The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-23
The Planters of South oaro1fna.,

gaiety, and the liberal expenditure
that fed the streams of industry and
currents Of business. He, in fact,
impaired tone of refinement to this
section of the State. Many of them
being men of leisure and education.
visited Charleston during the sum-
mer months, and had their charming
residences in the suburbs or on Sui
hvan's Island. The pervading spirit
OF Charleston society was therefore
that of refined intercourse. There
was o genial;ty in this intercourse
that rendered it highly attractive
the mercantile and planting classes
we're on the best terms. There was
none of that discordancc of interest
and opinion that is found so fire.
quently between the inhabitant of
town and country. The Sea Island
ana rice planters were often found at
the table Of the merchant, and this
hospitality was reciprocated. Com
merce became thus blended with
pursuits between which there was
nothing uncongenial. Though hos
p!talltles never sit so gracefully as
when dispensed by the man of leisure.
who embellishes his retreat by the
social virtues, and by the liberal cul
ture of literature and the arts. Those
who can look back for period of
hfty years, will find no difficulty in
recalling the names and presence of
the Heywards, the Manigaults, the
Lowndes, the Middletons, the HUI
gers, who came at every recurring
period of summer to transfer their
hospitality from the banks of the
Santee or Wateree to the shores of
the Cooper and Ashley.
The loss of material wealth. the
wanton destruction of the goods Of
life can be borne; they may be re-
placed, but what can restore the
ETHEREAL principle which has produced
those works of art that have embel-
llshed our galleries and adorned the
walls Of our dwellings,? 1t will ever
he subject of poignant regret that
works OF genius, in common with the
most ordinary objects of military
capture, fell sacrifice to the wanton
spirit OF ruthless wal. That hostility
against books and pictures should
have been carried on, in an era Of
civilization, is without parallel in
history. Instances without number
nave occurred since the commence
ment of the war where appeals of
| taste no less than the claim of hu
monity have been disregardnd.
| The treasures Of art have in
modern times followed the standard
OF the conqueror; but while the con
tents of galleries have been deemed
among the spoils of victory, these
treasures have remained among the
objects of future imitation and mn
dying admiration.
When Napoleon Bonaparte rilcd
the galleries of Italy, and their con
tents were transferred to the Louvre
they were not mutilated or lost to the
world-they remained among the
lmperishable trophies of genius-the
memorials of its power; but the un-
distinguishing fury of blind rage
makes no difference between a
Raphael or Claude Lorraine and the
merest daub of art. All are involved
IN common destruction. Itappear-
ed rs if the icentious soldier sought
those objects of vertu on which he
could vent his spirit of diabolism.
He held the rules of discipline i'm no
more regard than he did the prccepts
of morality.
1t has been said, in palliation of
these excesses, that many Of these
raids that partook so largely Of the
predatory practices of licentious
warfare, were acts beyond control
amidst the passions engcndered by a
civil conflict. This is an Inadequate
plea in the midst Of the humanizinr
influences by which we are surround.
ed Atall events, the Southernerwho
has been reared amidst the refine
ments of civilization, and has enjoved
the solace afforded by liberal culture,
has reason to deplore that his lot has
been cast in period so devoid of all
moral restraint.
The reverse of fortune which has
visited the planters Of The low coun
try of South Carolina can scarcely
find parallel anywhere. Suddenly
cast down in the abyss of poverty,
the most painful contrasts are pre-
sented. The owner of 600 to 500 slaves,
with princely income, has not only
to submit to the most degrading
employments, but he frequently
cannot obtain them. In some in
stances he has to drive cart or attend
in q retail grocery, while he may
have to obey the orders of an igno-
rant and onorca ,,,aoio1 M,