The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-12

seH-Preservatlon-not 10 lnjure others but
to save ourselves. It cannot be necessary
to say that I am one Of those who believe
that it WAS an honest effort for honorable
purposes. The United States Government
denied the right Of secession and w.sed
war upon tho Confederate S.atos, which
stood upon the defensive. A terrible war
of invasion and dcsolation followed, and
finally the Confederate States were over
whclmedSy force OF numbers and dissolved.
At the end OF the war the State Of South
Carolina found the Confederscy broken up.
her citizens who survived the terrible
ordeal exhausted and impoverished, her
institutions destroyed, and the whole coun-
try occupied by the military forces of tho
United States. Under these painful cir
cumstances, the President Of the United
States invited the States lately composing
the Confederacy to re-orSanizc their gov
ernmentS and restore their connection with
the Constitution and Government Of the
United States, upon certain conditions, the
principal Of which was an scquiesence in
the abolition OF slavery, which had been
accomplished by the military authorities.
The State, wisely in my Judgment, respond
ed favorably TO the invitation. It is true
that the mere issue OF battle does not prove
right any more than did, tho old s'wager OF
battle;" but it does prosepower which can
not be disregardcd. A Provisional Cover
nor was appointed, who called another cor
vention OF the people, which has lately
by an article in the State Constitution,
recognized the abolition OF slavery and pro-
hibited it's re-establishment. BY rerea!-
ing that Of Secession, the Ordinance of
1888, through which South Carolina be-
came member OF the Union, was ipso
fdcto revived, and we arc this day in the
Union precisely as we became in 1888 and
rcmMned ND to 1860
We are now IN avery anomalous position.
Relying upon the good faith and patriotic
Intentions Of the President OF the United
States, we have done all that WAS 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 part of the
plan OF reconstruction remains yet to be
accomplished. 1t is understood that a
party vii! oppose the Presidents plan OF
reorganlzlng the States and giving to them
equality OF rights, and will insist upon still
farther despoiling and crushing the States
OF the South as conquered provinces. This
radical fanatical party opposed our leaving
the Union, and now they oppose our return-
ing to 1T. When we Werc i'll the Union, they
abused us on account Of slavery. They
waged war upon us because we tried to
separate from them, and now that we pre-
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 il to
secure o prudent, faithful and patriotic
representation in Congress-, to assist and
forward the work Of restoration which the
State has commenced. I arrogate not to
myself fitness to form part Of such o rep
resentation, but friends have urged me for
ward, and if you are willing to try me,
will give my best efforts.
In some respects, we are at the beginning
OF our policy, as II we we're o 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
are an old State-a State having antece-
dents-a name to maintain and history to
preserve. Whatever may betide us in thep
uncertain future, the past, at least, is Sc
cure. South Carolina has never swerved
from the path OF honor, as she conceivedit.
We have a record OF which none need Do
ashamed; and when any apostate son Of
hers disclaims Or disparages it, may she
cast him out MS unworthy Of her. The
adheres in adversely as well as in pros
Perity-is loyal through evil rs well AZ
through good report; and in the midst Of
the greatest mil fortunes, "sticketh closer
than 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. It may not be improper, in this
connection, to say that, whilst I have ap-
proved the course Of the State in seeking
to restore her old relations with the Govern
ment of the United States, it has been upon
the faith and e1pecta ton that the State, as
soon as reconstruc Jed, is to have entire
control OF the whole subject of her domes-
tic affairs. The State, and the State alone,
must be left to decide to whom she will
give the right of suffrage or other political
rights. new code NOR must be enacted
to protect and govern population lately
made free-to prevent idleness, vagrancy,
pauperism and crime. am nos prophet
enough to foresce whether we can succeed,
but solcmnly believe it will be impossible
to live in the country at all unless the State
has exclusive control OF the Whole subject
l have hope that this will be permitted, and
1 think 1T IS i'll accordance wi h our inte-
rests and true policy to sustain the Presi-
dent and the Democratic party III their
efforts to restore the States TO their posi-