The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-10-09
Progress and Purposes OF the R"di-


journal that never steps beyond the
boundaries of conservative journal
ism to serve party purposes, the
solemn warnings it proclaims i'll the
article before us cannot fail to attract
attention, and we earnestly hope Will
exercise widespread influence on
the mass of the people of the North
ern and Western States, where the
Congressional elections commence to-
day. In one of the opening para
graphs, the Mtelige0ce,' makes the
following explicit charge agains is
vile party:
"We charge the class of partisan
zealots, known MS radical leaders,
with composing an early and vio-
lent overthrow of the Government.
They hnoao that this charge IS true.
They know that they are sworn to re-
sist the restoration of the Union to
the last extremity, and with every
means Of violence which they can
invoke. The plot is not in the hands
of those children Of enthusiasm who
elaborate their chimeras into imprac-
ticable detail, and drop from an un-
guarded hat the puerile record of
their folly; but of cold-blooded,
shrewd, hardened old demagogues,
with no fanaticism but selfshness,
no enthusiasm but in tyranny, and no
faith but in power. With baleful sa-
gacity, these conspirators keep the
outline free to adapt the work, from
time to time, to circumstances. The
scheme is not new, and it has worked
but too well. What is its motive?''
The MteHigence,, after reviewing
the course of the party up to the
opening of the last session, takes up
the blasting record, and writes as
follows:
"Here begins record Of debauch-
cry unparalleled since Rome's legs of
iron began to totter over her crum-
bling feet of clay. A caucus was
held in which the diabolism of a
chief, born to conspiracy and spoil,
as vampire to darkness and blood,
converted the majority of both
Houses into palsies, and then drubbed
them into a league on the spot to
abrogate the sovereignty of the peo-
pie, as available in each House, in
the very matter Of eminence for
which it was invoked by the unani-
nous call of the whole people, and
almost of mankind. The shameful
pledge was kept. In their seats,
members of either House solemnly
enacted it in the form of concur
rect resolution by which each mem
Der bound himself to lock the wheels
of the Legislature until either through
a new war to be provoked, or through
an offer of irretrievable bondage, the
repentant rebels should deliver over Il
saved Union to be the perpetual
sport of their political profigacy.
The sworn preserver, protector and
defender of the Constitution was 'in
their way and must be got out of it. ,
A system of legislating was inaugu-
rated, almost openly acknowledged to
have no other aim than to perplex
and confound him. He vetoed bills,
wildly reckless of all organic law, and
by close majorities the vetoes we're
sustained. Leaders of the opposition
were marked for expulsion, aud when
ever contestants could be found for
their seats, they were thrust forth
with incredible hardihood, on pre-
tence of invalid election. In the
case of Mr.. Brooks, the person by
whom he was supplanted confessed
on the floor of the House facts which
subject him to criminal Indictment
under the election laws of New York.
In the Senate, the Judiciary Commit
tee, and, without exception, every
lawyer of distinction on the floor,
declared New Jersey Senator to be
legally sitting. But he supported the
Union. His vote completed the pre-
vailing negative against them. He
must go. Adying statesman's opinion
was fatty falsified by one of the most
polished Of the revolutionists to re-
deem the outrage. God was blasphe-
mously thanked in open Senate for the
sickness of an absent Senator by an
other; pledge of honor was shame
lessly repudiated by another, and
Stockton was expelled"
The LteAigencey' continues this re-
cord up to the present time, when
the party leaders boldly avow their
determination to impeach the Presi-
dent. 1t then utters the following