The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-11-18
COLUMBIA.
Sunday Morning, November Is, 1866.
The Condition and Prospects OF the
South.

not know what to say or write about
the present condition. of this coun-
try. The States Of the South, in
gigantic civil war, having attempted
to leave the central Government, and
have failed in their effort-whether
patriotic or wise, is not now the
question-they have failed, and to-
day have no part or lot in the govern
mont of the country.
AS we have said above, we are al
ways disposed to look at the bright
side of matters; but, with the result
of the late elections before us-with
the threatenings of the radical lead
ers, and with the poverty and help
1essness of the South all patent be-
fore us, we cannot but feel that the
future of the people of the South is
very discouraging, both politically
and socially.
We extract from Newbern IN. c.
paper the following paragraph:
cit is with feelings of profound
regret that we find our citizens
of the South giving way to DISPOSE
tlon to anticipate :. disastrous future.
The general tone of the press, the
views Of leading public men, and the
daily conversation of our citizens, all
evlnce leaning towards the dark side
OF the question. Hesitancy upon
entering into business, uncertainty in
regard to future location, Il distrust
of all enterprises, and an universal
lament over expected destruction of
all political and personal rights in
the South, are among the signs of
the times. This is not as it should
be. 1t Is unnecessary, foolish and
suicidal. Its effect upon business is
blighting, and all enterprise must
fall to the ground under its ill
omened influence"
The gloomy condition of things
described by our cotemporary is
nearly that of every other Southern
State. But why the editor finds fault
with the people of the South for their
dependency, we cannot imagine.
Have we anything but the present?
When Congress meets, next Decem-
Der, what have we to expect? Con-
fiscation of property, the nullifca-
ton of the Presidential pardons, and
the permanent disfranchisement of
the white men of the South. OF
course, there is no thinking mind of
the South which does not look for
ward with gloomy apprehensions.
There is scarcely ray of light, to
dispel the general gloom or raise the
hope OF better days. The futurepo-
litical status Of the ten excluded
States is, and probably will be, for
some time to come, entirely unde-
fined. The Jacobin party which now
rules the country does not seem dis
posed to announce any distinct poll
cy, while the threats of many of their
leading orators and presses, coming,
as they do, from men utterly reck-
less and unprincipled, with the power
IN their hands to execute their threats,
are we'll calculated to excite serious
alarm.
The more extreme'of the Northorn
factionists do not hesitate to proclaim
their fixed purpose of bringing the
leading rebels to punishment, and to
lnaugurate grand system of confis
cation, especially of lands, through
out the South.
We have, on several occasions, al
luded to our political condition. 1t
is not the part''of wisdom to shut our
eyes to thesea facts. They are facts,
and must be dealt with as such. We
can gain3nothing by deceiving our
selves as to tie true issue TO be 1e-
cided; and the question with the peo-
pie of the South is, whether they vii,
encounter what their enemies ord me
future have in store for them, with
philosophic calmness and dignity, or
whether they will bend the knee in
abject and cowardly acquiescence in
all the humiliation which may be de-
manded of them.
We shall wait patiently for the re-