The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-07-29
jefferson Davis's Views.

lCQarleSIOn news anu CouT1eI.J
The following letter was written
by Jefferson Davis, the president OF
the Confederate States of America,
about a year before his death, to an
intimate friend, now dead, who was
one of the best, as he was one of
the most beloved; Of all the great
and good men of the generation Of
Jefferson Davis and "Stonewall"
Jackson and Robert E. Lee. The let
ter is now in the possession of a
gentleman who resides in this city.
1t could not be more appropriate
to certain phases of the conditions
now existing in this city had it been
written yesterday with a view to
it's immediate application here. The
letter follows:
Beauvoir, Miss, 2sth July, 1888.
The Revd. ---
My Dear Friend: Please accept
my thanks for your kind letter Of
the 25th inst. I did not answer DR..
G-'s letter because, in addition
to my general rule to avoid complica-
tions with political controversies,
there is at this time special reason
on account of the pending presiden-
tial campaign and tendency to mis-
represent and misapply anything said
by me. The Prohibitionists are athird
party, and therefore, whatever was
said on the subject would be food for
political canvassers. In the CONVEX
sation with you on the subject of To-
cal option I, Of course, intended to
adhere to the principle Of local self
government and to reject any propo-
sition which would lead to interfer-
ence with the freedom of the citizen
as far as it can be enjoyed without
injury to others. In this view, the
first thing to define is the locality
so as to secure homogeneity. Take,
for instance as illustration, the coun-
ty of Warren, in which large part
of my life was passed. Vicksburg is
commercial city and it's condition
very different from the rural dis
trict in which I resided-the Island
of Davis's Bend. If the question Of
the sale Of spirituous liquors were
presented for an election the voters
of the city would be under different
influences and might require a diff
ferent polity from that of the dis
trict. Self-government, therefore,
in it's best sense would indicate that
the voters Of each should be left to
decide for themselves. The decision,
whatever it might be, would in any
case be Of little value unless sustain
ed by large majority, such as would
prevent agitation to reverse the de-
cision by another election.
Drunkenness is a great evil, I
would say crime, but, degrading as
it is, it is hardly more injurious to
the morality of the people than the
hypocrisy, evasion and falsehood
which usually follows the attempt to
enforce an unpopular law regulating
the private habits of individuals.
Local option, limited so as to secure
homogeneity, and adopted by such
preponderance of the persons to be
affected as, to make the law but the
voice of the people, will, think, be
desirable, but, if abused, as when
extended beyond the narrow limits I
have indicated, it certainly would be,
l would consider it's adoption most
unfortunate. The refining influences
of education, the purifying power of
Christianity and the closer depend
ence of men upon each other in the
advanced state of society, have done
much, and I pray that the wheel
of progress shall not be reversed.
Faithfully yours,
(Signed) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
An election was held in Walter
1~~ TS.sS