The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-10-20
COLUMBIA.
Sunday Morning, October 20, 1855
The Only Condition--HVho it would
Dfsfru nchisc.


AS it is evident that it is deter
mined that the adoption of the con-
stitutional amendment is the only
condition upon which the Southern
States can be admitted to representa-
ton in Congress, and as it is to be
apprehended that few Southern
journals are beginning to think that
we had better drift into the Union on
that basis, it is eminently proper,
and somewhat important, that thn
people should consider the degrading
sacrifice they are called upon to
make, and count the cost Of the privi-
lege to be accorded, the very terms of
which render it worthless in this
State, and not only worthless, but
humiliating in the last degree.
Let US, then, consider the degrad-
ing, humiliating and abject decree
contained in the amendment referred
to. AS for the matter of the basis of
representation, it is as nothing when
compared to this, and we beg the
earnest consideration of the people of
this State to the subject, for the time
may come when they may be induced
to listen to the song of the syren, and
make the sacrifice to crawl into that
Union, to keep out of which they
fought four years. Here is the sec
ton which conveys the intended dis
grace. It is the third section of the
amendment:
"No person shall be Senator or
Representative in Congress, or elector
of President and Vice-President, or
hold any Office, civil or military,
under the United States or under
any State. who, having previously
taken an oath, as member of Con-
gress, or as an officer of the United
States, or asa member of any State
Legislature, or as an executive or
judicial officer of any State, to sup
port the Constitution of the United
States, shall have engaged in insur-
rectlon or rebellion against the same,
OF given aid and comfort to the enc
mics thereof. But Congress may, by
vote of two-thirds of each House,
remove such disability"
Now, probably this disabling and
disfranchising clause will apply more
generally to this State than to any
other Southern State Her people
were more unanimous not only in
instituting, but in giving s'aid and
comfort to, the Southern cause.
She had more military and civil
officers, in proportion to her white
population, than, perhaps, any of her
sister States, and it is therefore that
this blighting self-disgrace would fall
more heavily upon her people than
the citizens of other States.
But let us examine the classes in
South Carolina over which it is de-
signed to throw this Infamous cloak
of disability and disfranchisement,
which would smother every instinct
of State pride and feeling of man
hood. In the first place, every ex-
Governor of the State; all the mem
bers Of the Convention which passed
the ordinance of secession; everv
member of the Legislature prior to
December, 1860, presuming that
they all, or nearly all, gave aid and
comfort to the ''rebellion;') ecery
militia officer to each beat and
volunteer companyin in the State-who
filled such office prior to December,
1860; every magistrate who took the
required oath and exercised the func
tions of his Office prior to the date
mentioned; in short, ece7y State
officer, high or loac, who took an oath
of office; and every naturalized
foreigner in South Carolina, who be-
came a citizen prior to the above por-
tentous date. Now, this is the host
of South Carolinians who are utterly
disabled to hold, not only any United
States Office, but any State office, civH
or military. This is the last condi-
tion-the ultimatum of radicalism.
Now, let us mention few of the