The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-11-20
The Position and Duty of the South.

Gle is from the Baltimore Gazette. and
is worthy the attention of the South
ern people:
Now that the result of the recent
election has established, for several
years yet to come, the political su-
premacy of the Republican party,
and has lent to the designs Of the
radical leaders Of that party at least
color of q popular endorsement, it
would be worse than folly if the
Southern people failed to give duo
heed tc facts SO important, and to
take their measures accordingly
They should now understand, even if
they were slow to believe it before,
that the period when their represen-
tatlves will be permitted to take their
seats in Congress has been indefi-
nitely postponed. 1t is true, that by
humiliating themselves to the dust,
and by abjectly submitting to what
ever terms the dominant faction may
choose to dictate, they might obtain,
at tolerably early day, a contempt
uous recognition of such fragment
ary rights as would then remain to
them. AS, however, we cannot con-
ceive it to be possible that their pas
sion for reunion is Of such nature
as to induce them to re-enter the sis
terhood of States under conditions
that would brand them with the
stigma of inferiority, they would do
well to prepare for the great change
that the current of events is forcing
upon them, and to decide promptly
upon the course they propose 10 pur-
sue. If it be the pleasure of those
who have been victors in the war. to
bring about q virtual severance of
that Union the war was ostensibly
waged to preserve the Southern pco-
pie have nothing to do but to quietly
acquiesce in the decision. The mere
fact of representation in Congress,
with so great majority of both
houses arrayed against chem, would
give them no additional protection
from insult and contumely. It would,
on the contrary, have tendency to
legltlmatize measures for the further
persecution Of Southern men, and
against which the most earnest pro-
tests of their Representatives would
be of no earthly avail. It were far
better that the radicals should have
undisputed rule than that the South
ern people should voluntarily make
themselves parties to their own un-
doing. They have only to bear pa
tlently, for q season, with such fresh
exactlons as may be imposed upon
them; to accept the radical theory
that they are conuered people; and
from the moment the two sections
distinctly understand that such are
the relations they are henceforth to
hold towards each other, the process
Of separation will have commenced
under conditions that must make the
gulf between them wider and wider
each succeeding year. 1t bchooves
the Southern States to look forward
to this possible eventuality. By di-
recting their attention exclusively to
the conduct of their local affairs,
and by developing their magnificent
resources, they can find work enough
to do without troubling themselves,
IN any way, about Federal affairs.
The war has taught them somc vau-
able lessons. 1t has proven to them
that an agricultural people must
always remain more or less q depen-
dent people, and that the special
weakness of the South is and has
ever been a want of skilled labor in
the various branches of mechanical
industry, and Of the means and APP
pliances to make that labor available.
There is scarcely State at the South
that cannot secure to itself part Of
those advantages that spring from
the diversified industries by which
wealth is acquired and ali the ncces-
sary wants of the people are amply
supplied. 1t is these matters that
should now claim the earnest atten-
ton Of the Southern people. They
have abundance of water power for
manufacturing purposes; they have
vast stores of undeyeloped mineral
wealth; they have extensive coal
fields, furnishing fuel Of the finest
quality; and they can establish cot
ton mills in the very midst of the
raw material those mills are to con-
vert into q variety OF fabrics All the
clements, therefore, that are essential
to economy Of production are with
them, and it needs but q moderate
degree of persistent energy and pa
tient endurance to build up for them
selves, from small beginnings and on
their own soil, numerous branches of
industry that would render them, ut
no yery distant dav indeDnn1ent of