The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-01-08
LETTER FROM COY. B. T. PERRY.
The Next Presidential Election-Yiews OF
Venerable Statesman.
From the Grccnuilc Mountaineer.

|
From the GrccnuWc Mountaineer.
1t seems, Mr.. Editor, that we have, in
deed, fallen on evil times, when dame
rumor is trumpeting it abroad, uncontra
dicted, that General Grant is finding fa
vor with Southern Democracy for thirt
term as President of the American re-
public. That he should be the choser
favorite of Southern carpet-baggers anc
scallawags will not surprise any one
But that the Southern men protesting tc
be Democrats, should wish him success
in 1880 is incomprehensible. Have they
forgotten the eight black years that this
tyrant had his iron heel on the neck Of
South Carolina? Do they remember that
President Grant withdrew his army from
the defense of the frontiers of the United
States, and scattered it all over the South.
ern States to sustain the rogues and scoun.
drels whom he had placed in Office tc
plunder and rob an impoverished and
suffering people? Have they forgotten
that he filled our State House with armed
soldiers and fixed bayonets to keep Out
the legally elected representatives of the
State? Like Cromwell, he dispersed the
Legislature of Louisiana, and drove them
out of their hall at the point of the bay.
onet. He sent his minions to Florida
South Carolina and Louisiana to sustain
the Returning Boards in falsifying theil
returns, and giving the electoral vote o.
those States to HAYES. Knowing that
Tilden and Hendricks had been elected
and might be so declared, Grant concen
trated large military force in Washing
ton to have Hayes and Wheeler inaugu'
rated President and Vice President
When first elected, President Grant re-
| ceived gifts of thirty and fifty thousand
dollars from wealthy men in New York
| and other States, and appointed these
men members of his Cabinet. During
| the whole term of his Presidency he was
surrounded by such corrupt scoundrels as
Belknap, Babcock, Shepherd and others
whom he protected in their rascality and
| who are still his associates. 1t is we'll.
known fact that Grant was convicted by
every member of Johnson's Cabinet ol
palpable lying and treachery.
Now, if these quasi Democrats are in
favor of electing such man as U. S.
Grant q third time to the Presidential
chair in violation of the example OF
Washington and all the other American
Presidents, they are either fools OF
knaves, or unprincipled Swiss, ready to
fight under any banner that will pay and
dishonor their State.
Who shall be the Democratic candi-
date for the Presidency next fall ought
to depend on who is supposed to be the
most available candidate-wh ether Til
den, Hendricks, Bayard, Hancock, or
any other true and honorable Democrat.
The Southern States should not be prom
inent in his nomination, but leave the
selection entirely to Northern Democrats.
No candidate should be nominated who
is not able to carry New York and Indi.
ana. If Tilden and Hendricks could
carry these States, their nomination
would be proper and handsome thing,
as they were cheated out of their election
four years ago. But it would seem, from
the last election in New York, that Gov.
Tilden cannot unite the Democratic vote
of that State. Governor Seymour, it is
thought, could carry the State of New
York, but he will not consent to be a
candidate. William Lowndes, of South
Carolina, said that "the Presidency ought
not to be sought for or refused" This
should be the doctrine of every patriotic
statesman in the land.
The conduct of Tilden and Hendricks,
in submitting to the Inauguration of
Hayes and Wheeler, under the circum-
stances, was wise, unselfsh, and patriotic.
The Democrats in Congress agreed to
Leave the whole n Ter to arbitration.
The arbitrators refused to hear the testi-
mony of the gross and well-known frauds
perpetrated in Louisiana and Florida,
and declared Hayes and Wheeler elected,
although they were beaten by more than
100000 votes! The Democratic party
was bound in honor to abide this unjust
award. Any attempt to inaugurate the
candidates really elected would have
been revolution, and would have in
volved the whole Union in bloody
civil war.
South Carolina is now once more under
selfgovernment, and so are all the other
Southern States; and God forbid that
Grant and his army and his office thieves
should ever again have it in their power
to disturb these Democratic govern
ments. 1t is all nonsense to talk about
dissolving old parties and forming new
ones. Their principles are inherent in
our Federal Union, and must always ex-
ist, no matter by what name political
parties may be called. The Democrats
are for strict construction of the Fed
eral constitution, and the Republicans
for latitudinarian construction of that
great charter. The Democrats are in
favor of States rights, free trade and no
monopolies, self government, and the
equal protection Of all the people, and
an economical and honest administration
of the Federal government. The Re-
publican, party under every name they
have assumed and disgraced, from that
of Federalists to that of Republicans,
have been opposed to the rights of the
States and free trade. They have always
favored monopolies and legislated for the
benefit of wealthy capitalists. They
have always favored prodigal expendi-
ture of public money and high salaries
In times past they have attempted the
liberty of the press and the freedom Of
speech. They have set the military over
the civil authorities of the country and
disregarded personal rights and personal
liberty. All the acccssions of territory
to the republic have been made by the
Democratic party and bitterly opposed
by the Republicans.
B. t. PERRY.
Sans Souci, December 90, 1879.