The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-08
COLUMBIA.
Friday Morning, Dec. 8. 1865.
The Situation.

All eyes are now turned to the Federal
Capital. where the present and future
interests and destinies of the country, are
probably, to be determined by the Con-
gressmen assembled in that city.
Some eleven States, claiming to be States
Of the Union, having returned to their
allegiance after the failure of their strug.
gle; loyal to the Government and frankly
accepting tho results of the late conflict,
they seek once moro to be restored as an
integral part Of the family of States which
compose the American Union.
The tidings from Washington, so far as
they have reached us, are unfavorable to
the hopes of an early admission of the
Southern members of Congress elect. The
dominant party having in previous eau
Gus nominated them, have elected Mr..
Colfax Speaker, and Mcpherson, Clerk of
the House. We learn from the dispatches
in the Herald and other Northern papers,
that the first proceeding OF this caucus,
was the appointment of committee Of
seven, consisting of Messrs. Stevens, of
Pennsylvania; Raymond, OF New York;
Spalding, OF Ohio; Washburne, of Illinois;
Payne, Of Wisconsin,; Boutwell,, OF Massa-
chusetts, and Blair, Of Maine-a radical
committee, from which, already cut and
dried by Thaddeus Stevens, o resolution
was presented which at once, for at least
twelve-month, if adopted by the two
houses, disposes Of the excluded Southern
States. This resolution provides that,
after the organization of the two houses
s~S~
bers Of the House and six of the Senate,
shall be appointed to inquire into the
condition of the States which formed the
so-called Confederate States of America,
and report whether they, or any of them,
are entitled to be represented in either
house Of Congress, with leave to report at
any time by bill or otherwise; and until
such report shall have been made, and
finally acted on by Congress, no member
shall be received into either house from
any of the so-called Confederate States;
and all papers relating to the representa-
tives from said States shall be referred to
said committee without debate"
Such is the avowed programme of the
party who are opposed to the rcconstruc-
hoped for different course; we had begun
to believe that the dictates Of passion in
the legislation of the country would be no
longer followed or obeyed, and that wisc
conservatism, based upon sound principle,
OF craftsmanship, would be the guide at
this juncture of our affairs. AS policy of
simple justice to the Southern people, it
would be the means Of insuring that firm
allegiance which they have honestly ten
dcred to the Government. "When," as a
cotemporary justly remarks, cit is so easy
to heal the divisions Of the past by prac-
tical recognition Of the rights which all
sections have heretofore conceded to exist,
it would seem that few thinking men at the
North would be found willing to reject the
claims OF the South to representation. The
position of President johnson, in reference
to the various parties in the country, is not
wholly unlike that of Charles II in refer
cnce to the factions which divided England
at the time OF the restoration. Though
bitterness of feeling had survived in the
hearts OF those who had so long opposed
each other during the civil war. Charles
found that all parties would willingly lend
united support to one who was able to
put nm end to continuance OF existing
evils. Charles came back, says Nacaulay,
mot as mediator between people and
victorious enemy, but as a mediator be-
tween internal factions. Such, we think,
is the view which should be taken of our
recent struggle, and the policy of the coun-
try should be directed towards Il complete
reconciliation of the past, by the admis-
sion OF AL sections to the enjoyment, as in
former times, Of equal rights, under the
Constitution This, for so:mc t::ac ;;;stt
I, ho oh;