The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-06
COLUMBIA.
Wednesday Morning, Dec. 6. 1865.
The Issue.


Capital. the issue between the Radicals
and the Administration is being made.
We find in the National Intali1ence,., an
interesting article on this ISSUE That
paper, long and favorably known for its
conservatism and reliability, says that
the Administration stands for the equality
Of the States, for the sway of civil law, for
the right Of representation in Congress,
subject only to the qualifications Of the
Constitution and to such manifest personal
exceptions as plainly deserve to be enforced
against ezistiny traitors or Infamous COR
spa7nors. 1t regards force only as
necessary police regulation in aid Of civil
law until such time as all danger from local
disturbances shall finally subsidc. And
the policy Of the Administration goes on
the conviction that the sooner the Sta tos
are restored to their practical relat ion
With tine Federal head, the sooner will all
danger, even from local disturbances, be
removed, and thus the sooner the nation
will be relieved from the offence of arms,
from burdesome Sarrisons, from factious
sycnphants of central armed power on
populace on the other, (Which Southern
disorder must create and continue on the
plan of force.) Tho President seems to
prefer to think that the mind and heart
and interests of the South will better work
N the element of the freedmen into the
body polite than will arbitrary and uncon-
stitutional action, based on the theory
hat e
either murder the negro, or reduce him
again to bondage.
Opposed to the Administration is the
doctrine that the States are destroyed;
that the President has uSuped powers;
khat the American Union is practically dis
.olvetl: that the South are subjected
people; that their elections are mockerics:
that their members returned to Congress
shall be subjected to tests unknown to the
Constitution; that the names of such shall
not be entered on the roll Of the States,
erea after a P'esilrntit' proclamation that
the rebellion is over and that the insur-
gents have returned to their allegiance;
that negro suffrage shall, BY national
authority, be forced on the Southern
States. either by legislation or by oppreS-
Size tricks Of Congress, bearing on the
admission of Southern mem "crs in the
Capitol; that the fact Of the reJeHion shall
necey de, but that the bloody war shall be
fought over to iniiamc the sections against
each other, to answer the ends of the very
dema goSIcs who We're foremost III proirc-
ing chat war, anl Who know 10 interest
but party and self; that the South, how
ever ready to come back with loyal and
impulslve heart. must, nevertheless, be
punished by cold and cruel and needless
delays (on the Colfax and Stevens theory
until hope delayed shall make the heart
sick, and the antion shall wthc. piece
meal and fall to pieces like rotten wreck.
to go down amid Il war of races and
factions in the South, and Of party violence
and mischiefs IN the North, and so go the
mournful way of all the great republics of
she past.
No matter how disguised. how susarcd
over. these are the issues between those
who dissent from what our American
President has done and from what hc
desires to do. The issue was long ago
made by the ''econsh'uctionists, and it has
quite recently been boldly rcaffmcd by Mr..
Speaker Colfax. And this issue must be
fairly met. 1t remains to he scen how
parties will range themselves in Congress
as the friends or foes of the policy of the
President" the President of the United
States and of the American peoJAe.
Such are til. views Of the LteHiyeu,cy Il
paper having ample opportunity to know
( the situati"n,' and it is said, has the
confidence Of President Johnson
S
The South Carolina College.
Our readers arc a acnnnintnl Will, .n,.