The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-21
raostIy terest you, at this ssiinne,; Intend;
tps speak 70 you plainly for T ,saat to be-

zns0lstlE lnSerest you. at TINS sin1e. intend
tos speak to- you plainly for & ssaat to be-
uAderstood by everybody ss s: :9ss
Before assuming any position, however.
or placing myself en- any platform, it viii
Be well for US to take a passing glance and
trace, hurtiedly, the deep and woesuf
ravages made BY the blooay and deselatinea
tract Of sscruel war upon our once prosper
GUS md happy land. What "a picture lies
outspread as NE take this backward turn.
What a picture Of contrast, engraved, as il
were, by the iron wrought pencil dripping
with the stream Of CORY red that has
delused our mountains and plains, hill
sides and glens, during the four past and
heightened years OF sscruel war;" then the
storm felt lashings. whether of adverse
winds, the lishtnings sudden violence, or
the waiiings, in thTpdrous echoes, OF many
bleeding hearts, do but add new terrors to
the terrific scene passing beneath our
vision. 1 repeat again, what sad picture
OF contrast, this, to the sunny South OF hy
gone days, blooming in prosperity; whose
very mountains and hills echoed their
giadest- tones, and whose lovely Wales and
gentle streams smiled with p1enteeus COM
tort and flowed in joyous accents along.
and whose light winged zephyrs breathed
but happiness.
/ 1t ls heart sicksning truly to take even
this cursory view of the picture, but we
must well survey our surroundings before
deciding to take future step. Further
more, besides the deep regrets for happi-
ness fed, and loved ones gone, there is an
evil OF much' less depth which perhaps
may become of wide extension and bearing
upon the welfare of our nation, and which
demands some consideration therefrom.
Ihls Is the low state of approaching bank
ruptcy that seems weighing US downward.
Let the platform of action of every man
be one for the good of the people, both as
nation and State. While am decided
ly opposed to. reputation, am eouallv
averse to compelling the debtor to pay the
full amount of debts contracted during the
recent war. The practical maxim now with
every one should be, 'sTo'lve and let live.,I
am IL favor of q judicious and equitable
compromise, and, unwilling to add oppres
SION to misfortune, trust the next Lcgis-
lature will enact some equitable law to the
general satisfaction Of both creditor and
debtor, and save US from the ruinous con-
sequences of extending bankruptcy. that
would inevitably eNsue from q course favor
ing only the few.
Ike emancipation Of slavery By the Gov
ernment of the United States, and the
acquiescence in this movement bv orr own
State Convention, has brought us now to =
stand OF deep thought, as to what ness
ures next to adopt to better our condition
ana raise us once again to hope and peace.
Various are the opinions that. have been
suggested as to what shall be. done with
the negro. can suggest no other plan for
the present than for the negroes to bean
portloned out to each State in the Union
according to representation, or population,
or colonize them in some newly acquired
| territory.
am also opposed to comforting the
right Of suffrage on the recently freed
negroes, because I know them to be inca
pable OF exercising such privilege, and
because I consitler this dangerous ele
ment to introduce into the system of our
Government. I well know that this cues
ton belongs properly to the decision of
each State, but l am confident it will be
brought before Congress, as the restles
Abolition party, flushed with successive
victories, are ever ready to enter into new
fields of agitation.
The people Of the North have always had
some negroes among them, but never, to
my knowledge, have they ever raised these
negroes to an equal station with them
selves. II one Northern State has ever had
colored Governor or Licuten.nt-G Gsvcr-
nor, or if one Of this sable race has ever
been honored with seat in the Legislative
body: either State or Federal, it is unknown
to me.
In the State Of Illinois, the late home OF
President Lincoln, there is law extant
-.