The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-18

1
Legislature, yours until death,
GEORGE WASHINGTON MILLER.
'-
Governor Orr and tho Charleston
Mercury.
Mr.. EDITOR: Governor Orr, for
the first time since he was twenty
one years of age, is private citi-
zen. In fact, his public life may
properly be said to have commenced
when of the age of eighteen. And,
from that time to the present, THE
PEOPLE of the State have adhered to
him and sustained him, and his po-
litical record never has been, in even
one single instance, condemned by
THE PEOPLE. 1t is true, that some
politicians have differed with him,
but The people have always decided
against those who opposed him.
And, when say the people, I mean
the wisdom and intelligence of the
State. Governor Orr is not infalli-
BILE, and once I differed widely
with him; but he was sustained and
time proved me wrong. How often
has Governor Orr been chosen to fill,
the most important positions, when
wisdom, prudence and great politi-
cal sagacity were the requisites; and,
in no one instance, has he ever
deceived or fallen below the reason
able expectations of reasonable PEG
pie; but he he never has been able to
satisfy or in any way please that
most unreasonable journal, the
Charleston Mercury. And he never
has been able to secure one kind
word from any member of the Rhett
family. In fact, old Rhett and all of
his boys have devoted much of their
lives to writing and talking against
Orr. The political docket of the
Mercury, under tho Rhett family,
has always kept open the case of
Rhett Us. Orr; and, although the
people-the highest tribunal in the
State-has repeatedly decided
against the plaintiff, yet still he
argues the point. The old man and
his boys are still insisting, (the wis
dom and intelligence of the State to
the contrary, otwithstanding,) that
Orr is no part of q statesman, and that
old Rhett and the boys are and
always have been the greatest living
statesmen! Whenever Orr's name
was suggested for Office, he never was
the man, but the old man was emf
nently qualified. If the Confederate
Government and the State Govern
ment, during the war, had recog-
nized the great genius and superior
claims of Father Rhett, be would
have guided and directed affairs
much better than Orr did. I believe
that the boys don't contend that
their father is q greater man than
anybody but Orr, but lie is certainly
greater than Orr.
Some time after the Mexican war
was over, one of General Taylor's
Generals sought an interview with
the old hero, and, says he: "Gene-
raj, some of our friends are getting
up n controversy in the papers, about
whether you or L deserve the credit
of fighting and gaining the battle of
Buena Vista; but, General, we must
not allow this to disturb our friendly
relations" Certainly not" replied
the old hero; "for, sir, I will give
you a certificate that I was not there
and had nothing to do with the
fight. So I have no doubt but
what Governor Orr is now perfectly
willing to give the boys a certificate
that the people, the Legislature, and
the Conventions of the State have
all committed grave errors in honor
ing him, when father was so anxious
to got Office.
Now, Mr.. Editor, the truth of the
business is just this: It is, indeed. q
great pity that the Mercury has been
revived under the Rhett family, for
the old man and his boys are cor
tainly the most impracticable, the
most diabolical, the most mischief
making, the most destructive politi-
clans now or ever wero in the State.
They have always been differing
with and scolding the Democratic
party. Tho Democratic party has
never received their support, but
they have always been advocating
some wild, visionary, political some
thing, Tor, moro properly, nothing,)
which embodied the ideas of the
family. And their platform has
always been SO illiteral. so narrow
minded, that only an insignificant
clique could stand upon it. It will
astonish some people, to learn that
f1n 1E,,nn,., l,oo Lono,~1o