The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-07-14
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Weare well aware that the preia-
dices Of q lifetime are not to be era
dicated in e day, or in q year, and it
is ,still more diaicuit to eradicate
them when they ere strengthened,
concentrated and increased by having
supcradded to them those Of fore
going generations, transmitted as.ra-
gulafly 20 each In snccession as here
ditary estates and titles in European
Governments; but it must be remem-
bered that we are living in revolu-
tionary age- an age Of progress-and
under q Governmens whose birth
right sprung not from royal descent
or genealogical privileges. The Co.
vermont Of the United States was
founded by the people. in wisdom
and upon sound principles, and the
man is dotard who denies to the
people who framed the Government
the right To change. alter Or amend
the rules oG Wits administration, so
long asitlhe fundamental principles of
its organization are not ruthlessly
uprooted.
And in this position do the people
of the Southern States-a portion of
the people. of theUnited States-fnd,
themselves to-day. We desire to-
speak plainly, without passion, and
without any intention to reflect upon,
the uprightness Of motive or honesty
ofpurpose of those who have thought,
and who may still think, differently.
But we also claim therighto of an OPT
nion inlthis matter, and calm sur
vey Of the past and present, divested
of those preiudices to which we have
referred, we feel convinced, will
show that we are right. The people
of the South revolted against the Go
vernment of which they were. part,
and-to which they owed allegiance.
This revolt was not because of any
unwarrantable or oppressive viola
tion of the fundamental principles
upon which that Government was
founded. No other justification of
the revolt was offered, but the elec-i
ton ola President and the eleya ton
ofa party to power who were pre-
sumed to be hostile--hostile to what?
Why, to the institution of slavery.
and In timately CONNECTED with that
institution, the doctrine OF State So
vereignty and State rights. This was
all, and no more. The President was
elected and the party came into
power, justas all other parties preced-
ing it had been successful, in con-
formity to the requirements of the
Constitution and by the will of the
people. md no one, even at this day,
can deny the truth of this statement.
1t is history. We think now, as we
thought then, that the mere appre-
hension of coming evil was no tenable
ground for revolt, or putting into
practice the abstract right of seces-
sion, or the exercise of what was
deemed the high prerogative of a
sovereign State-to withdraw from
the union of States which constituted
the Government.
So much for the past. The issue
was nihdess and the institution of
slavery, the doctrines of State rights
and State sovereignty, and the politi-
cal theories taught and inculcated by
Southern Statesmen, were thoroughly
expInged from the code of American
politics by the will of the people of
the Union, even when they had to
enforce that viii against their fellow
countrymen at the point of the bayo-
net. The people Of the Southern
States made the Issue, and they are
bound to abide by its results. They
have professed to do so-they have
returned to their allegiance to the
Government they had abjured, and,
as far as the formality aud obligation
of oath can make them SO, they are,
rs people, rs good citizens of the
limited StatoS aS thOsa ne ui,v otbo,,