The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-10-18

il he would assume the great task to
which | believe and trust he il called
| avoid all names and details here be.
cause, having no cnmilies, | do not wish
10 subject myself in your mind to the
possible imputalion Of any but di.intcr,
ested motives in what write
Nor is there any occasion, think, for
the President to be deceived rs to indi
vduals. There are men in every
Southern State, upon whose statements
he can rely, who will gladly join in this
work of publication, for they have long
ago learned hy their own experience
that the primary causes of Republican
overthrow at the South were the corrup-
ton and incapacity of the local Govern
ments aud the aid aud couLtenance given
to the worst elements of the party
through the constant appointment and
support 1t Washington of worthless ad
vcnturers to Federal Offices. The South
crn white people could never have been
reused TO the madness of 1876 except for
the real grievance of corrupt and opprcs.
sive local government. AT the same
time that this general policy is pursued,
the existing laws for the protection oi
voters and voting should be enforced by
all practical means, and other laws, il
within constitutional bounds. SHOULD be
passed to secure the same ends
Much actual success in this plan NAV
not come ID one year, or IN one Admin
is,ration. but am persuaded it will
never come unless we work toward the
result | have named. Facts outweigh
theories, and facts have taught me that
free suffrage cannot be practically main.
tanned at the South, if it can anywhere,
unless it results in tolerably good local
government. Federal statutes, Federal
forces of all kinds, alone canno, com.
pass it.
Many unexpected opportunities, doubt.
less, will arise during the coming tour
years for promoting these ideas at the
South. There is Il spiri, of revolt and
disintegration abroad there. There
are just spirits and ambitious spirits who
chaic under present Democratic abuses
and ways. If the menace and portcnt
of rascally local government can be re.
moved, these men can come forth and
champion some new movement. Advan
tage can be taken of all causes of dis.
content, prnviled the ;liscom:eHtc,i rai,
proclaim union with the Republicans
to be the path to better local govern
mcnt
In such matter rs this it is necessary
think, first to frame some general idea
Of the situation, and fix upon some gen.
eral plan of action. conceive this to
be true in high degree of our Southc II
question. l should have but little con.
:.dence i'll any Presidents success in
handling this question unless felt tha;
he was working to some conscious gen.
eral end by some wcllchosen general
methods. Details can be considered
specific information can be gained when
ever needed, but a general plan is the
indispensable first requisite.
l take leave to say one thing in con.
clusion more personal to myself. The
policy l have endcavored TO sketch here
is the policy which, as Governor of
South Carolina, | endcavored to enforce
from 1874 to 1876. 1t barely falcd to
rob the fierce Democracy Of any prc!cSt
for the revolution of the latter yenl
through the action Of the Legislature in
the Judicial elections of 1875, over which
| had no direct control, and where; with
all my exertions, failed to influence the
action OF the Legislature. This disaster
was the one turning cause of the great
uprising or that year against the rule OF
our party. Purely political causes oper-
ated also, but the masses of the white
people Of South Carolina could never
have been persuaded to oppose my re.
election, but for the acts Of a Republi.
can Legislature in denying to them de,
cent government and officers.
In the great fight which followed the
gulf between the white Democrats and
the Republicans became wide and deem :
but this can be said that no Democrat
has ever to my knowledge charged me
with any dereliction of official duty in
the discharge Of my duties as Governor,
though the Democratic victory WAS fol-
lowed by rs fierce storm of persecution
as almost ever attended political revo.
luton in any country. With the great.
est respect and confidence, remain your
most obcdient servant,
d. II. CHAnDEnLArS.
II.
MENTOR, OHIO, January Is, 1881.
Dear Sir Yours Of the 18th Deceu,-
Der came 10 hand while was absent
from home, and the great pressure of
work has prevented the ack acknowledgement
Of its receipt until now.
l have read your letter with great in.
terest. Your clear and vigorous analysis
OF the Southern question is of great
value. have no faith in any sudden
cure for our troubles in that direction.
Nothing but wise and right methods,
pursued patiently during a series of
years, can give US free suffrage aud its
necessary complement, good local gov
ernment
On one point should like your opip.
ion more fully. Does your analysis OF
the situation cover the apparent mex.
pugnable hostility of the Southern Dem.
"crats to the Republican party Of the
nation? II the South treated the Ma.
tionai Administration with the respect it
deserves they would greatly modify and
soften the feeling Of our Northern peo-
pie; but they pursue the Republicans in
Congress with the same spirit which led
them to dcnounce the local Republican
governments in the South. The method
you suggest Of building up sound Re.
publican party in the South by exclud.
ing from positions all unworthy persons
is unquestionably good one; but with
the antagonisms and jealousies which
have so abounded among our friends. in
the South the selection of such officers
is very difficult. shall be glad to re-
ceive any suggestions you may be willing
to make at any time. Thanking you for
your letter, am very truly yours,
j. A. GARFIELD.
The Hon. ID. H. Chamberlain, New
York, N. Y.
LAW OFFICE OF
CHAMBERLAIN, CARTER & EATON,