The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-07-10
COLUMBIA =
Wednesday Morning, July 10. 1857.
NVendoIl phIllipa, plan.

AtuOuSn W0uuel Enlu1DS mas
been considered 9 leader in the Re-
publican party, and it has been fire.
quently said he had the brains for all
its members, yet we, do not believe
that the party, either North or South,
have of late adopted his wild vaga-
ries, or accepted the extreme mea-
sures he has proposed, as any part of
the principles of the party. We do
not regard him as the exponent of
the great body of the Republican
party, or of its representatives in Con-
gress. We cannot believe that either
that party or the mass of the people
of the North indulge in the senti-
ments, or will endorse the opinion in
the following extract from what Phil
lips said on the 4th instant:
''But this fourth day of July will
be renowned above its fellows. To
day assemblies the Great Council of
the Nation in extra session, to see
that the republic receives no harm
Let us hope they will inaugurate such
o policy as will re-assure all men.
Break up the landed aristocracy of
rebeldom, and create millions of
small holdings-the only sufficient
basis of the ballot-box. Timid men
fear this will exasperate the rebels.
They hate us as bitterly as they can
already. Nothing we do can increase
this hate. The mothers are teaching
their children to hate us. Nothing
we can do will give this hate longer
life than such teachings ensure. Con
hscation does not increase such hate.
Confiscation only disarms it, If you
cannot convert your enemy, it is wise
to take away his arms This confs-
cation does"
The action of Congress thus far, at
its present session, shows no inclina-
ton on the part of either Senators or
members to legislate further against
the South than to pass an explanatory
Act of the reconstruction laws, which
that body deems necessary from the
publication Of the Attorney Generals
construction of these laws Nor have
we any idea that Congress, at any
future session, will attempt to pass
any law affecting the rights of pro-
perty in the South, provided recon-
struction is allowed peacefully to pro-
gress. It is O measure that would
find little countenance or support at
the North, and would meet with the
condemnation of the world.
Nor do we think MIR. Phillips, in
his ultra and extra fourth of July
utterances, will be able to carry any
portion of tho party with him in his
propose, II OF reconstruction. He
says:
Sweep out of the way, by express
declaration and enactment, all these
shams and spectres of pretended
State governments. Increase, if ne
cessary, the military force at the
South. Let no village, however dis
tant-no man, however obscure-be
able to escape its all-present control.
Propose such amendments to the
Federal Constitution as shall render
needless this vigilant supervision of,
and vexatious interference with, State
laws relating to the negro race. By
appropriate clauses cut down State
sovereignty to such small dimensions
as shall leave no ground for race
hatred and class Legislation to stand
upon.
If this were adopted, it would be
an end of Republican Government,
and establish in its place system of
terrorism and dcspotism. j i we have
not misinterpreted the aims and OBJ
jects of the Republican party, and as
many of its leading men have defined
them on public occasions, they do
not embrace the policy of Phillips.
They have passed certain laws for the
reconstruction of the Union, which,
II complied with in spirit and in
letter, we have tho plighted faith of
the party that the work will be ac-
cepted by them rs complete. This
we believe to be the honest and true
platform Of the Republican party,
and has been accepted as such by the
mass of the Southern people, who
are at present, in various States, re-