The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-02

tive rights and privileges; and the
end of radical rule just as certainly
dawns on the country with the ap;
proach of the same event The re-
cent popular meetings held and called
in the chief Southern cities, atwhich
both blacks and whites attend, and
speeches are freely made by each
class, demonstrate the spirit in which
these conditions laid down by Con-
gress are to be met, and guide us to
the solution of this perilous problem
by the surest way. The white men
at the South, who have an influence
to exert, are clearly going to use it
for the safety and advantage of that
section, instead of falling back on a
defiant indifference which, at best,
could only make their situation much
worse than it is. They rightly realize,
like sagacious people, that it is better
to retain the control and direction of
local affairs, and the shaping of local
sentiment, in their own hands, than
to leave way open for the closer in
vaslon of passion and fanaticism.
| We rejoice to witness the progress of
this spirit among them, for it is the
surest promise we can have that
through its activity and perseverance
the wounds from which the Union
has been so long bleeding are soon to
be healed"
This paragraph should commend
itself to the consideration of all, and
especially to those who may still be
restive or chafe under the exactions
or requirements demanded from us.
With the Posi-, we believe the saliva
ton of the South, as we'll as of tho
Union, depends upon an early restora-
ton of all the States. With us, of
South Carolina, the duty and RESPONSE
bility of the hour ore indeed of vast
Importance. Not long since, q con-
vention of the white people met, and
framed q new constitution. BY the
late Congressional legislation, that
constitution and the Government
framed under it are pronounced only
provisional; new constitution must
be framed, and the mode and manner
and agencies through which it Is to be
framed are so distinctly laid down by
the law-making power of the country,
TINT there can be no evasion of the
terms, no departure from the line
designated with such answering
rigor.
A convention has to be called, and
will be called in the manner described,
despite any grumbling or reluctance
that may be manifested or entertained
by portion Of our people. It is
evident, therefore, that it is not only
their policy, but their duty to the
State, to retain the control and ma
nagement of their own political
affairs, instead of yielding them, by
shpineness or indifference, to un-
friendly influences from other sec
tlons. The men to be chosen to this
convention have to be selected by two
classes of voters, one of which will
S'oo ohSiA oullOtS IOr Inc 1lfSt time.
1t is to be hoped that both feel the
Importance and necessity of choosing
the best men among us, who are eli
gible, to discharge the important
trust OF framing the future organic
law of the State. There should be
no division no parties or cliques,
but all, actuated by the same noble
purpose, the salvation of our State
and country, unite in the determine
ton to ignore the pretentious claims
of dcmagogues and mere partizans,
and entrust thoir interests to men
who, with honest instincts of patriot
! lsm, have made Carolina, and intend
20 make it their home, antL the home
OF those who may come after them.
Such men, well qualified, and ,oligi-
bic, can be found throughout the
State, and upon them let all the
voters, white and colored, unite.
There is no reason why there should
be division, and especially when that
division may and will probably defeat
| recOnS Strupti ON-tbn f,ro,+ o,1 - l.