The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-25
COLUMBIA.
Wednesday, Morning, Sept. 25, 1857.
The Crisis and our Dutyy.


the fate Of a party merely, nor the
disposition which is to be made of a
lew petty offices, but to determine
whether negro license and legalized
pillnge and robbery are to take the
place of law aud order, and of that
noble civilization which is tho work
of two centuries of Caucasian energy
and talent, Issues of such gigantic
magnitude have never before been
presented for the consideration of any
considerable portion of the white
= race; for this is the first instance of
an effort to place an ignorant and in
ferior people over the heads of their
late masters. Unless it shall please
God to arrest the authors of this
fearful crime, in less than four
months, the negro will have as SUI
preme control of some of the oldest
and most honored of the "Old Thir-
teen" States as he has of Central and
Equatorial Africa. Our only safety
depends upon united and vigorous
action, and thorough and complete
organization. The disgrace and re-
proach of defeat wo Id be almost as
difficult to bear rs the oppressive
measures of which we should be the
victims. We have the highest incen-
tives which ever operated upon n
people. ,fsr
If, therefore, we throw all of our
energies into the pending canvass
and secure q Conservative Convention,
we shall soon place the security of
the State upon safe foundation.
We shall demonstrate to the negroes
that the power of the white man is
still supreme in the South, and that
the welfare and security of the freed
men depend upon their uniting with
the whites and abandoning those
secret oath bound organizations, into
which they have been seduced by
radical emissaarics. To secure the
election of delegates in whose integ-
rity and sense of justice the right of
both races will be secure, every re-
gistered white voter should bend his
efforts, thoughts and energy until the
day of election. No private or pub
lie occupation can be of equal i'm
portance with the approaching elec-
ton. The man who now counsels
his neighbor to inactivity and in
difference, is traitor to his race as
base as Judas.
Unless the people of the South are
made secure against negro license and
misrule by their organic law, it will
be useless for them to SOW and reap,
to improve and fertilize the soil, to
build cities or open great lines of in
ternal improvements. The stake and
interests OF the high, the low, the
rich and the poor are the same in the
great questions of the hour. The
humblest white man would find life
rs uncomfortable rs the ruined capital
ist, If we were the thralls Of negro
officials and the victims of negro
misrule.
1t must be borne in mind during
the pending canvass, that no triumgh
over the negro is sought for the re-
striction of his privileges. All, we
believe, desire to make him the equal
before tlle law of the white man, and
20 clothe him with all the rights
which may be necessary for their
protection. And they must be given
distinctly to understand that they
have forced upon the people of the
South the formation of white mans
party, by tho formation of secret
negro societies, which are the sure
hot-beds of war of races.
To secure the triumph of conserva-
tism, we invoke the aid of men of all
ages, callings and professions. In
this holy crusade to save our section,
Il