The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-06-02
Truth! o, king!

Truth u, hing:
A second Democratic meeting has
been held in Charleston, and another
brace Of speeches delivered. A Sc
cond time has the late Democratic
Convention been put upon trial, and
q second time has the action of that
body been misrepresentation hope,
to the satisfaction of portion of the
Charleston public. It is time that
we should appeal from the public
opinion of Charleston, to the public
opinion of the State. We beg to
assure some of the good people of
Charleston, as much as we respect
them, that they are not the State.
They, Or some of them, seem to be
laboring under this hallucination.
One Of their speakers, at the late
meeting, undertook to patronize his
"Columbia friends" and to an
nounce, with all the gravity of which
he is capable, that they had lost
temper in the discussion. Let us
assure that speaker, who is ut best a
jester, that in this he has committed
quite serious mistake. If any tenn
per has been lost. he must look for it
nearer home. People who are in the
right do not generally get out of tenn
per. This is usually to be found
with those who first put themselves
in the wrong by their own default.
and then attempt to saddle the
blame upon innocent parties. The
managers in Charleston shall not
escape thus easily. Who is to
blame? Let us examine the facts,
and these shall answer the question.
Let it be remembered, that during
the past year, calamitisshad been
endured by our people, and wrongs
had been hcaped upon them, sufii-
cient to stir fever in the blood Of
age, and make the infant senses
strong ms STEEL" The reconstruc-
tion Acts of Congress had been
matured, and, with ccld-bloodcd
malignity, they were about to be
forced. upon the State. by the com
bined power of the sword and COR
rupt and nnscrupulous adventurers,
white and black. Our heart went
out for our brethren, in the darkness
and distress everywhere, and no
where more warmly than towards
Charleston. We were about to be
crushed to the earth. What was to
be done What could be done :?
The radicals, black-and-tan, were
organizing in our midst; they were
holding Conventions, and tearing up
the very foundations of society. In
the agony, almost Of despair, we
said: "Lct us consult together for
good" And thus, in the fall of the
last year, Convention for conSultd-
ton was proposed by the people Of
Columbia to the people of the State.
In response to that call, the first
gentlemen Of the State convened in
this city and we may truly add that
it was one Of the most intelligent and
imposing public bodies that ever
convened upon our soil. Earnest,
honest and able, they came from ali
parS Of the State, to take counsel
fyorf4 each other. Where was
Charleston What did Charleston
do? Not man was sent; not q
voice was nchfl, from within her
walls. Had she lost all sympathy
with the rest of the State? Had she
no common suffering, no common
interest, no common past, present o,
future with the country Had she
no voice of counsel, no word Of ell
couragcmcnt to give, in such {
moment of distress and anxiety
These were questions that were asked
on I'll sidcsc when that Convention
met. When her name was called
she answered not word. For {
moment the State felt rs did Jacot
Of old, when he exclaimed " "Josepl
is not Simeon is not; and nov
Benjamin has been taken away. Al
these things are against me- Th,