The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-18

| baseness OF abandoning our friends
at the North, who have nobly de-
Tended our cause, for two years past,
and sacrificed themselves in the struR-
gle for Southern rights and constitu-
tional freedom.
Ii we are unwilling to bear the ills
to which we are subjected, for the
maintenance of honor and principle,
then we deserve our destiny. It is
said that, if We do not accept the
degrading terms now offered, worse
will be imposed! Have we any as
surance that worse may not be i'm
posed. if we do accept? Like the
woman who consented to her own
dishonor to save the life Of her hus-
band, and was then made to witness
his execution! There is no faith in
tyrants. Threats of confscatiop are
futile. Almost every one has been
pardoned, by taking the amnesty oath
or by special application. The South
ern people may be robbed and muir
dered, but their property cannot be
confscated.
In order to debauch prominent
Southern men, offers have been made
in Congress to remove their disabili-
ties, and, it.would seem, not without
success! Threats to the many, and
bribes to a few, is the policy adopted
for radicalizing the Southern States.
With universal negro suffrage and
debauched politicians, we may bid
farewell to all hope of republican in
stitntions. Virtue and Intelligence
alone can sustain republic. When
the negro has acquired intelligence to
understand his political rights, and
property to make him feel an interest
in the proper exercise of them, he
should be allowed to vote. This prin-
ciple has been adopted in most of the
Northern States, and is wiseand just.
But it is wicked to put ballots into
the hands of those who will be the
passive tools of their employers, or
the mischievous agents of Black Re-
publican emissaries.
Nothing can be more unjust and
iniquitous than the discriminating
acknowledgements of the military bill.
A Union man, whose life has been
spent in trying to maintain the inte-
gritty of tho Union. but who was q
member of the Legislature or a Judge
ten or twenty years ago, and who,
after his State seeded, fed or clothed
son in the Confederate army, is
disfranchisedl But the man whose
whole life may have been spent in
reasonable efforts to destroy the
Union and involve the country. in a
bloody civil war, who was leading
member of the Secession Conven-
ton, and afterwards q distinguished
General in the Confederate army,
hurling lis command against the
United States forces in O hundred
bloody fields of battle, is not disfran-
chised, unless he had previously
taken an oath to support tho Consti-
tuition of the United States! There
are many instances of this character
which might be mentioned, showing
the injustice and folly of this. dis
reimbursement. 1t is believed that
neither. Generals Beauregard, Hill,
Magruder, nor General Lee himself,
the illustriouS commander-in-c chief of
the Confederate forces, is disfran-
chised. But the humble Union ma
gistrate, who relieved the distresses
of son or friend in the Confederate
army, is disfranchised!
There is not the remotest hope or
probability of the Southern States
being restored to the Union till after
the next Presidential election. Why,
then; shall we. voluntarily degrade
ourselves, and give up our dearest
political rights for q delusion? If
dishonor must come, do not embrace
1T. If we are to wear manacles, let
them be put on by our tyrants, not
by ourselves. If man threatens to
kick you, self-respect would forbid
your exposing your person to him
and asking him to kick you at once
and be done with it. We have lived
already two years under military rule,
in great poverty and distress, and
have been cheered oil the time by the
consciousness that we are not de-
graded, though conquered, people.
We can continue to live in the same
way two years longer, or, if need be,
ten years, and feel pride in know
ing that we. have maintained our
honor, and made every effort possible
to preserve our freedom and consti-
tutional rights. A man who feels
that he has dishonored himself, is
lost; and so it is with people.
Let us live quietly and peaceably,
attending diligently to our various
vocations in life-obeying patiently
the powers that be; but never think
of voluntarily voting away our rights