The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-11-23
Justice to tho South.

The editor of the New York Times,
whatever may be his occasional party
somersaults, sometimes writes the
truth for his Northern readers. In
the subjoined article, from its issue of
Monday, he correctly defines ''the
political feeling of the South and
our only wonder is, that writer who
confessedly understands the true po-
sition of the people Of the South, as
is shown by the present article,
should urge them to adopt the de-
grading constitutional amendment
now presented to them:
The correspondence which we pub
Esh in this journal from time to time,
from all the States of the South, is
such as to give our readers a very
just and comprehensive idea of the
political feeling, the material condi-
tIon and the general prospects of
those States. We have given great
prominence to this correspondence
ever since the close of the war, be-
cause we believe there is nothing of
higher importance to the welfare of
the country, present and future, than
the proper adjustment of those inter
nal relations which were disturbed by
the rebellion; while the Northern
people, in whose hands this work of
adjustment is placed, can only act
upon it intelligently and wisely
through a knowledge of the actual
of l,1y Il
an appreciation of the sentiments
and ideas which have sprung up in
place of those that were rooted out
by the sword. There have been great
interests and prejudices, personal,
political and sectional, at work mis-
representing everything Southern
until we can well believe that those
whose information is limited to these
sources should be utterly unwilling to
permit the Southern States to enjoy
political fellowship and equality with
the other members of the Union, and
should regard the political slavery
and military rule demanded for these
States by Wendell Phillips as being
the only thing capable of keeping
them in order.
10 NA.iANoAo W SoSlCldllAo NOOuI
anything whatever relating to d popu-
lation SO large aud so varied, and CO.
vering region SO vast, as that of the
ten excluded Southern States. But
we can, perhaps, by studying the
action Of their Legislatures, the
voice of their press, the issues and
results of such local elections as they
are permitted to hold, and the letters
of intelligent and unprejudiced cor
respondents, arrive at some broad
facts which will guide US to compre-
hensive conclusions, and enlighten
the North as to its duty toward the
South.
1t is certain that, looking in all
these directions, we find supera-
bounding professions, if not proof,
that the Southern people accept, in
all their bearings, what are termed
the results of the war" They pro-
claim this in every locality, and by
every means Of expression, if not by
every form Of practical action. They
repel, in the most vigorous fashion,
all insinuations to the contrary. They
assert, in the most positive manner,
that they can have no quarrel with
tbe North on this ground. They
have even proclaimed themselves
willing to accept the conqueror's in
depreciation of these results, and,
when they could not ratify it, at least
to abide by its consequences. In the
greatest and most vital matters, such
rs the repeal or notification of the
ordinances of secession and the adop
ton of the amendment abolishinp
slavery, they claim to have given the
highest proof that their professions
We genuine, while the individual
States have added to this, in almost
every instance, by conforming their
local legislation to the altered condi-
ton Of their institutions, and the
change in the status of the blacks.
The extent to which this has been
carried, the great number of details
to which it has been applied, and the
profound influence it has had upon
old customs, traditions and preju-
dices, can only be properly appre-
ciated by those who, having know
ledge of Southern life and institu-