The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-06
From the South.

| North can learn the truth nbout mat
ters in the Southern States, through
correspondents Of their own Journals.
Under tho caption Of "Aftairs at tho
South" a correspondent of the New
| York Times records the following
pleasing ana Instructive incidents.
81 was present, yesterday, Mt n
most interesting and impressive cere-
mony, which deserves special notice,
as illustrative of the feeling of the
white for the black race, and of the
sincere desire of the former to pro-
mote, IS far as possible, the temporal
and spiritual welfare of the hitherto
dependent bondsmen.
"The occasion was the ordination,
by the Presbytery, of three colored
men as Presbyterian ministers, to
take pastoral charge of exclusively
colored congregations, who had peti-
toned for separate organization nm
der their own minister and govern
ment.
"The cordial and prompt manner
in which their request was granted; :;
the earnest interest manifested by the
clergymen and laymen, ON whom the
executive duty devolved; the intelli-
gence and theological knowledge of
the candidates for ordination, as dis
played in their discourses, delivered
as test of their qualifications; the
order and becoming demeanor of the
large assemblage of colored people
who came to witness the ceremony,
and the charges of the Presbyterian
clargymen appointed to address the
new pastors Of their flock, were all
very gratifying, and afforded cheer
ing promise of the future relations
OF the two races, if left to them
selves.
Gone of the candidates for orders
was a Negro man named Robert, born
slave in the family of Hon. Howell
Cobb, and although nominally M in
voluntary servant, in fact rs free all
his life as he is now, having early
learned the trade of q wheelright and
carriage and, for many years,
one of the best and most skillfnl of
his trade in this city, protected and
encouraged by his late master on I'LL
occasions. Among the most interest
ing features of the proceeding, was
the presence of Gov. Cobb, who,
after the ceremony, was the first to
take Robert by the hand and con
gratulate him on his elevation, and
the evident qualification which the
new minister felt and expressed ut the
presence and good will Of his former
owner. The two other colored minis
ters We're men of like standing and
character, and have, for some years,
been preachers or exhorters, but un-
qualified to administer the COM
munion, solemnizc matrimonv, or
perform the other functions Of IN
ordained clergyman. Numbers of
gentlemen of position and influence
were present, and one of the Presby-
terry, al eminent lawyer, advanced in
life, and in very feeble health, tra-
veled over n hundred miles in his
buggy, to take part in the ordination.
''These are the true signs of the
times. These are the real indica-
tions Of the feelings of the two races
for each other. No civil rights bill
required this action; no political ad-
vantage could have been derived
from it; no compulsory process could
have enforced it; no Freedmen's Bu-
reau had anything to do with it: and
there cannot he IL more positive
proof OF the confidence of the CO.
lored people in the justice anl good
will OF the whites, and of the re.Ci-
ness of tho latter to help md cncour-
ago the colorcd people to improve
their condition.
This writer Of course speaks the
truth, brt it is not of course that he
will be believed by any of the ultra
radicals. We're the great body of the
patriotic and thinking men of the
North to pay the Southern States IL
visit, they would soon discover that
they were nnjustly taxed to keep up
an institution, which even the class
it was intended t. provide for and
protect are heartily tired Of The
truest friends Of the freedmen are
those among whom they We're born
and raised. The above incidents, as
the writer says, care the true signs
OF the times, with regard to the re-
lations existing between the white
men and their late slaves.
THE SOUTHERN RELIEF FAIR IN