The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-12
COLUMBIA.
Saturday Morning, Jan. IL, 1857.
Intimidation.

that any crushed people ever exhibit
ed. They have come to the conclu-
sion that arguments are entirely I'M
availing, when addressed to the party
hostile to their interests and rights,
and in the discussion of the last pro-
posed measure OF that party, so great
was the contrast between the tone
and temper OF Southern writer's to
that exhibited by the radicals, that
even Republican Journals could not
avoid rcmarlling il:
In the South, many able men,
such as Governors Sharkey and Perry
discussed the proposed amendment
with calmness, but with marked
ability, pointing out its unjust and
oppressive provisions; while, on the
other hand, the leading politicians
and journals of the radical faction
favored it. This is not what was
expected by the man who proposed
the odious measure; for, although
they did not expect, nor do we be-
licve did they desire, that tue South
ern States should adopt IT, yet they
did believe and expect that they
would present violent, turbulent
and rcbellious opposition, which
might furnish the party with some
shadow of truth in their oft-repcated,
false allegations that the rebellion
was not yet crushed.
They have been grievously disap-
pointed. AS a cotemporary remarked
a week or two ago, when several Of the
States rejected the amendment, the
question was determined by the South
crn people precisely rs if no radical
party existed; as if no elections had
been held at the North as if nothing
was TO be decided but the actual
merits or demcrits of the scheme
We cannot say that the result is a
disappointment 20 the Republican
party; bat il it is Welcome to them,
the manner in which the result was
brought about must be emincnt!v uu-
welcome The radicals are, doubt
less, very glad that the amendment
is rejected, int they must feel disap-
pointed that the rejection was not ac-
coMpanicl with those marks of re-
sentiment which would have stimu-
lated sectional rage, or with those
symptoms OF apprehension on the
part of the Southern people which
would have encouraged sectional
tyranny.
The iniinidatins measures OF the
radicals have utterly failed to have
any influence upon the decision of the
Southern people and their Legisla-
lures The party finds the South
calm and quiescent, not clamoring
for admission to Congress, rs they
expected, not turbulent or commit
ting ontrages on account of It's OPP
preasise policy. They may threaten
disfraichisement Of Southern men;
they may destroy their State Go
vcrnments, and substitute military
rule over an already burdened and
oppressed people; they may deter
mine that these States shall never be
again restored to the Union; they
may 10 all this, and more, but they
will never coercc the people of the
South into the voluntary acceptance
of a measure that they believe unjust
and iniquitous. Such is the ''verdict'
of the Southern people, in opposition
to the so-callcd verdict of the North.
Intimidation has utterly failed.
Andis this not, as We have said, a
noble spectacle exhibited by a people
overwhelmed BY power and governed
By party vindictiveness? History will
answer this question truthfully, while
the faction which evoked it will be
handed down to postcrity as the
would-be destroyers Of "thc best Go
vernmeat" the world ever saw.