The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-22
The Races in the South.

"orst s'gn, here, in Charleston, is the
growth or a bitter and hostile spirit
between blacks and whites-a gap
opening between the races which, it
would seem, may at some time result
seriously The blame for this state of
things is attributed by some to the
, whites, by others to the negroes, by
others to Boston busy bodies, who have
gone South and stirred up ani,nosi,ies
Of race.
There is no doubt whatever that
there is very great danger in the
future TO the blacks Of the Southern
States from the antagonism Of the two
races which inhabi,' them. In every
respect the whites are the dominant
race, and would remain SO though the
negroes had the ballot tomorrow.
They ars dominantas regards numbers,
being more than twice as numerous as
the blacks hroughout the late slave
States. In consequence Of this they
will be dominant as regards political
. power; they will be dominant also as
regards the possession Of real estate
and capital. So far as controlling
intellect. nervous energy, ambition,
education, self-possession and self.
dependence constitute elements Of
dominancy, they will be with the
whites. So far as the power Of
dominant race is increased BY the
exercise of power, and BY the possess
sion of hereditary and historical free.
dom, in opposition to inherited and
Inherent servility. by so much also
will the continued supremacy of the
white race in the South be guaran-
teed. Some Of these features Of char
acter and condition may bs changed III
the course Of ages; but the ages come
around slowly.
Under these circumstances, or under
any circumstances whatever. it is ma
lignant and criminal on the part of
anybody. and especially on the part of
those who claim to be the exclusive
advocates and admirers Of the negro
race, to stir up such feelings, or inau-
gurate such courses Of action aid
policy, as will increase the growth of
the bitter and hostile spirit between
the blacks aud whites which, we are
told, is showing itself in the South.
The negroes OF the South, who were
lately slaves, are very credulous, and
can easily be made to believe that the
whites are their enemies, and that
everything they do, or attempt.to do,
with reference to the blacks, is done
for the purpose Of injuring them. They
will be made thievish, ii perpetnaily
told that -heir late masters lived by
plundering them; will be ,nade indo>
lent if daily, told that their wages are
too little: will become insoleIt If taught
to be so; aud will be transformed into
a vast body Of worthlessness, degrada-
ton and wretchedness, unless they are
taught the duties O! their new po-
sition, and unless these duties are
sternlv enforced.
Nothing would be easie. than to
increase and extend the antagonism of
race in the South. 1t is strong enough
already; but 1t is still within bounds.
by the efforts Of good men, and by the
continued labors IF the Christian
pulpit and the patriotic press, it might
be transformed and improved uotiI
permanent relations Of good will be,
tween the two races we're established.
If it is to be otherwise hatreds are
to be engcndered-it will take much
less than a century to produce a war
Of races, in which the doom of the
unfortunate blacks need not be forecast.
Ne,0 York Times, July IL.
Charles Lamb was in the habit of