The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-15

self-preservation-not to injurc others'but
to save ourselves. It cannot be necessary
to say that am one of those who believe
that it was an honest effort for honorable
purposes. The United States Government
denied the right Of secession and waeed
war upon the Confederate States. which
stood upon the defensive A terrible war
OF invasion and dcsolation followed, and
finally the Confederate States were over
| whclmcubV force of numbers and dissolved.
At the end of the war the State OF South
Carolina found the Confedcracy broken up,
| her citizens who survived the terrible
ordeal exhausted and impoverished her
| institutions destroyed, and the whole couu-
try occupied by the military forces Of the
| United States; Under these painful cir
| cumStaHccs, the President of, the United
| States invited the States lately composing
the Confedcracy to re-organiZc their GOV
! ernments and restore their connection will,
the Constitution and Government of the
| united States, upon certain conditions, the
| prlnclpai OF which was an acquiesence in
the abolition of slavery, which had been
accomplished by the military autiorities.
! The State, wisely in my Judgment, respond
ed favorably to the invitation. 1t is truo
that the mere issue of battle does not prove
right any more than did the old wager OF
battle. but 1t does prove power which can
not be disregarded. A Provisional Cover
nor was appointed, who called another con-
vention of the people, which has lately
! repealed the Ordinance of Secession. and
by an article in the State Constitution.
recognized the abolition of slavery and BRO
hib!ted its establishment. BY repeal
ing that of Secession, the Ordinance of
17SS, through which South Carolina be-
came = member of the Union. was ipso
fdctO revived, and we are this dav i'm the
Union precisely as We became in 1888 and
remained up to 1860.
We are nov in very anomalous position.
Relying upon the good faith and patriotic
intentions Of the President OF the United
States, we have done all that was required
OF us to restore our o.. relations to the
Constitution and the Union; but still we
have not been received into fellowship at
Washington. That important part of the
plan Of reconstruction remains vet to be
accomplished It is understood that
party ;Fin oppose the Presidents plan of
reorganizing the States and giving to them
equality of rights, and will insist upon still
farther dcspoiling and crushing the States
OF the South as conquered provinces. This
radical fanatical party opposed our leaving
ing to it. When we were in the Union, they
abused us on account Of slavery. They
waged war upon us because We tried to
separate from them, and now that we pro-
pose to return without slavery, they still
object. In this emergency, the State needs
the assistance OF all her true men. Much
remains to be done, and not the least is to
secure prudent, faithful and patriotic
representation in Congress, to assist and
forward the work vi restoration which the
State has commenced. arrogate not to
myself fitness to form part Of such q rep,
resentation, but friends have urged me for
ward, and if You are willing to try ME. I
will give my best efforts.
In some respects, we arc at the beginning
OF our policy, as if We were q new State
about to assume new relations with our
sister States; but We must never allow our
selves to forget that in other respects we
are an old Statc-a State having antece-
dents-a name to maintain and a history to
preserve. Whatever may betide us in the
uncertain future, the past, at least, is se-
cure. South Carolina has never sweryed
from the path OF honor, as she conceived it,
We have record OF which none need be
ashamed; and wheI. any apostate son Of
hers disclaims or disparaSes it, may she
cast him out as unworthy OF her. The
devotion OF every true son Of the State
adheres in adversely as wen as in pros
perity-is loyal through evil as well al
through good report; and in the midst Of
the greatest misfortunes, "sticketh closer
than brother"
After the. delegations from the Southern
States shall have been received into Con-
gress, many delicate and impol tant duties
will devolve upon them, especially in refor-
ence to the freedmen of the South. and the
control which Congress, or party in Con-
gress, may desire still to exercise over
them. It may not be improper, in this
connection, to say that, whilst / have ap-
proved the course of the State in seeking
to restore her Old relations with the Govern
ment of the United States, it has been upon
the faith and expectation that the State. as
soon as reconstructed, is to have entire
control Of the whole subject Of her domes-
tic t,t affairs. The State, and the State alone,
give the right Of suffrage or other political
rights. A new code noir must be enacted
to protect and govern thepopulation lately
made free-to prevent idleness, vagrancy,
pauperis1p and crime. I am not prophet
! enough to foresee whether we can succeed,
but solemnly believe it will be impossible
to live in tho country at llunless the State
has exclusive control of the whole subject.
| have hepe that this will be permitted, and
! L think it is in accordance with our iate-
JcSiS and irue r,t,,i,.y L., s,;:t.:., A..