The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-21

parties at the North are agreed. On this
point there is no disunion of sentiment.
!hey all demand one condition, and that
IS, that the institution of slavery be abol-
ished. The result of the war will at last
be found to be merely that ono great
change, namely--that slavery is Mt m end.
forever, on this Continent Now, these
distrustful men will not be content with
our SIMPLE acqulesccnce i'll this change
We must not only place it on our Statute
Book-they demand that we acknowledge
1t In our hearts. Our whole sentiment on
the matter must be in accordance with
thor own. This to be dono at once. and
at their bidding, does seem nearly impos-
slbie;; trust, however, we will be found
equal to the occasion. Our failure to do
SO Will be disastrous, and will defeat all
the efforts of our friends for speedy re-
storatlon. We have no choice, and the
sooner we decide upon our course of action,
and let the North see the change is accom-
plished, the better for us. 10 South
erner, the earnestnoss of these people on
this subject seems strange, and can hardly
be understood, and 1 am afraid we have
always under-cstimatcd it. What it will
finally end III, no one can now see it is
enough for us at present to be extremely
careful Of offending this sentiment. De-
pend upon 1t they will resent it. They
have the power, and they will not hesitate
w u'S Ae' iOuSlI ~ IldtlOu Oh Dn1lan-
throplsts, they have somehow or other not
many miles from here left some ugly marks
of their disposition when irritated
fortunately, what is now demanded of
us will be found, upon consideration, to be
a course OF action i'll accordance with the
promptlnSs of our own ser-respect BY
our failure in this war, VIC have lost many
OF our rights, and we must take the consc-
quences, however terrible. The policy of
the President, and we must conclude it to
be the same as the majority of the North
ern people, was to treat us as honorable
foes; and, upon certain conditions, we
have, most of us, been allowed to retain
our property OF all kinds but one. These
conditions we have accepted and have
bound ourselves to abide by them. We
must, III honor, stand up to them agree
able or not. We have pledged our sacred
faith, and must not only in words but in
actions prove to the world that we under
stand and fully II cognizc this oath which
we have called God to witness. We must
realize our position, and with it must come
change III our estimation and treatment
OF those who have been so faithful to us
and who have: by their labor, so largely
contributed to our wealth. We must not
confound old things with new. or put new
wine into old bottles 1t may require pa
tience, but certainly no people ever showed
more OF this virtue tnan ourselves during
the past five years. | cannot fear. then,
that we will be found unreasonable or un-
true to our pledges. And, after all, what
Is actually required of us? Simply kind
ness and justice. And have these quail
ties never before existed in the Southern
man? And towards whom are we thus
called upon to act? Not to an enemy; for.
II so, 1t would be our forgiveness which was
required. 1t Is to our servants who now
stand around us. These are not our enc
mics. They are our friends, who, under
our protection, have passed their whole
lives III total ignorance of the responsible
ties and trials of the great world in which
they have lived. Have we ever been faith
less to these people so dependent upon us?
l say no. Have We, by our influence, de-
graded them? l say no. Have we made
substitutes of them, to stand in our places
ON the battlefield? ? l say no. Have they
received no education or pay in return for
their labor? / say they have, inasmuch as
we have given them constant religious
culture, and had the lifelong care of the
old, the helpless and the Young. That
these teachings were not lost is proved bv
their generosity and constancy with which
they, while our men were away from home,
remained the faithful guardians of our un-
during the war was uneXamplcd. You
know it, and must acknowledge it. 1t
could not have been better, and this re-
Election must influence US at such mo-
ment as this. No act of violence BETRAYED
their desire to be free, but calmly have
they awaited the great change upon which
they have been taught to rely for ultimate
and eNtravagant enjoyment. This change
is now complete, and We have to deal With
the most serious question which has ever
arisen. Step by step we must commence
to build up new system, upon the success
OF which our prosperity, as Il people, and,
l may say, the very existence of the ne
Sroes, in great measure, depend. The
first difficulty we find is our inability to in
tiuence, by reason, those whose labor VIC
desire to obtain, and We are, therefore
somewhat at loss to know how to pro
ceed. Before we teach others, or blame
ignorance, let us endeavor, first, to have q
clear idea of our own duties. Our ser
wants, remember, are in L great degree ou1
imitators, and many of their impressions
they derive from us. This will still be so
and trust will always prove for our mutual
benefit. Let us be calm and diSpassionate
divesting our minds of all prejudice, and
doing all we can to regain the confidence
of our servants who have been estrango od
from us by the teachings of those who
| undoubtedly, are not our friends or theirs
Promise them your protection the same as
before, and you may rely upon your offel
not being rejected. We must come boldly
before the world-say we have nothing il
our past conduct to regret in the treat
met of our servants We acknowledge
their faithfulness, and, in their presen
| changed condition, we intend to be as true
to our duties as before. We will protec
them, not only by passing laws, but by
honestly abiding by their spirit. We viii
do more than be simply just to them. We