The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-14

lf-preservation-not to injure others but
to save ourselves. It cannot be necessary
to say that I am one OF those who believe
that ii was m honest effort for honorable
purp poses. The United States Government
denied the right Of secession and waged
war upon the Confederate States, which
stooc upon the defensive. A terrible war
of inv ssion and desolation followed, and
finally the Confederate States were over
wheln ID by force Of numbers and dissolved.
At the md Of tho war the State Of Soutl,
Carolin I found the Confederacy broken u,,,
her citizens who survived the terrible
ordeal Ahausted and Impoverished. her
institut. ol,s destroyed, and TIE whole coun-
try occu ped by the military forces Of the
United States. Under these painful cir
States invited the States lately composing
the Confedcracy to re-OrganiZe their gov
'ernmcnts and restore their connection with
the Constitution and Government OF the
United States, upon certain conditions, the
principal of which was an accuieschce in
the abolition of slavery, which had been
accomplished by the military authorities
The State, wisely in my Judgment. respond
ed favorably to tho Invitations It is true
that the mere issue Of battle does not prove
right any more than did the old wager of
battle" but it does prove power which can
not be disrcgardcd. A Provisional Cover
nor was appointed, who called another con-
ventien 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repealed the Ordinance of Secession and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 pro-
hlbited its rc-cstablishment BY repeal
ing that of Secession, the Ordinance OF
1885, Through which South, Carolina be-
came = member. of the Union, was inso
fdcto revived, and We are this day in the
Union precisely as We became in 17SS and
renamed up to 1860.
We are now in very anomalous position
Relying upon the good faith and patriotic
intentions of the President or he United
States. we have done all that ) required
of us to restore our old relations to the
Constitution and the Union; but still we
have not been received into fellowship at
Washington. That important paripf the
plan of reconstruction remains II to be
accomplished. 1t is understood 1t a
party will oppose the Presidents pl6 of
reorSanizlng the States and giving to them
equality of rights, and viii i::iist upon still
farther despOiling and crushing the StateA
OF the South as conquered provinces. This
radical fanatical party opposed our leaving
the Union, and now they oppose our return
ing to it. When we were in the Union, they
| abused rs on account of slavery. They
Wageu "isr 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 q. prudcnt, faithful and patriotic
representation III Congress, to assist and
forward the work OF restoration which the
State has commenced. l arrogate not to
| myself fitness to form part Of such rep
resentation, but friends have urged me for
ward, and if you are willing to try me,
will give my best efforts.
In some rcSOcctS yyc arp af he haOiDpiO
OF our policy, as ii we were . 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
arc an old State-a State having antcce-
| dents-a name to maintain and history to
preserve. Whatever may betide us in the
uncertain future: the past, at least, is Sc
cure: South Carolina has never swerved
from the path OF honor, rs she conceived it.
We have 4 record Of which none need be
| ashamed: and when any. apostate son of
hers disclaims or disparagcs it, may she
| cast him out as unworthy of her. The
devotion Of every true son of the State
adhcrcs In advcrsity as well as in pros
| pcrity-is loyal through evil as well as
| through good report; and in the midst of
the greatest misfortunes, ''stickcth closer
than 4 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 refer
ence to the freedmen of the South, and the
control which Congress, or party in Con-
gress, may desire still to exercise over
them. 1t may not be improper, in this
connection, to say that, whilst I have ap-
proved the course of the State in seeking
to restore 'lcr 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 affairs. The State t,and the State alone,
must be left to decide to whom she will
give the right Of suffrage or other political
rights. A new code nor must be enacted
to protect and govern thepopulation lately
made free-to prevent idleness, vagrancy,
pauperlsm and crime. I am not prophet
enough to foresce whether we can succeed,
but solelnnly believe it will be Impossible
to hve IN the country at all unless the State
has exclusive control of the whole subject.
| have hope that this will be permitted, and