Year: 1867




and command the deep consideration of all honest
men, we subscribe ourselves, very respectfully,
yours, N'5.t a@ aa y. ". nal,
-, 80, ,-.s, srs,.s, ,ai j. P. THOMAS,
49,. II E. NJ. LAW,


And about sixty others
. To Gen WADE HAMPTON, Columbia


GENTLEMEN: beg to acknowledge the receipt
ofthe letter, in which dome the honor to ask my
'adyce with regard to your action in the very I'M
po-tant matters soon to be submitted to the people
of the State Though cannot but feel that ma
nv of those whose names are signed to this commu-
nicaton are far more competent to offer counsel on
the grave topics now agitating the public mind
than myself, as deem it to be the duty of every
man. when called on by his fellow citizens in times
of peril, to contribute all in his power to promote
the general welfare, or to ward off the common
danger, willingly comply with your Hattering re-
= quest. ..-. ....


Recognizing, then, the duty imposed on me by
your CALL and impelled, also, by the great respect
feel for those who have thus honored me, shall
state with perfect candor the imminent dangers
surrounding us and point out with equal frankness
the only course which, in my judgment, we can
pursue with honor, or with any hope. of ultimate
safety Before proceeding to the discussion Of the
present condition of affairs it is proper to let you
know what were the views entertained by myself
immediately after the cessation of active hostlties,
and what was the course thought our people
should>then follow. This cannot be done more
eoncisely than by giving to you copy of a letter
addressed to James G.. Gibbes, Esq, chairman of a
public meeting, which was held here in Au-
gust, 1865. Not being in the city at that time, 1
wrote the following letter, which, yielding to the
views of others, afterwards determined not to
publish: -. ,,..
To His Honor James G. GIbbes Mayor Of Coiumbla:


SIR: Having been absent when the late public
meeting was held in the city, 1 take this method
of expressing my views on the subjects discussed on
that occasion It is with some reluctance that
express these views, as do not concur in the poll
cy advocated by the meeting. Is it desirable that
the people of the State should take any action look
ing to restoration of civil government at present?
think not and for these reasons:


The State is either member of the Federal o.
MON, or it is not If member, then not only is it
work of supererogation for her to ask admission
to the Union, but she is by the Constitution of the
United States, guaranteed a republican form Of
Government, and she has the right to administer
her Government under such a constitution and by
such laws as she chooses. But if she is, on the
contrary not member of the Union, she must be
regarded either Us Territory, or as conquered
province. In either condition, the United States
authorities are charged with the duty Of providing
a proper Government for her, and think the true
policy of the State is to remain passive until such
Government is given to her. or is forced upon her.
IF the course indicated by the meeting here is fol-
lowed by the State, what viii be the result? VIII
it lead to the restoration of the Union it existed,
and to the reestablishment of the constitution and
laws of this State? I do not think that such will
be the case To restore the State to the Union by
the plan contemplated in the resolutions adopted
by the meeting here, it will be necessary TO call a
convention of the State. That convention, cho-
sen as that will be, will represent the wishes of
the people of the State, is an impossibiGty. But
passing over this grave objection, there remains
the still graver one as to the adoption Of consti-
tuition. Are the people of the State willing, by
the adoption ofa new and totally different consti-
tuition, to ignore all the teachings of the past, to
subvert the whole order of society, to change, in
moment, its whole organization and, in word, to
commit (if the expression may be used) political
snicide? Yet this is the inevitable tendency Of
the course recommended by the meeting No
one, for moment, supposes that the State will be
admitted into the Union with its present constitu
tion. To gain admission, the State must come
with constitution representing mot the views and
interests of the people of South Carolina but those
of Massachusetts,. 1t may be urged that the State
must come with such constitution, or not come
at ALL If such is the fact, then let her not come
at all. The United States Government will hold
the country, as it now does, by military occupa-
ton its troops will be present to inaugurate and
enforce the new system of labor decreed by the
President of the United States, and the people,
though conquered, will not have the additional
humiliation and reproach which they would bring
upon themselves, if they consent to destroy their
own constitution, which was bequeathed to them
by their fathers.


Besides these various reasons against the policy
advocated by the meeting it appears to me that it
is premature for the people to move at present.
The authorities at Washington have not indicated
the course they propose to pursue towards the
State, nor have they manifested great zeal in the
restoration of that Union for which they have pro-
fessedy been fighting for the last four years. They
have not asked the State to return to the Union,
nor have they announced the terms upon which il
can do so. When they have done these things, il
will be time enough for the State to take counse
how to act.


I recommend then, with all Difference to your
self and the gentlemen over whom you presided tn
other day, that the people should remain pertect!
quiet, taking no action whatever in public atiahs
Leave all these matters to the United States Gov
eminent, which will, doubtless, in good time, pro