The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-25
COLUMBIA s G., SATURDAY MORNING. MAY 25 1867.

through their representatives alone,
just after the surrender, when the
President imposed certain terms, we,
supposing them to be the final will
and determination of those against
whom we fought, as he was their
representative and not ours, having
been elected to his high position by
their suffrages and not by ours, oar
ried them out in good faith and to
the letter. In this we have been
misled and disappointed. The terms
that come to us now, however, come
from the people of the several States
that constitute the Union through
their immediate representatives, and
there can be no mistake. Let us
take them in good faith as their final
will and determination, and let us
carry them out strictly and to the
letter. Let us not stand and gaze
listlessly at the wrecks and ruins by
which we are surrounded, but let
each and nil go to work manfully and
courageously, and build up the
broken and shattered fortunes of our
country, and, if possible, make Caro-
lima more resplendent in the future
than sho ever was in the past. Away
with all feuds and chickering's among
our people. Let every one who is
allowed to vote register his name,
and when the time comes, let him
vote. Let each and all who are de-
MED vote unite their influence with
those who are allowed to vote, and
put in Office the best men we can get,
and let us establish the best Govern
ment possible, for it will be the Go
vernment under which we will have
to live. Let us net so rs to amelio-
rate, as much as possible, the condi-
tion of both races and all classes in
the community, and, if possible, nd-
vance the civilization of our age.
Should the clock <of time be rolled
back, let not the future historian lay
it at our door, and record that we did
it. Should the opposite counsel pre-
vail, and wild commotion be added
to our already disordered State, anar-
chy may ensue. Should this awful
and dire calamity be in store for us
and befall our country, nothing, no,
nothing, could be more fatal to civil
freedom and constitutional liberty
The Government of the United
States is now our Government. We
have no other. The United States
flag is now our flag We have no
other. Let us maintain and support
the one and assist in bearing aloft the
other, until the reveille drums of the
principles of this great republic are
heard by a prosperous and happy
people in every part of this beautiful
earth which we inhabit, and her high
mission upon this earth is accom-
plished, for she is the highest type
and most perfect system of govern :
ment ever devised by human genius
and intellect. While 1 would pause
for q moment and drop tears upon
the graves Of the heroic and gallant
dead who fought, and fell, and bled.
and died upon the ensanguined plain
of their country, whose noble sacri-
fees will descend to the last syllable
of recorded time, and be sung around
the graves of the last generation of
man, whose hallowed spirits have
assembled to high Heaven, where,
with wide open gates, their manly
souls have been received, and they
now hold ''sweet converse" with
angels around tie throne Of the
Eternal, yet l would shake off the
habiliments of the past, md move
out into the future with firm and
steady tread, for it is for the living
that we are to legislate, and not for
the dead.
Trusting that the magnitude of the
subject will be regarded rs sufficient
excuse for the length of this letter,
have the honor to be, very respect
fully, your obedient servant,
ELLISON S. KEITT.