The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-27

shah we be Indeed Free?

Shall We be Indeed Free
The address TO the people OF the United
Estates signed by the bishops aud leading cie.'
gyraen OF all denominations and by promi-
nent businessmen and bankers OF Charles
ton, S. c., is paper which must nave
,nowerful influence with all intelligent ana
conservative communities. This earnest
and nrrent statement Of the painful condi-
t;on OF social and political affairs in South
Carolina can hardly fail to reach every heart
in every section of the United States. Its
effect upon the supporters Of the ruling
party will be either to turn them against
the party they support or to increase
their hate OF the victims they help to OPP
press and outrage. When man hears that
which proves to him how uniustitiable Is
the wrong he does to another he either re-
pents and ceases to prosecute or he 1eeis I'M
PEELED to persevere in iniuring the innocent
and to cherish vindictiveness towards them;
for nature requires that where there is no Just
cause for hostility and no provocatlon lot
assault, the bad passions shall furnish the
stimulant TO wrong. SO that with pad ana
.sordid men. in proportion as they ind no
reason for persecution and outrage, passion
supplies the place OF reason. Hate ana
malice towards the wrongcd arc therefore
in excess in proportion to the want OF cause
for enmity. 1t is illustrated in the conduct
OF beasts OF prey. They are always enraged
when they fall upon their innocent victims.
These prosecutors OF the South indeed
degrade themselves to disadvantageous COM
parison with beasts Of prey. The war they
carry on upon their fellow-citizeps Is war
upon justice and innocence for the gratlf-
cation OF ayarice and ambition, which in
deed makes them W orse than beasts, VINO are
impelled to slaughter by hunger and IN
st.nct.
The sieners to this letter from Charleston
give it title to perfect credit. 1t IS sincere,
and IT'S source is as exalted and digniiled as
possible. I, must have the weight to which
isis entitled. It will change the minds OF
some from wrong to right; but logically II
will add venom to the hearts OF those Who
GRO ca much like beasts in their deliberate
brutality.
We are cratitied that such letter appears
contemporaneously with one from CHAM
BEsLAIS, the Radical Governor OF South
Carolina. CHAMBERLAIN, having procured
the cooperation OF the national Executive
to aid him in holding on to the Office Oh
Governor, feels it important to himself anc
his party that he should make out cast
against the people he governs AS Il !ustlflca
ton for calling in Federal troops. He is ;
traitor to the State he disgraces and Il traitor
to the Federal and State Constitutions
Such political villain OF course does no.
hesitate to bolster up his acts by false
hood. In no fair and intelligent community
could the word of CHAMBERLAIN stanC
against that OF either Of the bishops who
sign the Charleston letter. How completely
does the combined testimony OF the bishop:
and other clergy and the leading business,
men OF Charleston oyerwhelm this Cover,
nor CHAMBERLA1N-the carpet-bag Governor
from Massachusetts,.
Those who 60 for continuation OF the
mere party and personal tyranny from
which we have suffered so disastrously, and
which has produced such fruits as we see
in South Carolina, cannot have the justif-
cation of ignorance. The facts have been
spread before the nation in manner that
deprives all men OF the apology OF igno-
rance. Take this last instance OF the state
ments as to South Caroina-the bishops,
other clergy, and leading men Of Charleston
against the Massachusetts, carpet-bagger
CHAMBERLAIN. Will people read one with
out reading the other? and can there be
doubt as between them!
No, there is no ignorance about it; and If
the people decide for continuation Of
fraud, corruption, usurpation, and uncon-
stitutional and brutal persecution, we shall
understand better how in past ages, under
the impulses OF passion and greed, COM
munities practlced so much bloody cruelty
towards those who differed from them. In
those days, us we hear every day, there was
less intelligence and more limited knowl-
edge OF the moral obligations OF men and
communities than there is now. Does it so ap-
pear to those who are acquainted with the
policies OF our Government, and the malig-
mites and fanaticism which have combined
with avarice and ambition to harass, OPP
press, and crush into the dust large COM
munities:
Well, still let lis hope. We know that
there has been an extremity OF cruelty prac-
tced in the land seldom known before, and
that is the attempt to break down the soul
by indisnities and humiliations. But is
there not in the physical nature OF this con-
tinent power that is irrepressible and that
must rise superior to all the bad motives,
hates, and vindictivenesS that have been en-
gendered by enthusiasts and stimulated by
knaveS? Healthy and enterprisirg COM
merce, energy, and prosperity cannot live
where these distracting influences prevail.
Do we not see this in the forlorn condition Of
onr unhappy country? The genial soil, the
bright sun, and the glorious mountains and
valleys, and vast resources OF the land, in
spire the energies and cherish and reward
the pursuits of industry, and as they must
prevail the utter defeat OF the party that is
built up and can only live by fanaticism,
bigotry, hate, and knayery is as certain as
that we live.