The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-03-25
Our Future Policy as a Relief from
Present Evils.

A4VSSAo A'A@S'
Tho address of tho Hon. A. G. Nc
YGrath, delivered before the Hiberran
Society of Charleston, on St. Patrick s
DAY, presents we'll considered view
of the present condition Of tho State,
md offers some wise counsel as to the
.best mode of obtaining relief from
spressing evils. Tho cause of the
;powerlcss condition of the people OF
the State, which has made them the
victims of misgovernmcnt and oP-
preston, he finds in tho antagonism
of public sentiment at the North
growing out of o doubt of our loyal
ty to the Union and the Constitution.
The great masses of the Northern
people regard tho dissolution of the
Union us the greatest OF possible
evils, and its pcrpetuation as the sole
guarantee of tho preservation Of
civil liberty, and they arc not dispos,
ed to withdraw their support from
the present State government, until
satisfied that the people Of the state'
have fully accepted the situation aud
are ready to yield 0 choerful obedi-
once to the Constitution and laws.
We must give them full assurance
that VIC have accepted the amend.
ments to the Constitution, that We
are faithfully executing tho laws OF
tho United States, and securing to
one and all within tho limits of the
State, the rights to which thoy are
entitled under these amendments and
those laws.
But it vii. be said that they have
already accepted these amendments
arc executing these laws, and have
guaranteed these rights. But what
is especially needed now is additional
evidence to convince the Northern
mind that we arc sincere in our pro
fessions, that we are acting in good
faith, and have no intention Of over
throwing the scheme Of Reconstruc-
,tion. Wo have been tho subjects Of
much obloquy and Misrepresentation,
and the outrages Of lawless Ku-Klux
organizations, have done fncalculable
injury to our fair amo. We owe it
10 ourselves to correct tho false i'm
prcssions which have gono abroad
rnd to coaEinco tho Northern people
4f' our hoResty and sincerity of pur-
pose. This wo .aust do by open. ex
pressions of cur opinions whenever
and wherever, the esaco and !oppor.
aunity present themselves. This will
place us in full sympathy with North:
>ern sentiment, and 1fNHll accord with
the General Government to whom
$hc evils Of Republican misrulc here
are as offensive as they can .bo to-
us. Fhc natural and necessary result
will be to withdraw from tho State
government the support by which
it is enabled to sustain itself as the
,suling power in South Carolina. On
this point Mr.. Magrath says:
-, "Well. now, I beg you to bear in
mind that this ruling powerin South
Corolina, in its appeals to the igno-
r rant portion or The people of this
State; derives lis whole strength and
its only support foea poisoning minds
whica are crcd9loas md easily prsju,.
diced with these impressions; which
by skilful artifce thoy have fashion.
ed into absolute convictions; that the
few who wicld the power of the State
) aro the selected delegates and repre-
sssntatives of the Republican party Of
tbo.Uaitod States; that as such their
suggestions arc to be received as the
idictations Of that party; that the
evidence of this is to be found in
their relations with the Government
io.f the United >Statos; and that to
"falter in obedience, to whatever may
be their dictntion, or refuse to follow
according to their lead, is to forfeit
the support of that party which gave
to them emancipation, and the power
Of that government which secures TO
.hem tho enjoyment Of that cmanci-
patton: -.
You must tear away this delusion
which, so skillfully managed, mis-
leads 4 majority of the people of the
State. have already indicated how.
Let the men who are in authority,
let the President, let bis Cabinet, let
tho Republicans in Congress. let the
Republicans in the United States, let
all tho people of the United States,
feel that you do and will render faith.
full obedience to the Constitution OF
the United States, to its amendments,
to it's laws; that you will not array
yourselves against the results OF the
war; that such results are establish