The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-05

are now disposed to turn back the
clock of civilization and republican,
ism one hundred years, andgcom-
mence again where our ancestors
started in 1776?
have said that I Go not believe
the present or ensuing Congress will
accept anything but unqualified ne
gro suffrage from the Southern States.
This alone will give them, as they
suppose, power and influence in the
Southern States, and enable them to
control the Government in all time
to come. Impartial suffrage will
not do this, as it would exclude, with
few exceptions, the whole negro race.
! dorace Greeley proposes too kind q
mode, and is too generous and liberal
IN his views, to be any longer the
representative and exponent of the
ultra radical party. This honor has
devolved on the Chief Justice, and
such men as Gen. Butler, Sumner
and Stevens.
In order to iuducc the Southern
people to adopt Impartial suffrage, ;"
1t is proposed to connect with it a
general and universal amnesty. This
IS certainly most desirable boon for
the Southern States. But / do not
see that they are in any great peril.
Almost every one has been pardoned
by taking the amnesty oath, or by
special application for Executive Gle
mency. There is no danger of prose-
cutlons for treason or contiscation.
whilst President johnson remains in
office. No matter what unconstitu-
tlonal legislation may pass Congress,
1T cannot be enforced, except through
the President. Exclusion from Con
Sress vail continue; but this is no
great, vital sacrifice for the Southern
people to make. Their members once
voluntarily withdrew from Congress.
and 1t has been six years since we
were represented there. We should
oe III hopeless minority, at present,
If our members had their seats, and
they could do nothing for their con
stltuents or the country. We should
devote all our energies to the material
improvement of the South, and aban-
don politics, until the times are more
propitious and there is returning
sense of justice at the North.
1t IS possible that q national con-
vention of all the States, composed
of their best and wisest and greatest
men. might revise our Federal Con
stitution, and adjust all difficulties
between the two great sections Of the
republic. If such a proposition was
made by the North, the South would
accede to it. This grand tribunal
would command the respect of both
sections, and be worthy of settling
all difficulties between thirty six So
verelgn States. The association of
wise, patriotic and virtuous men,
from all parts of the country, con
vened for the purpose of restoring
peace and harmony to the nation,
would have q salutary influence. No
danger could possibly result fron.
such q convention, for their action
would have to be submitted to the
States for their adoption, and be rati-
fed by threefourths Of them, before
1T becomes part of the Federal Con
Stltution. If two thirds of the State
Legislatures will make the applica-
ton for such convention, the Con-
stltution makes it imperative on Con-
Sress to order its assembling.
| do not, never have, and never
will despair of my country. There
is too much intelligence, virtue and !
patriotism IN the American people,
Tor the rule of passion and revenge
10 continue always. The growth, |
prosperity and happiness of one sec
ton Of this great Republic is most
intimately blended with and depen-
dent on that of the other. Like the
limbs of the human body, when one
is broken, paralyzed or injured, it
must affect the whole system. This
truth will soon be seen and felt at the !
North. l am, with great respect,
yours, &C., B. f. PERRY.
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