The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-27
To Editor of the Phenir-SlE- Numer-

To Editor of the Phenir-S1E. Numer-
GUS communications having been addressed
to me. proposing to form q colony to emi.
crate, take this method of answering
them, not only on acconnt of their number,
but because of the want of all mail facili-
| ties The desire to leave country which
has been reduced to such deplorabe con-
dition rs ours, and whose future has so
little of hope, is doubtless as wide spread
as it is natural But doubt the propriety
of this repatriation of SO many of our
best men. The very fact that our State
Is passing through so terrible an ordeal as
the present. should cause her sons to cling
the more closely to her. My advice to all
of.my fellow-citizens is, that they should
devote their whole energies to the resto.
ration of law and order, the e-establish.
ment of agriculture and commerce. the
promotion of education aud the rebuilding
of our cities and dwellings which have
been laid in ashes. To accomplish these
objects-the highest that patriotism can
conceive-I recommend that NIL who eau
do so should take the oath of.allegiance TO
the United States Government, so that
they may participate in tha restoration OF
civil government to our State. War, after
four years OF heroic but unsuccessful
struggle, has tailed to secure to us the
rights for which we engaged in it. To
save a"y Of our rights-to rescue ANYTHING
more from the general ruin-wll require
oil the craftsmanship and all the patriot
ism of our citizens. If the best men ol
our country-those who for Years past
have risked their lives in her defence
refuse to take the oath, they will be
excluded from the councils of the State.
and its destiny will be committed of ne
cessi:y to those who forsool1 her in her
hour Of need, or to those who would
gladly pull her down TO irresrievabe ruin.
Io guard against such calamity, let all
true patriots devote themselves, with
zeal aud honesty Of purpose, to the resto
ration of law. the blessings of peace and
to the rescue of whatever of liberty may
be saved from the general wreck. If.
after an honest effort to effect these OBJ
jects, we fail, we can then seek hone
IN another country. A distinguished citi.
zen OF our State-an honest man and :.
true patriot-has been appointed Cover
nor. tie Will soon call Ii convention of the
people, which will DO charged with TIC
Iiiost Fltel interests Of our State Choose
lor this convention Your tes. n~I ..,-.r
, men; not those who have skulsrd in the
hour Of danrer--nor those who have wor
shipped Mammon, while their o,unLry
was bleeding at every pore-nor the poll
t'cian, who, after urging war, dared not
encounter its hardships-but these who
laid their all upon the altar Of their coun-
try. Select such men, and make them
serve as your representatives. You Will
then be sure that your rights vii, not be
wantonly sacrificed. nor your liberty bar
tered for mess of pottaga. My intention
is to pursue the course rec.nmen,l 10
others. Besides the obligations l owe to
my State. there are others Of a personal
character which will not permit me to
leave the country at present. l shall
devote myself earnestly. if allowed to do
so. to the discharge OF these Obligations.
public and private. In the meantime. I
shall obtain all information which would
be desirable in the establishment of a
colony. in case we should ultimately be
forced to leave the country. invoke my
Ilow,ci'izens-especially those who have
shared with me the perils and the glories
of the last four years-to stand by our
State manfully and truly. The Roman
Senate voted thanks to one of their gene.
rails. because, in the darkest hour Of the
Republic. he did not despair. Let us
emulate the example of the Roman. and
thus entitle ourselves to the gratitude of
our country Respectfully. yours.
WADE HAMPTON.