The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-30
TO tSs Voters % Gzans.bSzzn, Edge
field, Abbeville, Ncwberry, Lexing-
ton, Rfch1and and Fairfield.

have consented to be put in nomination
for yonr Representative in the Congress Of
the United States. I Ipublishth this card, be-
cause the District is 30 largo and the time
before the election 80 short that I could
not, II desired, canvass tho District. If
canvass were possible. however. do not
think it becoming or desirable. In my
Judgment, this is no time for scramble for
Office. 1t seems to me that no one proper
ly impressed with the solomnity of the
crisis, and the delicacy and Importance of
the duties to be discharged, could seek the
position merely for the qualification of per-
sonal ambition. For myself, declare that
have no wish but to servo the State.
In 1888, South Carolina, through :; con-
vention OF her people, became one of the
United States. She remained member Of
the Union until December, 1850, when,
through another convention OF her people,
she repealed the Ordinance of 17SS, seced-
ed from the United States, and with Ger
tain other sister States entered into another
government known as tho Confederate
Government. We believed that we had the
qulree! its exercise i'll cooperation with our
Southern sisters. South Carolina, in 1859.
proclaimed by solemn ordinance the right
OF secession. It had long been the settled
opinion of the State that shcWas sovereign
and entitled to all the rightsCf sovereignty.
she asserted self-government in ordor>to
secure her institutions and principles from
great evils, believed to be imminent. Sc
cession WAS in the nature of 4 procccdinc
quiG tin.et. It was conccivcdin the spirit of
seH-preservation-not to injurc others but
to save ourselves. 1t cannot be necessary
to say that am one OF those who believe
that it was an honest effort for honorable
purposes. The United States Governments
tlenict! the right of secession and waged
war upon the Confederate States, which
stood upon the defensive. a terrible war
OF invasion and dcsolation followed. and
finally the Confederate States were over
whelmed by force of numbers and dissolved.
At the end of the war the State Of South
Carolina found the Confedcracy broken up,
her citizens who survived the terrible
ordeal exhausted and impoverished, hci.
institutions destroyed, and the whole coun-
try occupied by the military forces of the
United States. Under these painful cir
cumstances, the President of the United
States invited the States lately composing
the Confcderacy to- re-organizc their gov
ernments and restore their connection with
the Constitution and Government of the
United States, upon certain conditions, the
principal OF which was All acguescnce in
the abolition of slavery, when had been
accomplished by the military authorities.
The State, wisely in my Judgment, respond
ed favorably to the invitation. 1t is true
that the mere issue OF battle does not prove
right any more. than did the old wager OF
battle" but it does prove power which can
not be disrcgardcd A Provisional Cover
nor was appointed, who called another con-
vention OF the people, which has lately
repealed the Ordinance of Secession, and
by an article in the State Constitution,
recognized the abolition OF slavery and pro-
hibited it's rc-establishmeat. BY repeal
ing that Of Secession, the Ordinance OF
17SS, through which South Carolina be-
came q member Of the Union, was f1so
tdcto revived, and we are this day in the
Union precisely as we became in 17SS and
renamed up to 1860.
We arc now in q very 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
nave not been received into fellowship at
Washington. That important part of the
plan OF reconstruction remains yet to be
accomplished. 1t is understood that q
party will oppose the Presidents plan of
reorga:nizing the States and giving to them
equality OF rights, and will insist upon still
farther dcspoilinS and crushing the States
OF the South as ,conquercdprovinccs. This
radical Ca fanatical party opposed our leaving
the Union, and now they oppose our return
ing to 1T. When we were in the Union, they
aDused us on account OF slavery. They
| waged war upon us because we tried to
separate from them, and now that we pro-
pose to returnswithout slavery, t.ey still
object. In this emergency, she State needs
the assistance OF all her true men. Much
remains to be done, and not the least is to
secure a prudent, faithful and patriotic
representation in Congress, to assist and
forward the work Of restoration which the
State has commenced. Iarrocatc not to
myself fitness to form part of sucl, {. rep,
resentation, but friends have urged me for
ward, and if you are willing to trv mo. I
will give my best efforts.
In some respects we areat the beginning
OF our policy, rs if we we're a new State
about to assume new relations with onr