The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-17
The Issues OF the camp.ign.


The Issues OF the Campaign.
Nobody complains that the issues
on which the Democratic party asks
the verdict of the people have not
been squarely and boldly presented.
Without stopping to weigh with
much nicety what is Immediately
practicable, the Democratic National
Convention has clearly set forth the
great principles on which the Go
vernment ought to be administered,
and avowed its determination to
bring the administration to the true
standard as speedily as possible.
Even If the country is compelled to
acquIesce temporarily in some things
which cannot at once be completely
remedled, the Democratic party
nevertheless deem it of vital conse-
quence to prevent the recent viola
tions of the Constitution from being
erected into precedents. If adverse
winds drive the navigator off his
course, that is no reason why he
should so alter his charts that every
future voyager must pursue the track
which has been forced upon him by
tempestous weather.
The Democratic party asserts, in
It's platform, and asks the country to
pronounce, that the reconstruction
policy of: Congress is in fragrant
violation of the Constitution. We
may be unable to replace the coun-
try at once in the same condition in
which it would have been if this
policy had not been carried into
execution; but as this policy has
grown up since the last Presidential
election, and the people have not
yet had an opportunity to pronounce
upon its merits. it is right that their
verdict should now be token. It is
notorious that the Southern States
we're refused admission into the first
Congress that assembled after the
close OF the war, for no other reason
than because the Republicans feared
that their votes, united with those of
the Northern Democrats, would put
the Republican party out of power.
The restoration of the Union has
been postponed for four wears for n
partizan object. General Grant him
self was Of opinion, in the latter
part of the year 1865, that the South
ern States might then be Immediate
ly re-admitted with perfect safety.
After tour of inspection, he report
ed in writing to the President, that
the Southern people were loyal, and
that there was no obstacle to the
prompt restoration of the Union.
Ihe Democratic party holds its op-
ponents responsible for all the bad
blood and ill-feeling that has been
created by the refusal of Congress to
comply with the advice given by
General Grant. Even so late as the
fall elections of 1866, the Republican
party virtually confessed that the
federal Government had no author
1ty to confer the elective franchise
upon the Southern negroes. The
issue they presented in those elec-
tions was the so-called fourteenth
constitutional amendment, which
left the control of the suffrage to the
States, but diminished the number
OF their representatives if they ex-
cluded ~ class of inhabitants from
Inc suffrage on account of their
color. They confessed that they had
no right to DO even this except by an
amendment to the Constitution; and
by asking the Southern State Go
vernments to certify this amendment.
they fully conceded their validity.
The Republican party is, therefore,
condemned by its own admissions.
1t has overthrown State Governments
which it acknowledged to be valid,
and it has introduced negro suffrage
by a mere Act of Congress, after
confessing that that subject could be
reached only by an amendment to
the Constitution. The Democratic
party asks the verdict of the people
on this monstrous hypocrisy and bad
faith; on these self-confeesed viola
tions Of the Constitution; on the
character of General Grant. who