The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-25
AIKEN,S "FOOD FOR THOUGHT"
The Congressman who Talks Right Out In
Meeting.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 90.

W ASlIIEGTON, ~. VI, DcC. ~.
To the Editor Of the Nclrs and CJ,trier::
You had "a week Of sensations" you say.
Well, why not? What would newspaper
be nowadays that was not sensational ?
NV letter to the Nc,us and Courier of the 5th
December from this city must have created
n sensation, judging from the editorials OF
the weekly press of the State, and the letters
pro and coh have received from the State.
l promised to give, your readers something
to think about and l succeeded. l have no
words of reply for any of them but the
Newberry Herald and Abbeville Press and
Banner.
To the former would say, not syllable
in nv letter can be shown to tend towards
the ''disintcgration or disorganization of
the party" in South Carolina. I wrote en-
tirely of Federal politics, and believed eve
ry word wrote, and believe it yet. And
repeat what said, or intended to say, that
we of the South, who are held responsible
by the American people for all the lesisla-
ton of Congress, because we are IN the ma
iority in the Democratic party, and that
party is in the majority in both Houses OF
Congress, are so manipulated by our North
crn allies Though they are in the minority,
that all our Federal legislation rebounds to
the benefit of that section, and none, or
almost none of it, to our benefit. Northern
Democrats will vote with Northern Repub-
licans to defeat Southern measures. This
have seen done repeatedly, and hence my
aversion to the great Southern Democratic
party continuing to play mammoth tail to
the Northern Democratic pigmy kite:
The Herald is considerate in its editorial,
for which it has my thanks /; but it must
pardon me for saying my position and that
of Col. Keitt's are as antipodal as the poles.
The Colonel and may "take the same po--
sition" in deprecating sectional politics, but
there would be divergence the moment
we began to seek remedy. He nominates
Gen. Grant Heavens! and, too, in con-
junction with Bayard. Where can TWO
more discordant representative men be
found? 1 would not vote for the former,
and could not, with my present convictions,
advocate the claims of the latter.
know not the promptings that suggested
the editorials in the Press and Banner when
reviewing my letter. but they impress me
that the writer would be pleased to bring
me into disrepute with the people of the
State, and have them believe 1 would dis
rupt the party in power in South Carolina,
and abet the following of the scalawags,
whom everybody ought to know l hate as
hate Old Sin. If misinterpret his motive,
ask pardon. If I do not, / would simply
say to my Scottish friend, look to your own
skirts. The people of South Carolina never
have, and, perhaps, never will, fail to locate
me correctly in any and every crisis that
has or may occur.
Enough of this. Let the people think,
as trust they may, for if there is fault
with our State, it is that tho people do not
take interest enough in Federal politics.
When the public mind is directed to any
subject, the conclusion drawn is generally
correct, unless diversion is created by de-
signing demagogues. In my Judgment, the
Republican party is to-day led by Just such
men; and, unfortunately, the National
Democratic party is not led at oil, but drifts
along always in the interests of the North
ern minority. And so we go.
Last summer you stated that Garheld had
made speech in Toledo, averring that nc
had no hand of friendship to extend to any
"Rebel," unless said "Rebel" would confess
his guilt, and acknowledge that secession
was crime, or words to that effect. a few
days ago l was sitting in the vestibule OF
the Hall of Representatives talking to the
Rev. A. T. Porter, of your city. Garheld
passed by, stopped moment, turned, and
in q most cordial way extended his hand
to me and welcomed me back, hoped had
been well, &C., &C. At once l remembered
the Toledo speech, but could not allude to
it then. Subsequently sought him out
and told him what was telegraphed as
coming from him at Toledo, and asked
him if it were true. He denied it IN toto.
I then asked him what he did say. He re-
piled: II said I had no friendship for
those who said we were wrong in uphold
ing the Union" asked him who ever ac-
cused them of being wrong in doing this ?
He said we of the South. I denied it..
Then he said, the "Okalona States" land
Bob Toombs" and lot of other stuff that
was irrelevant to the subject under consid-
Grafton. an suddenly arose from his seat
and left me. am convinced he said just
what he was charged with saying, and by,
iust such moral towards are the masses OF
the North to-day deluded as regards the
South and her people. Under their leader
ship the sectional line will never be oblit-
Grated.
The most interesting debate of the session
occurred in the Senate on Thursday last,
upon Mr.. Voorhees's resolution to investi-
gate the North Carolina exodus. / may be
wrong here too, but was amazed at the
course of debate followed by the Democrats,
especially the Southern Senators. They
ouibbled about straws, and attempted to de-
fend the people Of North Carolina against
the popular charges of maltreatment OF
those negroes, when they must know that
Yankee negropholite lis there such word p
would believe the stories of the most igno-
rant negro sooner than he would the sworn
testimony of Ben Hill himself, or any other
Southern Senator.
I am amazed at the opposition presented
by SouthernerS to this negro exodus. Why
not let them go? If they remain in tho
South there is no development, no advance
ment, no accumulation of wealth by the
toiling farmers or laborers. Every enter
prise IS subordinated to this brake upon the
wheels of progress. Turn back the pages
of history for the past fifteen years and
search for the chapter on Southern progress.
It is not there Where else in all Christen-
dom can that chapter not be found? Have
we Southerners no enterprise, no push, no
go-aheadativeness? Yes, wehave; but how
can we assert it with this incubus of igno-
rance and stupidity hanging about US like
n CALLING yoke2 But the public mind says
we want the negro here, and have said
the public mind is not often wrong. So,
perhaps, err in wishing the exodus God
Speed. Perhaps 1 do. do. nevertheless.
Congress adjourned yesterday till the 9Th
of January, 1880. ! am here for the recess
necessarily, and will attempt to send you
another letter about the 1st Of January fur
nishing more food for thought to your
readers, the farmer readers more particular
ly, and perhaps Of q pleasanter nature than
the thought of smashing political parties,
losing the State. and creating Independent
ism, &c, &C., Very respectfully,
ID, WYATT AIKEN