The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-10
COLUMBIA S. g., TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 10. ls65

seH-presertation- 10 iniure others bu
to save ourselves. It cannot be necessSr,
to say that am one Of Shoss who believ.
that it was an honest effort for honorsbl.
purposes. The United States Governmen,
denied the right Of secession and wagsd
war upon the Confederate States, which
stood upon the defensive. A terrible wal
OF INVASION and desolAtion followSA. 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 tho Confederacy broken up,
her citizens who survived the terrible
ordeal exhausted and impoverished, ber
institutions destroyed, and the whole coun-
try occupied by the military forces OF the
United States. Under these painful cir
cumstanees, the President Of the United
States invited the States lately composing
the Confederacy to re>organize their gov
ernments and restore their connection with
the Constitution and Government OF the
principal Of which was an scquiesence in
the abolition Of slavery, which 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
battle;' but it does provep power which can
not be disregarded. A Provisional Cover
nor was appointed, who called another con
vention OF the people, whichuhas lately
repealed the Ordinance OF Secession, and
by an article in the State Constitution,
hibited its re-establishment. By repeal
ing that OF Secession, the Ordinance of
l7SS, through which South Carolina be-
came member Of the Union, was ipso
10cto revived, and We are this day in the
Union precisely as we became in 17SS aud
remained up to 1860.
We are now in very anomalous ,sition.
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 md 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 a
party will oppose the Presidents plan OF
recognizing the States and giving to them
equality Of rights, and will insist upon still
farther despoiling and crushing the States
Ut the South rs conquered provinces. This
radical fanatical party opposed our leaving
the Union, and now they oppose our return.
ing to 1t. When we were in the Union thev
abused us on account OF slavery. They
waged 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 all her true men. Much
remains to b. done, and not the least is to
secure prudent, faithful and patriotic
representation in Congress, to assist and
State has commenced. I arrogate not to
myself fitness to form part Of such q rep
resentation, but friends have urged me for
ward, and if you are willing to try nc,
will give my best efforts.
In some respects, we are at the beginning
~ n11r
about to assume new relations with our
SISTER States; but we must never allow our
selves to forget that in other respects VIC
arc an old State-a State having antece-
dents-a namc to maintain and history to :
preserve. Whatever may betide us in the
uncertain future, the past, at le;s4, is Sc
cure. South Carolina has never swerved
from the path Of honor, as she conceived it.
We have record OF which none need be
ashamed; and when any apostate son of
hers dlsclalms or disparages it, may she
cast him out as unworthy Of her. The
devotion OF every true son Of the State
adheres in adversely as well as in pros
perity-is loyal through evil as well as
through good report; and in the midst of
the greatest mlsfortunes, 'ssticketh cloeer
than q brother"
After the delegations from the Southern
States shall have been received into Con-
gress, many delicate and impol tant duties
IL
ence TO the freedmen Of the South. and the
control which Congress, or a 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
ment OF the United States, it has been upon
the faith and expectation that the State, as
soon as reconstructed, is TO nave entire |
control OF the whole subject of her domes-
must be left to decide to whom she will
give the right of suffrage or other political
rights. A new code noir must be enacted
to protect and govern thepopulation lately !
made free-to prevent idleness, vagrancy,
enough to foresee whether We AN succeed
but solemnly believe it will be impossible
TO live in the country at all unless the State
has exclusive control of the whole subject.
have hope that this will be permitted, and
I Lrv,yy