The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-11-08
COLUMBIA, s.. G.. FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER s. 1857

begin at the beginning, and work
upward, Us our population and wealth
increase. We repent, that we would
not now re.establish slavery at the
South. 1t is too late to correct the
error of its sudden extinction. It is
to our interest tn make the most uf
the circumstances by which we are
surrounded. We cannot recall the
past. "Let the dead past bury its
dead" But let us not be entirely
hopeless of the future.
Little more than half q century
ago, the great commodity exported
from this State was indigo. It ceased
to be profitable here, because it
could be more cheaply cultivated
elsewhere. Cotton was introduced
In its stead, and was cultivated with
unparalleled success. Tobacco and
rice contributed to increase the
wealth of the South. If these staples
cease to 5o as Temunerative in the
future as they have been in the past,
we still have great country left to
us, and, with something like good
government, our necessities will give
rise to new expedients. To conquer
our difficulties, we must meet them
with patience, fortitude and courage.
But shall we have good government?
That is the great question presented
in the next point that we propose to
consider.
To admit as fact, as has been as
sumed to be the result of the war.
that the Government of the United
States is supreme, and that the States
have no rights; or if they have rights,
that they are subordinate to the Go
vernment of the United States; or,
which is the same thing, subordinate
to the will of majority having con-
troll of the Government, is to admit
the abrogation of the Constitution,
and to ignore the facts of history. In
other words, it is to acknowledge that
we have Government of absolute
powers, instead of q Government of
limited and delegated powers. It is
admitted, that any Government, how
ever limited, may for q time usurp all
power. A single man may rise up
and say, 81 am the State" Any as
sembly of men may, for season, ar
rogate to themselves all power-exe-
cutive, legislative and judicial. But
the question recurs, is this law, or is
this usurpation? Is this good govern
ment, or is it revolution? Mere ply
sical force is not law, It may compel
obedience, but it cannot give to its
acts the sanction of law; unless it be
in those countries where the will of
IN absolute despot is the recognized
law of the land. To admit that the
war has established such a power in
the United States, is to admit that all
constitutional government is at an
end, and that rs States, or as indiyi-
duals, we hold our life, liberty and
property at the will and pleasure of
any majority. which, for the time
to-day, may be practically the condi-
ton of ten States of the American
Union. But are we prepared to en-
dorse these proceedings and engraft
SO monstrous proposition into our
governmental polity? That is the
question that the people of the North,
as we'll rs of the South, are called
upon to consiGer! The great object
of laws, of constitutions, and of GO
vernment, is to protect the weak
against tire strong-to shield minori-
ties against the encroachments of
majorities. Tt is n political aphorism
that majority can protect itself.
Acting by the sheer exercise of arbi-
trary power. majority may, for q
time, set at naught all laws within
these States-it may enforce an obe-
dienco to military DEGREES, from which
there is no app real-it may administer
purely military government accord
ing to its own will, and as such it
must be obeyed. But when we are
called upon to sanction such govern
ment as being in accordance with the
constitution and the laws, we have q
right to test the question according
to the rule proposed and to withhold
our assent. We admit the fact that
martial law exists in South Carolina,
put we do not admit the principle
That martial law has the right to
impose civil government upon
us without our consent. Far be
1T from MS to raise factious op-
position to the Reconstruction Acts
OF Congress. We believe that those
acts and the measnroe tLcT y,r,,-