The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-18
COLUMBIA, S. WEDNESDAY MORNING. OCTOBER Ia 1865

f-preservation-pot to injure others out
to save ourselves. 1t cannot be necessary
to say that I am one Of those who believe
that it MAS an honest effort for honorable
purposes. The United States Government
denied the right Of secession and waaed
! walsshpon the Confederate States, which
stNed upon the defensive. A terrible war
ofaHrasion and desolation followed, and
finally the Confederate States were over
whclmed by force of numbers and dissolved
At she end OF the war the State OF South
Carolina found :hc Confcdsracy broken up
her citizens who survived the terrible
ordeal exhausted and Impoverished. her
institutions destroyed, and the whole conn
try occupied by the military forces OF the
United States. Under these painful cir
c,,mstanccs, the President of the UniteH
States invited the States lately comp ,sing
the Confeder&cy IT, rc-organizc ;ii,ir gov
crn,nonts and restore their connection With
the Constitution and Government OF the
United States upon certain conditions, the
principal OF which vas All acquicsencc in
the abolition of slavery, which had been
accomplished by the military authorities.
The State, wisely i'll sNy Judgment, respond
c,l favorably to thef'invitation It is true
that the mere issIse of battle does not prove
right any more than did the old wager OF
battle, but it does prove power which cam
not be disregarded. ~ 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repealed the Ordinance of Secession and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.
recognizedthe abolition Of slavery and pro-
hiblted its re-establishment. BY repeal
ing that of Secession, the Ordinance OF
1888, through which South Carolina be-
came member Of the Union, was ipso
1octo revived, and We are this day in the
Union precisely as we became in 1888 and
remained up to 1860.
we are now IN very anomalous position.
Relying upon the good faith and patriotic
States, we have done all that was required
OF us to restore our old relations to the
Constitution and the Union; but still we
have not been received into fellowship at
Washington. That important part Of the
plan Of reconstruction remains yet to. be
accomplished. 1t is understood that
party will oppose tSe Presidents plan of
reorganizing the States and giving to them
equality OF rights, and will insist upon still
farther despoEing and crushing the States
OF the South as conquered provinces This
radical fanatical party opposed our leaving
the Union; and now they oppose ou1 return
llsg to 1t. When We were in the Union, they
abused us son account of slavery. They
waScd war upon us because we tried to
separate from them, and now that we pro-
pose to return without slavery. they still
object. In this emergency, the State needs
the assistance of ali her true men, Much
remains to be done; and not the least is to
secure prudent, faithful and patriotic
representation III Congress, to assist and
forward the work OF restoration which the
State has commenced. l arrogate not to
myself fitness to form part Of such rep
rcsentatlon, but friends have urged me for
ward, and if You are willing to try mo. I
will give MY best efforts
In some respects, we are Mt the beginning
OF our policy, as If We we're q new State
about to assume ncw relations wt;h our
sister States; but We must never allow our,
selves to forget that i'll other respects we
are an old Statc--a State having antecc-.
dcnts-a name to maintain and a history I'd
preserve. Whatever lnay betide lis in tha
uncertain future, the past, at least is ses
cure. South Carolina has never swerved
from the path ofhonor, as she conceived is.
We have record Of which none need he
ashamcd and when any 54postate son Of
cast him out as unworthy Of her. The
devotion Of every true son OF the State
adheres in adversely as we'll as in pros
perity-is loyal through evil ss well ~
through good report; and in the midst OF
the greatest mlSrOrtunGS, "Stlcketh closer
than brother
After the delegations from the Southern
States shall have been received into Con-
g<ess many delicate and impol tant duties
| will devolve upon them, especially in refer
ence to the freedmen Of the South, and the
control which Congress, or o party in Con-
gress, may desire still to exercise over
them. 1t may not be improper, in this
| connection, to say that, whilst / have ap-
! proved the course OF the State in seeking
to restore her old relations with the Govern,
nient OF the United States, it has been upon
the faith and expectation that the State, az
soon as reconstructed, is to have entiro
control Of the Whole subject OF her domes
! tic affairs. The State, and the State alone.
must be left to decide to whom she will
| give the right OF suffrage or other political
rights. new code noi.' must be enacted
! to protc,, and govern the population lately
! made frec-to prevent idlcness, vagrancy,
pauperism and crime. am not prophet
enough to forcsee whet. CT we can succeed.
but sd1cmnly bclieve il will be impossible
to live in the country at all unless the State
has exclusive control Of the whole subject.
| have hope that thi. WILDE permitted, and
| ink in, don yxif1