The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-26
Public Opinion I'm South Carolina.

written by O Carolina man, and II 1t has no other
merit, it is clearly written and readable We
trust that our cotcmporaries will not think us de.
signing in it's publication indeed they could
scarcely do 80 rs we ourselves como in for fair
portion of criticism. We are perfectly assured,
however, that they will agree with us, that in its
main features, the article is void Of fact and un-
worthy tho pep Of Southern man. It will be,
perhaps, generally. asked who wrote the letter 2
Of course we do not know. But we would wage a
triae that the author has no habitaton in Charles
ton, and that-if in South Carolina at a-he could
be found not o hundred miles from Bennettsville.
But let our readers enjoy his effusion :.
To the Editor of the Herald:
| "The pen is mishticr than the sword" must, we
suppose, be still received as truthful saying,
sword absorbed everything. We had, in 1861,
about forty papers in th g State. Fire destroyed
some; others suspended because Of the deprecia-
tion Of Mr.. Memminger's promises to pay" and 8
the powerful logic Of inyasion-so that in May,
1855. there were in all South Carolina but two
newspapers-viz: the Charleston Courier and the
Columbia Phoenix You see thus that the ravages
of war had brought us to the very verge almost of
barbarism. Think Of it'll population OF seven
hundred thousand with only two newspapers
And even these were Of necessity very much re-
stricted in their circulatian for railroads we had
none, nor post roads, nor postmasters, and green
backs we're still regarded in the light Of rare
exotics. These two sheets, however, although
small in size and limited in their circulation
might have been inst rumenta1 in giving whole
some direction to public opinion.
The Phoenix, at Columbia, was established inn
ary, 1866, by few enterprising joutneymen print
ers mpeled into this step by the necessity OF pro-
yidne for tho immediate wants of their starving
families. Politically the Phoenix had no opinions
and the few warning voices which were sometimes
found in it's editorial columns came from the pen
Of private citizen, whose words Of counsel, If
better heeded would have led 10 more satisfactory
results. Had we remained quiet, as was then
counselled, and refrained from intrudng upon the
courtesy and kindness Of President johnson, mis-
leading him by delusive statements, raising false
hopes at home and creating a virtual deception at
Washington by making it appear that We, although
conquered people, had not yet learned wisdom,
but we're still desirous Of following our old leaders,
known in the past to have been hostile to the
United States government, the South would long
of bitter political controversy might have been
spared to the country, and the terrible penalty
consequent upon this Ill advised md fuitless agi-
tation would have been averted from U.s. This nd
vice, as is but too well known, was not followed
and the Phoenix rapidly fell into the erroneous
public opinion it followed
Now few words about the Charleston Courier,
journal which, remaining in Charleston at the
evacuation, ever looking after the main cbance,
advent Of the United States troops by exhibiting q
wonderful metamorphosis. The Courier, that
boasted OF having fred the first (pop) gun in q
salute 10 secession (which trophy now Lies entomb-
ed on their premises sacred relic Of 1860) whose
senior editor, in cutaway cont, with bright yel-
ton Rangers" and whose patriotism prompted him
to offer the muniicent sum Of ten thousand Mem
mnrerian dollars for the head Of the distinguished
member Of the Massachusetts, delegation to the
Charleston Democratic Conventon-this journal,
vociferously loyal to the Confederacy to the very
hour Of the evacuation of Charleston, next morn
ing was as meek as o lamb. We here find one Of
those physiological phenomena sometimes met
with at rare intervals, where, in consequence Of
stroke upon particular part OF the crlnium, the
sometimes the line Of demarcation is very family
drawn It WAS SO in this instance. The Courier
next morning reoolleoted its Union record in the
days Of notification, and again in the days Of Co
operation" but four years OF it's existence were
erased from the tablet Of it's memory.
Tho Courier was now the only paper in Charles
ton and, as we have shown, almost the only one
in the State. It had fine opportunity Of crea-
ting healthy sentiment, Of presenting to its
readers tho facts of our actual condition, and OF
cumstances. What did the Courier I'll Nothing
Just what it has always done. 1t has been in turn
on every side Of every public measure that has
agitated the State during the past. sixty years
never leading, always timidly following fur in the
wake. The only principles upon which the papor
is conducted are tae principles political econo1ny
Our people thus had no organ no teacher. Such
press could exercise no influence and those who
had formerly been our public men preserved an
ominous silence, or meddled in public affairs with
mischieyous results.
About August new paper was established IN
Charleston, with capital, it was understood, OBJ
tained in New York. The publication OF the
Charleston Daily News was hailed with satisfaction
by the community at large, and this popularity
thus easily secured, has ever since remained with
the paper. 1t is more OF o "liye paper" than had
ever been known before in those paris. But un-
fortunately it also took tho wrong side. The writer
of its political articles had clearly mistaken tho
temper Of the Northern people, and no less so the
stuff Of which Mr. Andrew johnson was made
Morning after morning, twelve months ago. the
readers of the News looked for that coup detot
thew had been promised. It did not come. The
political editor had proved q false prophet. Of
course this was not his fault. His calculations
we're oil correct it was Andrew Johnson who did
meantime, Laving found that the coup Ge.m had
been indefinitely postponed, gradually ''edged
Off from the extreme Southern sido,. and
last fall fclt its way with view OF advocat-
ing the adoption of tho constitutional amend
ment. But the Orrites had Philadelphia Conven-
tion on the brain, and could not see it. They
raised o row, and, with Characteristic suppleness
(which is our only substitute for Independent
journalism in this part Of the WORLDLY, the News
backed oat Of is radical () position, and began to
forget that it Ind ever advocated such views. In
this the News made great mistake. Had thoy
boldly advocated tho adoption Of tie amendment
q parry would at once have rallied around them
for there were all the while hundreds and thou
sands of the most intelligent men in favor OF &C
cepting these torms. The small fry Of country
papers, who were al rampant Johnsonltes, because
II was the fashion go to be, would soon have fallen
into line and talked eloquently in it's favor. Gov
ernor Orlahad he been more candH-and more in
dependent in his course, We verify believe, could
have induced the State to accept this amendment !;
and if South Carolina had done 80 at an early date
would have boen followed by other States
Messrs. Orr and Perry really misled the poo
ple in reference to the meaning Of the
several sections of this amendment. We do not
soy that that shey did this Intentionally. But
before rushing into print on tho subject, they
subject without prejudice, and without reference
to its bearing Oh their own future. Ex-Governor a.
G. Magrath, one OF our most far-sighted public
men, made no secret Of his views, which were do
cidedly in favor Of accepting the situation. Mr. G..
W. Dudley, ex-senator from Marlboro, S. c., we
urging acceptance Of the amendment. We know
of many others, who, in this propos; ton, saw a
prospect of the settlement Of our difficulties, and
they were anxious to accept it. They wanted
IN organ; but the News was afraid. They
wanted o. leader; but our public men either
were still too much Johnsonians, or too tilnil to
attempt stemming the current There was not a
single proposition in tho constitutional amend
ment that q majority in tho whole State could not
havo been induced to vote for, if proper means
had only been used to enlighten them. The dis
franchisng clause was tho bitter pill. But there
were many who believed that the country would
not suffer if tho old politicians wcrc thrown over
board. Here WAS fine chance for the CurLii, sup
posing that there had been any among us. Why
did not our politicians como forward and say: eli
we are tho only hindrance to reunion Of tho two
alienatcd sections of our country we make n
cheerful sacrifice, and are willing for tho sake OF
peace and harmony to forego the privilege OF hold
m GROVE veto to say there were but few capable Of such
magnanimity