The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-20
COLUMBIA.
Thursday Morning, July 90, 1865.
Extract of a Letter from South
'Carolinian to his Friend.

gentleman of this State, is. deemed worthy
of publication. The writer has, during q
long life given his attention to the subject
of this letter. He has watched and at
many times advised. lie is learned, calm
and disinterested. and therefore au umpire
of sufficient authority to be listened to.
The terms he proposes will be favorable
to the freedmen and not oppressive to the
employer, and will keep the former in
relation the most desirable (for them) to
their employers, and give them chance
successfully to accustom themselves to
their new possession of personal liberty:
Time has always viudicated ME. You
know how earnestly opposed the move
ment that I predicted would inevitably
lead to civil war, SO openly and so con
stantly, that had been in the way of any
small demagogue, the people would have
been turned loose upon me. I believe you
were present when l addressed the mer-
chauts of the village, in Jones' office.
urging then, to inaugurate rou ou-intercourse
the policy that STAYED off for several
wears, the war OF tho Revolution. I
denied the sequence claimed from tie
doctrines Of J. q. Calhoun, because, to my
knowledge. he restrained from attempts at
disunion, to which many OF the Younger
politicians were inclined in '32-'33. tie
was not even a nullifer. quote from my
letter, written many years ago, to q Geor-
gia editor:
Qualification is net nv worl never
use i'll always say State interposilon.
My purpose is a suspensive veto to com
pei the installing the highest tribunal pro-
vided by the constitution. to decide on the
point in dispute. do not wish to destroy
the Union-I only wish to make it honest.
The Union is too strong to brcak-nothing
can break it but the slavery question, it
that can.
''If convention of the States were
called. and it should decide that the pro-
tective policy is constitutional. what thels
Then give it up"
After the surrende: Of Lee and John
stoD, as soon as it was seen that the Rich
mond Administration would do nothing,
the governors Of the States ought, in con
cert to have notified the Government at
u.
They having failed to do so, it would be
we'll to give the intimation through meet.
ings of the people, coupled with the re-
quest that the lieutenant govern or convene
the Legislature as early as may be possible
This would relieve the United States
Government from an abnormal position,
involving complications and expense, and
civil authority would be- apso tacto, re-
cd oil Z bat
the States would forthwith enact gradual
emancipation, the constitutional question,
the question of compensation, and all
controversy in relation to the proclama
ton. would be gotten rid OF. The Gene
raj Government having satisfied any sup
posed obligation incurred, and perfectly
aware that control given to officials mex.
perenced and without sympathy with the
interests involved. must necessarily cause
mischief, would gladly leave the whole
matter with the States
Obviously, from considerations of hui
naanity. the slide into the transition state
should be as gentle as possible; no harsh
disruption of family ties no violent
change in the modes of occupation. Since
wages have been proposed to our laboring
class, let wages be conceded; and vet
however, so far as plantations are con.
cerned, this should not be in monthly pay
menls. but by certain portion of the
clear proceeds of the years transactions,
to be distributed at the Christmas holi-
days. The proprietors distribute organ
lied estates. and. in many cases. have on
hand the crops of several Years. Let all
be counted in at the start. and mainte.
nance. medical attendance, payment Of
taxes. &c, be continued as heretofore. Let
the labor, where its nature viii. admit be
task work. according to the established
custom Of the country; the head man each
day reporting delinqrents; they to be
heard in their defence. and arbitration
had, when claimed. 4 monthly abstract,
showing the time lost by each ldler to be
made out and read to the assembled work
Eor h. Z l.,tt L Ia,