The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-04
An Itinerant Bohemian.


one of the travelling correspondents
of the New York Herald, dated from
this city. We make the following
extracts for the edifcation and amuse-
ment of our readers:
Columbia, too, shows the marks of
the fire and fury that war has swept
over her, and there are no signs of
an immediate resuscitation from the
trance into which she has been cast.
For, although two. years of peace
have intervened, the long streets are
still presided over by the gaunt chin
neys and crumbled walls which mark
the track of the destroyer. The peo-
pie, in conversing upon political
topics, profess to be perfectly reck-
less as regards the consequences of
the reconstruction bill, although I
have seen several legal gentlemen,
who are now practicing in this city,
worked up to severe fit of passion
by the remembrance of the fact that
they are disfranchised by the new
Act, while their negroes are given
the right to vote in their stead. The
chief politicians, Gen. Hampton and
others, who led the people Of this
District through their influence,
after having made desperate effort
against the adoption Of the constitu-
tional amendment and other demands
of the dominant party, finding that
they have forced upon them the dread
alternative, have switched off on
new track, and, actuated apparently
by spitefulness alone, have taken to
advocating negro suffrage as vio-
lently as they formerly opposed it.
This is undoubtedly with the spiteful
design of giving the radicals an over
dose of their own medicine in the
shape of O completely African repre-
sentation of the South in Congress.
Everything indicates that this is the
programme adopted by Mt least the
politicians of this section Of the
State, who have evidently been
around among the planters near and
far in the District. for. oil of them
whom I have visited confirm this sus-
picion by their reticence as we'll rs
by their hints. That Wade Hampton
should take part in negro meeting,
ana address the assemblagc on the
subject, surely argues this design.
On last Monday, however, the ne
groes of this vicinity took bold step
in the way of IN open endorsement
of the action of Congress. A pro-
cession of about 800 colorel. men,
headed by band of colored musi-
clans and bearing banners, on which
were inscribed appropriate notices,
and one of which bore likeness of
President Lincoln, marched through
the streets of this city and held
mass meeting on the outskirts. There
were about 1,5O0 colored persons pre-
sent, but very few whites. General
Wade Hampton and several lawyer
politicians of this District made
speeches conciliatory to the negro
spirit. Hampton especially played
well the part of q demagogue, an
nouncing himself as the friend of the
niger, and inviting the latter to stay
and make his home forever at the
South, where he was born, assuring
him of good treatment and q chance
to make - living as we'll as to vote.
Several lawyers followed in the same
strain, and succeeded in imprcssing
the negroes very favornbly.
In the evening, the darkies had
very large torch-light procession,
and were addressed by several promi-
nent men of the city, before whose
residences they appeared by invita-
ton.
These politicians, finding that
there is probability of the negro
becoming voter in spite of all they
can do or say, conclude that it is to
their interest to conciliate him, and
hence this sudden outburst of mag
niloqucnt sentimentality and atfec-
ton. 1t may be earnest and fair,
but L seriously doubt it. There is
some hidden meaning in these sud-
den professions; some sly artifice
concealed beneath this smooth sur
face of smiles and these professions
of fraternal regard for the black man.
The very men who did the speech
making on this occasion aro firmly
opposed in private arguments to the
step taken for the political advance
ment of the class which they adj
dressed so plausibly. The Columbia
lawyer, Mr.. Arthur, who professed in
his speech to be in favor of the move
ment, since it would elevate the
status of the negro, talked altogether
differently the day before in con-
ycrSatiOn with several of his fellow