Year: 1868

OSs ~


The following eloquent and advisory letter from
General John g. Preston, was read before the
Democratic Club of Richland District:


COLUMBIA, April 6, 1868.
Colonel j.. p Thomas, Acting Chairman of the


State Democratic Executive Con'naittee::


DEAR SIR Circumstances entirely personal to
myself, but of absolute and imperative control,
will prevent me from attending the meetings OF
the Democratic Club, or other public meetings, at
present. The same circumstances will deter me
from making public addresses in any form. l.
therefore, ask you for other duties and to whatev
er other you may assign me, I need not assure you
that I will do my best for the purposes Of the
Democratic party, which purposes are to make one
more effort to regain our lost iberty-this time by
peaceful action. My heart and soul are as ardent
ly in this effort, as they were in the glorious one
which God, inscrutably, allowed to fail. Our role
now is caution, discretion and the severest delbe-
ration, keenly anayzing and calmly calculating the
chances and conditions. Our only weapons are
our wits and judgment; we must keep in mind
that we are still under the rageof the storm, pros
trate on the earth--our ears still deafened by its
roar-our eyes still blinded by its peting drifts and
threatening flashes; and that before We can rise,
we must on bended knees, look up to God; and
then peer cautiously round in search Of the way
which will lead US to shelter, or enable US to breast
its further fury. Nor must we forget that with
right truth, valor and devotion, and great strength
after five years of bloody struggle, we failed to
keep our liberties It is more difficult to regain
than to preserve liberty; more difficult to regene-
rate than to create.


have abiding faith in the intentions and dispo-
sition ofthe National Democratic party toward Us.
They will certainly help us, if We try to help them
and ourselves and if they are successful, our woes
will be greatly miigated. It is our last hope fand
it is therefore our bounden duty to strive manfuly
under the banner of the Democratic party, and to
be very careful that we add nothing to its difficult
ties by making hasty and unwise declarations. based
solely on our sacred traditions


believe our present action is wisely conceived;
and even if il fails, it viii exhibit our loyalty to
the principles of the National Democratic party,
and indicate the Democratic probabilities in South
Carolina in the Presidential election, on which the
policy Of the party may be based.


As to this infamous Constitution, which is thrust
upon us at the point Of the sword if we fail to de-
feat it, we may rest assured that it will fall to pieces
by the weight of its own corruption and folly, be-
fore the end of the first Legislature. hope every
decent man in the State, white and colored, whois
allowed by the bayonet to vote willgo forward and
record his solemn protest against the vile thing.


AS to the colored people, let us treat them, and
treat with them, in the most generous and sympa-
thetic spirit They are not yet altogether corrupt
ed under the domination Of fslss-hearted rene
gades and Radical emssaries, and it is no fault Of
theirs that we and they are plunged intoa common
ruin. That Internal sin rests on other SOULS


Yours faithfully, &C.,


JOHN 8. PRESTON.