The New York herald., 1867-03-22

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
"Ths pen is mghtier than the sword" must We sup
pose be still received as truthful saying, although
faith its verify made to stagger during the latter
part Of the The sword absorbed everything. We
had in 1861 about forty papers In this State Fire de-
stroyed some; others suspended because Of the dcpre
ciation Of Mr. Mcmninger's ''promses to pay" and
few that held out TO the very last scnccd by the
powerful logic Of invasouso that in May, 1866, there
were in all South Carolina but two newspapersviz the
Charleston Courier and the Columbia Phrair You see
thus the avages Of had brought to the very
verge almost Of barbarsm. Think Of Il Apopuation
Of seven hundred thousand with only two newspapers.
And these Of necessity very much restricted
in their circulation, for railroads had none, nor
post roads postmaaers, and grccnbacks were still
regarded the light of exotcs These two Sheets
however although small in size and limited in their
circulation, might have been instrumental in giving
wholesome direction to public opinion.
The phonir, at Columbia, was established Immediately
after the burning OF that city in February 1885, Dy few
enerprisng journeymcn printers impeed into this step
by tho necessity Of providing for the immediate wants of
their tarving families Politically the Paonir had
opinions and the few warning voices which
times found In its editorial columns came from the pen
Of private citizen, whose words OF counsel ii better
needed, would have led to more satisfactory results
Had remained quiet as was then counselled and
Trained from intrudpg upon the courtesy and Kindness
OF President johnson, misleading him by deusive state
ments raising false hopes at home and creating vir
tual deception al Washington by making It appear that
VIC, although conquered people, had not yet learned
wisdom, but we're still dcsrous OF following our old
leaders knosn in the past TO havo been hostile to tho
United states government, the sou, would long ago
have realized its true status and nearly two years Of
hitter political controversy might have been spared to
the country and tho terrible penalty consequent npon
this III advised and frultlcss agitation would have been
ayerted from This advice, as Is but too well known,
followed, and tho Phanir rapidly fell into the
opinions prevalent around IT, Instead Of lead
ing pubic opinion it followed.
Now few words about the Charleston Courier, q
Journal which, remaining In Charleston Al the cyacua-
tion, ever looking after the main chance sstonnded the
community the morning after the advent Of tho United
States troops by exhibiting wonderful meamorphoss.
The Courier that boasted Of having fred the nrst
tpopl gun In salute to secession, (which trophy now
lies entonlbcd their premises sacred relic OF iS60
whose senior editor, in cutaway coat, with bright
Rangers, and wncse patriotism prompted him to Otter
the nuncens sum OF ten thousand Menimingeran dol.
as c5 s nea o. ns % 90
cntoaths Journal vocifercusy loyal TO the con-
edernry 70 the very hour Of the evacuation OF Charles
ton next morning was w meek as lamb. We here
inu one OF those physiological phenomena sometimes
met with at rarc intervals whore IN consequence OF
stroke upon particular part Of the cranIum tho patient
becomes obIvicus OF his pas record; sometimes the
hue OF demarcs,ion Is very ral'v drawn was 20 in
shis instance. Inc conrty next morning reco,lecNa
its Union record In the days OF notification, and again
IN the days OF co-operaton;r but four years OF lis
existence were erased from the tablet oi its memory
Tue courier was now the only paper IN Charleston,
and, as we have shown, almost the only IN the state
IL bad line opportunity Of creating healthy senti.
msn OF presenting "a Its readers the facts of actual
conditiou, and Of advising them 20 the proper
under tho circumstances What did tho Cgif1er 7
Nothing. JUST what II has always done II has been In
turn every side OF every public that has
taied the stale during the past sixty years. lead
Ing always timdiy following ar iE the wake The only
principles upon winch the paper IL conducted the
principles Of political economy. Our people thus had no
or,an, no teacher Such press could exercise nu-
ence, and those vino had formerly been our puolc
preserved ominous silence, or medded in public
aaalrs with mischegous results.
About August new paper established m Charles
ton. With capital, IL understood obtained IN New
York. The publication Of tho Chareson B1igv Ns,cs
hailed .ith satisfaction by the community at large
and this popularity, thus easily secured has ever since
remained with the paper. Ii Is OF ssyo paper,
than had been known before in these parts But
unfortunately II also took the wrong ssde Tho writer
c Its political articles had clearly mistaken the tmper
Of the Northern people and no less the stun o which
Mr.. Andrew johnson was made. Morning after morn
ing twelve months ago. the readers OF the News looked
foI that coup dcfd they had been promised IL did not
come The political editor had proved false prophet
OF this not his fault Hts calculations
all correct, II Andrew johnson, who Did not
rp 20 The scratch. The Ns,cs, In the meantime
having found that tue cop.det had been indefinitely
postponed gradually ''edged oar from the extreme
Southern side, and last fsll felt way with view cf
advocating tie ado lion Of tbe constitutional amend.
ment Buf the orrea had Philadelphia Convention ON