The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-09-03

Kershaw to friend, and was originally pub
lished in the Charleston News md Courier:
CAMDEN, S. c., July q, 1874.
Mn Dear Sir: Your valued favor of the 18th
instant is before me for reply.
l have arrived at certain conclusions in my
own mind in regard to the matter upon which
you desire the expression of my opinions, and
give them for what they may be worth.
The restoration of an honest, economical and
competent government to South Carolina at
this juncture consider the paramount duty of
her citizens. Such means and such sacrifices,
consistent with honor, must be resorted to as
may he found necessary, practicable and expe-
dicnt to accomplish that end With us it is no
longer Il question of Repubicanism and De-
mocracy The struggle is for an honest gov
ernmcnt under which we can live aud prosper.
In comparison with that, party distinctions
should 60 for nothing Seeking no political
triumph, but simply the substitution of an hon
est and responsible government for the horde
of plundcrers who have robbed and degraded
the State and thrown her back at least twenty
years i'm the march of improvement, we are en-
entitled to the sympathy and support of every
right thinking man, whatever be his political
opinions.
4 better feeling pervades the whole country.
It is q great pleasure to note the steady growth
of more kindly sentiment and feeling towards
the South on the part of the North. In act and
utterance we should at all times cordially re-
ciprocate the generous and friendly overtures
held out to Us so frequently of late by the
Northern people and press, without distinction
Of party, and especially by the officers and SOL
dicrs Of the Union armies, whose magnanimous
and scldiery conduct in honoring the memory
of their fallen focmen, on many recent occa-
sions, is the best pledge yet offered of re-
stored. happy and united Amercan;sm. L am
sure that in our effort to rescue the State, we
will have the cordial support Of the public
opinion and press Of the North ; but more i'm
portant, because more immediate than these,
the aid of the Federal Executive.
President Grant can do more for the speedy
restoration of the State than all other inHuen-
ces from Without and although have no po-
litical information, other than such as is COM
mon 10 nil having access to the papers of the
day, still. from the pcrusal Of these, entertain
strong hopes he will not withhold his great in
flucncc from so good work. There is no
overt hostility to his administration in any part
of tho South certainly none Of any sort III an
organized form in this State. On the contrary,
the Conservative element look to him as their
chief, if not only hope of good government.
Congress has been appealed to, and IS powec-
less to remedy the evils under which we suffer.
The judiciary can afford no relief for it has no
Jurisdiction. The Executive alone can constl-
tutionaIv and legally assist us. 1t would be
the crowning glory of Gen. Grants admins
tration to effect reconstruction, and restore
to the plundcrcd and ruined States of the South
the blessings of good government and the oop-
portunity to enjoy and to contribute to the iu-
turc prosperity of the country. cannot think
that he will be Indifferent, and 1 know how
gratefully his aid would be appreciated by our
suiicrn" South Caroinians. Could he be
brought face TO face with the monstrous evils
which degrade and oppress us, nothing could
prevent him from employing every prerogatlvc
of his vast power to crush them out forever.
After all, however, our relief depends mostly
upon our own people. Let them organize and
consolidate all honest men who can rise above
unworthy prciudiccs and party slavery, to res
cue the State from anarchy, ruin, and, in the
end, bloody despair. Respecting the Republ.
can principles of the colored citizens, we should
earnestly seek their cooperation in the move
mcnt. The State has been plunged into this
ruin by the rapacity and dishonesty of their
trusted leaders, who have brought shame and
oboquy upon The party, whose honor and in
tcrests were in their keeping, and trampled
upon every right and interest OF the whole peo-
pie in their insatiate greed for plumber They
owe the State some rcparatiOn TOR the past, and
we surely NAV hope that there are some thou
sands having sufficient honesty, intelligence
and patriotism to join the hue and cry against
the robber band.
Not many would be required, for the true
majority Of the Radicals has always been eX-
ag@eralcd The whites have never been fully
polled since the war, and the ballot has never
been free from frauds. 10 secure such co-ope-
ration the honest colorcd people should be in
yite,l TO full Share of all public offices. Pow
er entrusted to us should be administered with
out favor or prejudice, so as to secure the best
interests Of the whole people, protect equally
;n e enioymcnt Of his lust rights every cit-
zen, however high or humble, and promote the
welfare Of all alike so far as may come within
the legitimate sphere Of government.
Upon such principles only can harmony and
GOOD government be secured in the present
state of society here. Cooperation in this
GOOD work would lead to mutual dependence,
respect and rood will, and tend more to the
elevation and development OF the cOored peo-
p!e than all other possible expedicnts.
I consider these views worth pondcrng at
this time with reference to the taxpayers
movement and the promised reform i'll the Re-
publican rarty. OF course the policy Of the
ncoplc can only be settled by conventions of
their authorized representatives, but it is we'll
to take counsel together, and to interchange
views beforehand, in order that the public
riind NAV settle down upon such measures as
mav hn annroved after due considerations I
firmly believe the hour of dcivcrancc is at
hanJ il we but be true to ourselves. Indeed,