The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-08
COLUMBIA.
Wednesday Morning, May 8, 1867.
Action Is Needed.

one that is full of meaning, and that
ought to receive the grave considera-
tion of the Southern people, in the
peculiar condition in which they are
now placed. We will endeavor to
condense those views of the Times,
which strongly suggest to our mind
that it is tho duty of our people to be
vigilant and active in tho approach
ing reorganization of their State
Government.
The article to which we refer is
elected by the proceedings of meet
ing held in North Carolina, which
adopted resolutions in favor of con-
fiscation. The Times, although
representative of tho Republican
party, says that it agrees with its
leading party cotemporaries, which
have declared, with very great una
nimity, that confiscation forms no
part of the party platform, and which
repudiate in energetic terms the per-
sistent attempt of Mr.. Stevens, Gen.
Butler md other ultraists to forcc it
upon the party.
So far rs Congress is concerned,
and the majority of the Republicans
i'll that body, there is little to appre-
hcnd from that quarter, if the people
of tho Southern States reconstruct
promptly under the recent laws of
Congress. But the danger lies here;
md it is to this point the Times more
particularly refers-that q confisca-
tion movement in the South, as indi-
Gated by the meeting alluded to above,
may become formidable. The Times
says-and we have abundant evidence
OF the fact in their sending party
missionaries among us-that the
ultraists of the Republican party are
determined to build up party in the
South fully i'll accord with themselves.
Their plan is to consolidate the negro
vote, which, with the help of the
protesting "criginal Union men" of
the South, they think will be sufi-
cient to over-bear the great body of the
whites who are not disfranchised. It
is upon this that they rely for success.
The Times says that, if they can get
the whole negro vote, keeping it COM
pact. manageable, and wholly subject
to their control, they feel confident
that the Southern States will become
more radical than the Northern.
This is the belief of n moderate
Republican journal, and the South
ern missionary tours Of sundry Sc
nators and Congressman of the party
confirm it. The same paper states
that this faction relies upon confisca-
tion to secure the results in view, and
adds the following paragraph, which
should be hooded by the Southern
people:
GA promise of n homestead, to be
taken from the whites and given gra-
tuitously to every colored voter, will
be a most formidable weapon for the
accomplishment of their object. 1t
is precisely the kind of argument
likely to prove most potent with the
class of voters whom they address
They are all landless, and can scarcely
be expected to remain blind to such
glittering expectations. And we may
rely upon it, the scheme will be
pressed with desperate and remorse-
less audacity. The men engaged in
it are not men easily daunted by fear
of consequences, still less by scruples
as to the character of the means en-
ployed. Neither Mr.. Stevens nor
Gen. Butler is likely to halt in the
execution of such scheme from the
fear that it may lead to war of races
or plunge the South into hopeless
and remidless ruin. The character
and temper of tho men to go South
rs their agents and missionaries
Senator Nye, Judge Kelly and Gen.
Logan, for example-is by no means
re-assuring."
1t is particularly to bring this
warming before our people that VIC
refer Mt this time to the article of oul
New York contemporary. That jour
nal thinks, however, that there arc
fuf, f,co,,,,I, oe ,.o1:o,o. a.,