The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-23

u 'ooo hdJOllty VI tue WulC6 ClGlZoQS
of the State. we regard the Recon
struction Acts as unconstitutional
but we look for their overthrow not
to violence, but in the language of
resolution unanimously adopted by
the Democratic party in Convention
assembled, ''to constitutional agen-
cies and peaceful remedies alone"
We invoke decision Oh the consti-
tutionality of these Acts from the
only tribunal competentto pronounce
on them-the Supreme Court of the
United States; and we are prepared,
in good faith, to abide by that deci-
sion. It mey not be inappropriate
here, to correct misrepresentation
widely spread by radical papers touch
ing these Acts. In these 1 have been
charged with having s'dictated" that
portion of the Democratic platform
relating to reconstruction. This
charge I have more than once de-
MED. and I do SO again most empha-
tically. The sense in which T spoke
of the words unconstitutional, re-
volutionary and void" as being ma
plank in the platform, referred to
them ms constituting the plank to
which L, as we'll as any other South
ern man, clung for safety. To place
this matter beyond all question, 1
shall state, briefly, the action of the
Convention on this point, and my
agencyIin it.
Several Southern delegates offered
resolutions upon these reconstruc-
tion measures, upon which debate
arose. Northern delegates asked us
not to press our resolutions, but to
trust to the Democratic party, when
successful, to give us all the relief in
their power. A distinguished gen
tleman from one of the North west
ern States pronounced these Acts
Unconstitutional, revolutionary and
void" and urged us to leave this
question to the Democratic party for
its proper solution. So anxious were
the Southern delegates to promote
harmony-so solicitous were they to
avoid any action that might endanger
the success of that. party, to which
alone they could look for relief, that
every one of them who had offered
resolutions withdrew their resolu-
tions at once. In Withdrawing those
I had the honor to submit, land
which, by the by, looked to the
Supreme Court for the solution of
this question of reconstruction,) I
said the introduction of those three
words into the platform would satisfy
us entirely, and that we would trust
to the Democratic party to relieve US
from measures that we knew must
ruin our country. These words were
subsequently introduced by jealous
and able delegate from that gallant
New England State which has proved
herself so ardent supporter of the
Constitution-brave little Connecti-
cut. This is the precise history of
this portion of the Democratic plat
form. In alluding to it, as 1 did in
an address to our people, my sole
object was to show the spirit of con-
clliation that marked the action of
the Democratic Convention, how
sincere the North was in assuring us
OF relief, and how cordially the South
confded in these assurances. How
radical ingenuity could have pervert-
ed this into the charge of "dictation"
on the part of any Southern delegate,
L should have been at o loss to CON
ceive, had 1 not known, from expert
ence, how skillful, and, 1 regret to
say, how inscriptions. that party
has proved itself to be, in the use Of
their patent weapons of party war;
fare, misrepresentation and false
hood.
You do me the honor to say that
to "a large extent, I represent the
Southern people" AS I cannot flat
ter myself that this is the case, I do
not venture to speak for them; but
it is my honest and sincere convic-
tion that they desire, above all things.
peace-a just and honorable peace
a just and equitable settlement of all
the questions that distract the coun
try. They ask only truth, justice,
and the Constitution" They seek
only the rights guaranteed to every
American citizen under the Constitu-
tion of their country. They recog-
nize that Constitution, as amended,
abolishing slavery forever. They
are willing to treat the negro with
kindness, giving to him every civil
right, and, think, to accord to him
such political privileges as he is fitted
to enjoy. Theylfeel that their States
should be restored to their old place
IN the Union, with all their rights.