The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-06
Tho Nation Called to tho Hescue.

of citizens, who assembled around
him on the 22d Of February, has
fallen upon the ears of the American
people as an utterance of portentous
significance. 1t points out the yawn-
ing gulf, upon the verge of which
the liberties of this people are hang
ing, and solemnly warns them Of the
imminent danger which threatens the
institutions of the country. Men
who love the Constitution and the
Union, men who have any pride in
the American name, and the true
spirit of patriotism in their hearts,
cannot fail to give their earnest,
hearty, unqualified support to the
President in the great issue which
is now joined at the bar of public
opinion. - -
Names and professions will no
longer do to hide falsehood and
treachery from the American people.
Things now have their designation,
and the agents for their consumma-
ton have been named before the
world, in their own hearing, at the
capital of the nation, at the base of
the monument to the Father Of his
Country, on his birthday, under the
invocation of his spirit, by his sue
cessor in the highest Office in the gift
of nation. Under ell the response
bilities of the place, the occasion, his
station and his oath of of1ice-under
these solemn circumstances, the Pre-
sident announces to the American
people that we are almost in the
midst of another rebellion; that an
irresponsible central directory are
assuming nearly all the forces OF the
Government, without even consulting
the legislative or executive depart
ments of the Government; that an
attempt is made to concentrate into
the hands Of few the power Of the
Government, and thereby bring
abouta a consolidation which is equally
dangerous and Objectionable with
separation; that the Government is
to be changed and revolutionized
without going into the battle field;
that the substance is to be taken
away, leaving only the form and
shadow.
The joint committee of fifteen upon
reconstruction, which, by motion,
has been clothed with all the powers
of legislation, is the instrument of
usurpation which has stolen away the
constitutional right of the respective
branches of Congress to Judge of the
qualifications of their members. They
now assume that laws must be passed,
and an act of legislative recognition
passed, before the States of the Union
shall be restored to their right of rep
resentation under the Constitution.
They assume that the Union is in fact
dissolved, and their purpose is to per-
petuate the dissolution. The Presi-
dent declares that the States are in
the Union and entitled to representa-
ton, and that all men who in good
faith acknowledge their allegiance to
the Government and swear to support
the Constitution, are entitled to par
ticipate in the councils of the nation
and to be represented in passing its
laws. Here is a plain and obvious
test of fidelity, so clear, so simple, 80
obviously just, that no man can mis-
take it. Those who array themselves
in opposition to it are the enemies of
the nation; those who support it are
its friends. Byit, as touch-stone,
we are to determine actual treason
and actual patriotism. By it, we shall
distinguish the Unionist from the dis
unionist-the supporter of the Fede-
raj Constitution from its dangerous
enemy.
On one side stands the committee
of fifteen and the fanatical majority
in Congress, branded by the Presi-
dent as the enemies of the nation and
the Constitution-on the other side
stand the people, upholding, with
united voice, the Executive who
warns them to rescue the Constitu-
ton and the Union in this hour of
their great peril. Those who have
heretofore been divided in opinion,
who have been Separated and es-
tranged, are now called upon to bury
all their past difference; to think
only how they can best defend rights
which are dear to them all alike; to
make upon the altar Of patriotism a
willing sacrifice OF every existing pre-
judice and of every bitter rccollec-
ton; to trust one another, to co-ope-
rate with one another, to encourage
one another in an earnest, united,
unfaltering effort to restore the in
tegrity Of our institutions. The name
of partisan, the thoughts can have no
place in the renewed struggle for free
dom to which all are summoned by
| the warming voice Of the Chief Ma-