The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-12
COLUMBIA.
Tuesday Morning, March 10, 1857.
Obedience to Law.

sor applicable under our form of 90
vernment, this obedience is its chic
clement
The military reconstruction bill,
which has just passed both houses Of
Congress over the sound objections
of the President, is now tie lar q
Ike lana, and, until it is rescinded, OF
Its unconstitutionality declared by the
highest Judicial tribunal of the coun-
try, it must and ought to be obeyed.
Whatever may be the Objectionable
features Of the measure in the esti-
nation OF the Southern people, yet
one thing they must remember, that
It has become law according to the
1aode and manner prescribed by the
Constitution.
We may think that some Of It's pro-
visions aye at variance with the Con-
stltution-we may consider that the
Congress which passed it was not
fully organized as prescribed by that
instrument, but the mere opinions Of
men are not law, and cannot affect
the validity Of any measure which
mas assumed the form Of law. and
comes to US as such, in thcprescribcd
channel pointed out by the Constitu-
ton, for the maintenance of which
1he Southern people have justly and
earnestly long contendcd. All re-
slstance to the operation Of the law
IS out Of the question, and all cavil-
lngs, or angry OF excited discussions
among ourselves, is worse than use
less. Obey the law, and give no cause
OF excuse for worse measure 10 be
forced upon us
This would be our counsel. ii We
might advise, and it is not taken
from fear, but given, conscientiously
and sincerely, as the best for our
people. The whole country, North
and South, wants tranquility, and
This section, especially, will be bcne-
flted by settlement Of tie question,
whether the terms of that settlement
oe agreeable or not AS writer
says, in this world of ours we must
DO what We cannot what we would
and this is peculiarly applicable in
the present case. Tie people OF the
South would not voluntarily impose,
or, indeed, accept, many of the pro
visions of this Act; but they can and
will obey it, so long as it is on the
statute books.
We do not like the word inaction;
but, with the views and feelings of
the Southern people in relation to
this matter, they must exhibit that
clement Of Src&tness-paticnt en-
durance-and time and their own
steadfastness, we verify believe, will
lead to brighter future in public
affairs. This is Il great country, in
habited by al intelligent and civil
lied people, and we must believe that
the good sense Of the citizens Of both
sections, now that it has been deter
sllined that they must both live under
one Government, they must and
ought to be friends, and especially
ought they to be allies in the main
tenanoe of constitutional liberty and
all those righteous principles of 60
vernment transmitted to them by the
wise and patriotic founders of our
Government.
We think that the views of Cover
nor Jenkins, of Georgia, who has
gone to Washington city to have
conference with the President in re-
lation to the status Of the State Go
verhnent under the new law, are
very correct at this juncture. AS we
learn from the Chronicle and Sentinel.
that he counsels the people of the
State'to remain quiet and finn until
further developments are made Of the
plans under Sherman's bill; he de-
precates any undue excitement, and
counsels moderation, forbearance and
manly fortitude; he thinks the whole
South should be united in whatever