The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-29
COLUMBIA.
Saturday M0rning, june 2s. 1861.


which is written in good taste and
temper and, moreover, presents
aorne strong views as to the wisdom
of the people of the South in adopt
ing, or, rather, complying with the
reconstruction Acts of Congress.
With ourselves, it regards the whole
question of compliance with the law
as merely temporary, and of little
importance, except for its results.
Grant that the law violates the Con-
,stitution-that it is revolutionary in
it's mature and oppressive in its opera
'tions-it is short-lived, and only q
means to an end. It is merely gate
through which the Southern States
may re-enter the Union. Grant that
the passage is low, marrow and in
convenient that the South has a
constitutional right to insist upon it's
being both higher and wider-the
question recurs, whether it is not
wiser for us to take it rs it is-to
stoop, if need be-,while going
through, i'll order that we stand up
right afterwards. This, as we have
frequently said, is a practical ques-
tion, not one of theory.
The Times says that, if Governor
Perry's advice should be followed,
and several of the Southern States
should refuse to hold conventions,
or comply in any way with the law of
Congress, it is quite safe to assume
that laws still more stringent would
be passed at the December session of
Congress. Confscation in some form
would then become probable, and
the Times says that although Cover
nor Perry affects to make light of
this, inasmuch as the South has no
thing left to confscate, the condition
OF the people would certainly be
made, by such an act, worse than it
is at present. If nothing moro should
be taken from them, the day when
they would be able to acquire any
thing would be indefinitely post
poncd. Again we say, let dead theo-
ries and abstract principles go to the
winds-we have to deal with facts,
and meet them like men.
We have been persistent and
urgent in our admonitions and advice
TO the people of South Carolina to
comply with and faithfully carry ont
the reconstruction Acts of Congress,
and for the simple and primary OBJ
Ject of getting back into the Union.
We have always held that this step
was the first great necessity; for, after
we have obtained our rights and again
become participants i'll the admins
tration of the Government, as States
we would have better opportunity
of guiding and controlling State
affairs than we possibly can either as
Territories or under military govern
ment. The Times has our ideas cx-
aetly, when it says that the action of
the State Convention on suffrage or
anything else would not be final or
irreversible. Whenever the South
ern States are restored to the Union,
they will become subject only to the
Constitution OF the United States.
Nothing in that Constitution dcprives
the several States Of the control over
suffrage within their limits, which
they have hitherto enjoyed. If the
Constitution which may be adopted
fails in that, or any other respect, to
work well, it may be changed.
AS the time for registration APP
proaches, we earnestly commend
these practical views to our readers.
Follow the counsels of no politician,
either of the past or present day
the former is welded to ancient pre-
iudices, and does not yet realize the
true position i'll which the people of
the South are placed; the latter is
either aspiring after Office, or the
mere pimp of some party commits
stoned to hunt up votes. The peo-
pie must grapple with the facts and