The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-29
To the Voters of Orangcburg, Edge
field, Abbcvilic, NcwDcrry, Lexim.-
ton, RichIand nald Fairfield.

cEALOW-ClTIZEN5: After much hesitation
L have consented to bo put in nominal ton
for yonr Representative in the Congress of
the United States. Ipublish this card, be-
cause the District is 80 large and the time
before the elesSion SO shora thatyI could
not, if desired, canfass the District. TIA
canvass were possible, however, I do not
think it becoming or desirable. In my
Judgment, this Is no time for q scramble for
once. It apums TO me lnuJ no one proper-
ly impressed with the ssolennity .of the
crisis, andsthe dehcacy and Importance Of
the duties to be discharged, could seek the
position merely for the gratiication of per-
sonal ambit!on. For myself, declare. that
+ have no wish but to serve the State.
In 17Ss. South Carolina, through con-
vention Of her people. became one of the
United States She remained member of
the Union until December, 1850, whom,
through another cenrention Of her people,
she repealed the Ordinance of'17s9, scccd-
ed from the United States, and with cor
tain other sister Statos entered into another
government known as the Confederate
Government. We believed thatwe had the
right to secede and that our security re-
qulred Its exercise in cooperation with our
Southern sisters. South Carolina in 1852,
proclaimed by solemn ordinance the right
of secession. sit had long been the settled
opinion OF the State that she was sovereign
and entitled to all the rights of Sovereignty
She asserted eK-government in ordar to
secure her institutions and principles from
great evils, beloved to be imminent Sc
cession was in tho nature Of approaching
qoid tanset. 1t was conceived ;1sfhe spirit Of
-preservation-not to injure others but
to save ourselves. It cannot be necessary
to say that am one of thoseswha believe
that it was an honest effort for honorable
purposes. The United States Government
denied the right Of secessions sand waged
war upon the Confederate States, which
stood upon the defensive. A terrible war
of invasion and desolation followed, and
finally the Confederate States were over
swhelmed by force of numbers and dissolved.
At the end OF the wGr the State Of South
Carolina found the Confederacy broken ND.
her citizens who survived the terrible
ordeal exhausted and impoverished, her
institutions destroyed. and the whole coun-
STy 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
GGy TO Te-oTganizc their SrOy-
geFnments. and restore their connection with
the Constitution and Government of .hc
sumted States, upon certain conditions, the
principal Of which was an acauiesence in
the abolition of slayery, which had been
accomplished by the military authorities.
Ihe State, wisely IN my Judgment, respond
ed favorably to the invitation. It is truce
that the mere issue Of battle dcesnot prove
tight any more than did the old stwager OF
shagtie;;" put it does prove power which can /
mot be dkregarded. A Provisional Cover
knpr was aEpointed, who called another con-
sEention OF the people, which has lately
repealed the Ordinance OF SECESSION, and
by an article in the State Constittition.
recognized the abolition Of slavery and pro-
hlbited Its establishment. BY repeal
ing that OF Secession, the Ordinance OF
1888, through which South Carolina be-
came member OF the Union, was ipso
tdct0 revived, and we are this day in tho
Union precisely as we became in 17SS and
renamed up to 1860.
We are now in very anomalous position.
Relying upon the good faith ana 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 Decn 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
reorganiZing the States and giving to them
equality of rights, and will insist upon stiU
farther despoiling and crushing the States
OF the South as conquered provinces. This
radical fanaticai party opposed our leaving
the Union, and now they oppose our ret,,rn,
ing to it. When we wero in the Union. thew
abused us on acconnt OF slavery. They
waged war up3n 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 be done, and not the least is to
secure a prudent, faithful and patriotic
representation. III Congress, to assist and
forward the work of restoration which the
State has commenced. / arrogate not to
myself fitness to form part Of such a rep
resentatl0n, but friends have urged me for
ward, and if you are WILLING tO 49, ~. T