Year: 1871

city kss


! DEAR sIR-I have the honor to ac-


knowledge the receipt of communities


tion from you inclosing too extracts from


newspapers upon which you request m y


criticism; and | infer from your letter


that you wish to learn my opinion upon


the public questions discussed in those


articles


Ycu are quite welcome to know them
if you are willing to accept them as


simply the speculation of an individual.


| represent nobody and do not boast a


folloserin the world nor do l know


that ny notions are shared by any con.


siderable portion of any party.


TIE people of the United States feel


instifc<Sely that they are going wrong,
butstey are told that it will be danger


ods toretrace their steps They know
that the path upon which they have en-


tered is beset with pitfalls; but even a


bad pass is better than the prcipice


The sweep of reaction is stayed by the


dread OF revolution. The policy of


shrewd Democrats and the duty of good


citizens is to dispel this apprehension, no


matter how foolish it may seem to them
Short of honor and good faith no sacri


fee should be deemed severe which would
suffice to lay that haunting spectre. For
that reason I deplore the halting, hesita
ting stepwith which the Democracy is
sneaking up to its inevitable position
For this cause | share your regret at
this studlous ambiguity which seems to
search for sally port through which to
dodge itsdestiny. And while | better
like the spirit | equally condemn the
policy of those who openly proclaim
their purpose of revolution. Such in
dicationso of sentiment annoy me, simply
because they prolong situation fraught
with great danger to the dearest interests
of us all The dominant party can re
tain q power which has grown too great
for the public welfare only by an indefin-
ite extension of the moral conditions of
the civil war


The Republican organization can raj
ly 10 no cry but slogan, and conquer
under no standard but a spear. The
party needs strife 10 insure its success.
but good feeling is necessary for good
government.


Now the hostility to the Fifteenth
is the stock in trade Of the
fomentors of strife; is it worth crafty
ing at the risk OF permanent subjeetion


The South is CALLED to day, not by the
presence of the Amendments to the
Constitution but the utter absence of the
Constitution itself. They feel Congress
which assaults them, but they find no
CONSTITUTION TO protect them


Is it not silly then to squabble about
an amendment which would cease to be
obnoxious if it was not detached from
its context?


- Ii sassss.bling upon 4 feehnieality of
law aud relinquishing the Substance of
liberty The Constitution was struck
down BY the assault on Sumter, as all
must necessarily fall before
the face of the supreme arbitrament of
war. 1t can never be lifted up while war
is fragrant. The people will never resign
the attitude of hostile vigilance which is
the real significance of the present ad
until they know that no one
Of their war trophies is longer disputed I
Then they will gladly resume the habits
which they repress. What then is the
meaning Of the grotesque contortions of
hose who profess fondness for camels
and yet strain so Enthusiastically at this
goat? For the essence OF all Democracy
5 equality-nothing but the equality of
all men before the law. Equal and ezac.
ustice to every man, and each to share
n the government of all. That is the
,nly genuine Democratic doctrine. But
Who dares face an intelligent people with
hat testimony upon his lips, and de
lounce a measure which is too democrat
c for Democrats only because the en-
are black Surely the North
rn Democracy should not be forced into
uch stupidities by the conscientious
cruples of their Southern brethren.
DIFFERENCE is doubtless due TO their con
tiiutional qualms, and yet some lenity
oward evolutionary processes of amend
nent might be reasonably expected from
Importers of secession. If we can con
one the fault is it too much to ask
aroed prisoners of war to pardon il !?


No! You have given our cry, Uni
ersal amnesty and universal suffrage.


would only add the constitutional
J Jnion Of the States. For the old con
titution is just as good as it ever was, ;
Or South as well as North, in spite OF
he marks Of the mailed hand which
,ust remain upon it for warning to
hose that come after US. There is
othing in it now which is not per feet
7 comparable with the happiness, vel
ire and liberty of all the people of all
he Ssasrs II is only the administration {
hat is 1t fault, it is the interpretation
-hich is violent. Do you imagine that
'homas Jefferson, do you think that
ames Madison would say that their old e
rganIc frame permits protective tariff Q
r paper money autherizes national
aDks or Presidential diplomacy ; eoun
'nances military tribunals, centraliza
on and the crowning and perfect in
my OF the kuklux blll2 :


Ii never was the Constitution which G
'vaded or. conquered State, it is not !
ie Constitution which oppresses the
Iates. 1t was war-ciyil war. Close /
e war, and you restore self government a
the people of the States. Ifthey can
,t secure their own peace aud happiness
US look around next year, not for the
resident, but for the FIRST dictator.
Now. It you or any other man doubts ! !
e souudness of my judgment in,this
after, al ask is a true Democratic
administration, and you shall see it for 9
,urself. a


Yours, very respectfully,
5 JOHN @. ADAMS