The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-25
The Real Meaning OF the Recon-
structfon Acts of Congress.

The Round Table, m able and vigor-
GUS weekly journal, which has been
steady supporter of conservative
republicanism, is painting, in dark
colors, the effects of radical rule. It
says:
The plain meaning of the pseudo
reconstruction Acts of Congress,
now being pushed to their most mer-
ciless consummation, is simply this:
First register in the South the
entire negro population and such
whites as may unite with them in
supporting the radical party in Con-
gress. Second-to prohibit the re-
gistration of the vast majority of the
whites who have real interest in the
quiet and prosperity of the country.
Thlrd-to submit to the voters of the
States thus registered the question
whether they will or will not hold
convention for the reconstruction of
their States under the Congressional
plan. Under this mode of proceed
ure, it:may be seen what a hopeful
future lies before the South and the
whole country. Either. the States
will vote for convention or no con-
vention. The white vote will be
largely cast against convention; for
the present military rule, with all its
disadvantages, at least affords pro-
lection, while reconstruction, such as
has been perpetrated in the State of
Tennessee, gives little protection but
to negro brigands. The radical
whites and the negro voters who are
interested in subverting all decent
rule and authority, will, of course,
unite in favor of convention. Now,
suppose-although the case is hardly
possible-that the convention is, by
such mockery of suffrage, rejected.
Then the radicals will avail them
selves of the cry of Southern con-
tumacy; Mr.. Stevens "mild confis-
cation" is brought into play; the
South is wholly ruined by this villain
GUS atrocity for merely saying, as
our generous Congress has invited
her to say, that she prefers the rule
of military satraps to the harder rule
OF uninstructed negroes and white
bravos. On the other hand, sup
pose-and this is the only supposi-
tion justified by the registration
which is being made-that n conven-
ton is desired. Then it is practical
ly a negro convention. 1t will frame
q constitution that will throw the
whole power of the State into the
hands of the negroes and white men
who hope to profit by the suffrages
of the negroes. The prescription of
white men will be more sweeping
than Congressional prescription.
Confiscation of the property of white
men by their negro rulers will be
sure to follow; and the indirect con-
fscation will be more destructive
than confiscation outright. The
ruling class, having no property
themselves, will look upon the trans
fer Of their subjects property into
their own possession as the one great
end OF government. With penni-
less negro Legislature to tax, and de-
tenccless white men to be taxed, the
issue cannot long be doubtful. In
every county taxes will be laid in the
same way by negroes upon white
men. In the towns and cities negro
councilmen will vote themselves large
salaries, create unnecessary offices for
purposes of plunder, and for like
ends undertake enormous jobs of
fanclful public Improvement. Jus
tlce administered by negro magis-
trates will be farce; redress of
wrongs will be impossible. Liberty
OF outrage will be amply secured.
The liberty of death will be the only
liberty secured to men whose crime
is that they were born white.
A cheap funeral car is the latest