The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-01
COLUMBIA.
Friday Morning, December l, 1865.
Principle tho Guide.

and the Southern people.
It has been truly said that, by standing
between the mass of the Southern people
and the sweeping confiscation ordered by
Congress, and eagerly urged by many
leading politicians at the North, President
johnson has entitled himself to the warm
protected; and we feel assured that the
people Of the Southern States are neither
unmindful Of, nor ungratcful for, the
favors thus accorded to them, although it
is not to be supposed that any one, placed
IN Mr.. Johnson's position, could have
3ailed to intcrpose more or less energeti-
ea1ly to save the nation, of which lie is the
executive head, from a course which would
have been q stain upon the civilization Of
the nineteenth century, and entailed upon
the country a reproaeh that would have
endured for ages to come. But, making
all allowance and deductions, Mr.. johnson
does deserve we'll of the Southern people,
and their obligations to him arc freely ac-
knowledged; indeed, we are even inclined
to believe that too much weight is some
times attached to them, or at least that
-serviency.
We have no ascertained political status
ourselves, and consequently it may, per-
haps, be ont of place for US to speak Of
what is, or ought to be, our policy; still,
:as We have sort Of quasi existence, and
are required to hold elections, so-cancd, at
aeasts it behooves us to examine carefully
the principles upon which we act, even
within the limited sphere permitted to us.
This is due not only to ourselves, but to
sothcrs. 1t is duty we owe to the country,
and an obligation imposed upon us by our
oaths, to support the Constitution of the
United States.
We are not acting in accordance with the
spirit Of that instrument when we consent
&o accept q man in exchange for prin-
.ciple-an individual for n policy. If we
.Ire called upon to perform any act, we
Ought to do it according to our best judg-
rye submit to the course of the United
States Government in all things, but the
Enoral responsibility must rest with the
party debating such course, and such
party cannot in fairness shift that respon-
tibility to others by requiring them to be-
rome the involuntary agents of saddling
She load upon their own shoulders.
South Carolina and all the other South
srn States are anxious to be restored to
she Union, and to their rightful position as
znembcrs of that Union. They have been
aequired to sacrifice much to prepare them
Sor such restoration; South Carolina has
done everything the President has sus-
Sestcd rs proper for her to do, and vet it
appears highly probable her Senator's and
Representatives will be refused admission
10 Congress. Whatever of principles she
may have sacrificed, from the indication.
in our Northern exchanges, we judge will
have been sacrificed in vain.
The Southern people have accepted the
results of the war, and have suffered the
penalty Of failure. They have honestly
and faithfully aided the President, in the
way he has indicated, in his effort to re-
store the Union; but while they do this,
it is surely proper to consider and to pause
ibcforc they establish any prccedents of
subservicncy to tho radcalism of the
North, who would demand more of us than
we have already done, before admitting us
to our legitimate rights as co-States of the
Union. We may still hope, however, that
3hc President will be successful in his
efforts to complete the reunion of the
States, and that no further sacrifice of
principle will be demanded by the radical
majority in Congress.
-<->--
W., Il t.l tn ol, ~
following telegram from President John