The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-08-28

was cOncOcted by the revolutionary
committee of Congress, the Southern
States are made subject to military
tyranny, without limitation or re-
sponsibility, or other checks or in
structions, than that it shall use its
powers literally to carry out the poll
tical purposes of the ruling party in
the nation"
Has this policy of concession to
unlawful demands been 80 productive
of benefit that we still desire to pur-
sue it2 Are we prepared, for the sake
of erpediency-that fatal fnllacy which
has lured rs 80 far on the road to de-
struction--that Trojan Horse which
has brought with it an niad of woes
to barter away the few rights remain
ing to us? Yet this is the course we
must follow, if we accept terms which
we know to be contrary to the condi-
tions on which we surrendered, which
are inimical to all true reconcilia-
tions, and which are in open and pal
pable violation of the Constitution of
the United States-of that Constitu-
ton which we swear to support, at
the very moment we are grossly out
raging its most sacred provisional
Would not those who vote for these
laws, knowing them to be unconstitu-
tional, be guilty of perjury? What
good can come of laws which begin in
fraud and can be carried into effect
only by perjury? Let me not be
understood as making any reflections
on those Southern men who honestly
and conscientiously advocate our ac-
ceptance of these military bills. Any
divisions amongst us are to be deprc-
Gated, and it is as unwise as it is un-
kind to impugn the motives of men
who, on many q field, have proved
their devotion to the South. Espe-
cially do I regret the virulent attacks
which have been made on that gal
liant soldier who so long and SO ably
led the illustrious First Corps of the
Army of Northern Virginia. It has
been his hard fate, in peace as in war,
to be wounded by his own people.
That charity which "hopeth all
things" and natural distrust of our
own judgment, should make us treat
the convictions of such men with at
least kindly and proper consideration.
But for those "who see the right, and
yet the wrong PURSUE" who, while
their country seems to be struggling
in the throes of death, consult only
their own base fears and low in
stincts-who, to save their vile pro-
perty or still more vile persons, would
degrade their State-who bid us ac-
cept dishonor as the price of safety
language has no terms strong enough
to brand their infamy. They are as
far beyond the reach of adequate
punishment in this world as they are
beneath the scorn and contempt of all
honorable men.
But to return to the consideration
of the Reconstruction Acts, from
which this DEPRESSION has led me.
What inducements do the advocates
of these measures hold out to us to
accept them? Can they promise us
peace? Look at Tennessee, and learn
what kind of peace we are to have.
Can they promise us an acceptable
State constitution-one that will not
be interfered with by Congress?
Look at Delaware. Maryland and
Kentucky-thr ''loyal" sovereign
h1IotCo "MA'SA GAO w OC pun Oa
before Star Chamber committee,
on the charge of not having Republi-
can constitutions. Can they pre-
mise a restoration of the Union?
The radical rulers expressly declare
that their measures are not s'finali-
ties" Can they promise, even that
doubtful good, representation in
the Congress of the United States?
L refer you to Kentucky. whose repre-
sentatives are ignominiously rejected,
because rebels uoted for them! But
suppose that the State accepts the
terms proposed by the military bills;
that she agrees to the permanent and
total exclusion from her councils of
the intellect, the experience, the wis
dom and the patriotism, which, in
times past. gave her lustre; that, in
stead of these noble qualities and
virtues, she commits her political
destinies to the guidance of igno-
rance, inexperience, folly and radi-
calism; that she adopts constitution
disfranchisipg forever the men who,
in obeying her command to defend
her, believed that they were serving
God; that she
"Buys-ignominious purchase-short re-
pose,
With dying curses and the groans of those