The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-07

ability and intelligence adequate to
the discharge of the very important
duties which will devolve upon them.
CAROLINA.
MIR. EDITOR: The writer of the cad
dress to the People of Fairfield Dis
tract' has touched, in a cursory way,
or at the conclusion of the article, on
a subject which will probably be
among the first which the Convention
will take up at its approaching session.
The President having intimated to it
his expectation that it's first act will be
to amend the Constitution, so 40 to
provide for the abrogation of slavery.
1t is to be hoped that this august body
will not be- in any unnecessary hurry
on this subject, but will, before COM
plying with this q"asi behest, have the
firmness to demand and stipulate for
some indemnity for the sacrifice which
the State is thus called on to make. of
an institution to which it owes so
much-whlch was a source of security
IN peace and of strength in war. We
do not mean, Mr.. Editor, to open old
wounds, or vindicate the doomed in
stltution of slavery, but merely avail
ourselves of your columns to express
a hope that the Convention will make
a proper and prompt move on this
subject; will also seek to obtain from
the Government some provision for
the maintenance, during the approach
ing winter, of the host of spaupers
whom it has thrown upon the hands
and the charities of the State. An in
slstance, by the Government, on an
unconditional emancipation of the whole
laboring population of the South, will
be to convert what was intended as a
boon to the negroes and triumph of
humanity into wholessbe spoliation of
one people by another, bf which there
Is no parallel in the history of nations;
while the throwing of four millions of
slaves out of employment, who are
without property, without trades or
professions of any kind, has suddenly
created q mass OF pauperism, vagrancy
and misery, which, as the deliberate
act of a civilized Government, is
equally without example in the annals
OF the world. An exemption of the
abohtionized States for term of wears
from Federal taxation, or from the
payment of import duties on the arti-
cles most consumed by, or most neces-
sary to, our agricultural population;
or, lastly, the adoption by the Govern
ment of the Confederate debt, as has
been suggested by yourself, Mr.. Ed
ltor, which could be provided for and
paid off in very few years, are all
measures within the competence of
the Government, and which we trust
that the Convention will submit to its
attention, and urgently appeal to it to
adopt and carry out.
In time of war, the slaves formed a
non-combative and laboring class, who
produced In abundance the means of
supporting our armies; and during
peace, afforded to their owners oppor-
tunltles for acquiring the accomplish
ments OF the marksman, the hardihood
OF the huntsman, and the command
of the martial horse, who, with his
neck clothed in thunder" bore him in
battle, or slept beside him in his tent.
Slavery existed in nearly oil of the
Northern States, during the revolu-
tionary war, and England felt, with
ont recognizing, the influence of the
institution, in the obstinacy, the pro-
traction of the contest, and the resist
ance she so unexpectedly met with
from "undiscipEned militia"
JUSTUS.