
instead of rolling wheclbarrow full Of stones
in the penitentiary, let him drag him before
tho.eourts, with proof to convict; but let him
/ not take law in his own hands, with a mask
on his face and in the shadow of the night
And we believe that the opposition has been
thoroughly convinced of this unyielding de-
csion of the national will We believe that
with rare exception here and there, there
is an end of that mad, reckless, ruinous, Ia
tai policy.
We think we can see the native genius
the State rising superior b the prejudices
of the past, holding up the loom and the cot
ton boil as emblcms of her dearest interests