The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-25
COLUMBIA.
Friday Morning, Aug 21 1866.
What 10 to be Done

What 10 to be Done1
Briefly, the Conventions of the peo-
pie of the several Southern States, are
SO to revise the existing CONSTITUTIONS
of each State .aad- without discussion
or debate-for these are idle-as to
abolish slavery within the limits Of the
State. The State Legislatures of the
South are also severally required to
adopt the amendment to the Fcderaa
Constitution, which declares slavery
forever abolished throughout the
United States. This is all which these
bodies Gan be required to do by the
Government of the United States,
preparatory to their readmlsslon to
the Confederacy. In the event OF the
Convention refusing to enact thus, or
the Legislature subsequently, the
State remains in sort Of territorial
condition, and continues under mill
tary government. 1t Is for the mem
bers of the Convention to decide for
themselves which st0'us they shall
prefer. We do not see that any other
reulisit GA is g. can be ;laae, on these
.;,;a.:.i ',adies, as ~ the work confded
to their hands. In general terms, they
are TO devise a republican form OF
government. The. standards for such
frame work are to be fo md in any
dozen of the existing Constitutions of
-. country-nay, in that of South
<.r>lina itself. We do not see that
-. our Parish system. to which OBJ
=. ). has been SO frequently made,
l.! .pject Likely to occasion Congress
6 IL aniunadversaon, since every
$: is permitted to decide .or itseli
80. letals' of representation, accord
y. 30 it's internal policy, and to de-
re with whom the rights of s,,f
age shall reside, and what shall be
le degree Of representation confided
% each precinct. Not that we care,
Or need to care any longer for the Pc
culiar privilegesin the Senate, former
ly accorded to the Parishes. This was
only important while the character
istics of property were derived from
the use of negrQ slavery. In the de-
struction of this interest, the condi-
tioa of things must necessarily change,
the standards of taxation. must all
change, and the numbers of the negro
Will take the place of his valuation as
50 much property. Ii the Parish vote
IN the Senate is lessened be assured it
must necessarily increase in the House.
L:ther way the. difference will be I'M
material to the section. in question.
The value of lands will diminish in
ne low country, and rise in the mid
d: and upper country, in all parts
above the mllarial region. But We
need not Of present dilate on this sub
iect. 1t may be well to add, what will
be the further requisition OF the United
States Government and the Congress
upon the people of the South. They
are required to- ''accePt in good faith
tae change in the status of the negro
and to made 10 attempt, Indirectly,
:, reduce the cmancipated slave to q
!it;"r of practical slavery" We do
-. x.ctly see how Congress can de-
..,.. such \ subject, or waat will be
~ .>'t;;on OF slavery, where " sys-
:. u ...nv-: exist, depending npoi.
C.. ,racts between the parties. Men
nj. sink or-rise in-the social position
i-e.: r,ting to laws of mental slid moral
~. ritatioA IN degree with tiltir lie
2a ,pments in these respects, VI tneil
:,.. 81: to develope, mast they rise il
s..;.. oi leacend to conditions which
W. u, cay. 4 slavery or not, vii
- ~ss-- ~ - s..Vc coAut!oh. LOT
Il ,f;,,n lyo oov, rnf.