The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-17
[For the Ph@ni.r.
The Political Situation.


Mr.. EDITOR: The times on which
we have fallen, fraught as they are
with potent issdes, and the crisis at
which ace, the people of the South,
have arrived, demand mature consi-
deration, calm and dispassionate re-
fection, energetic action, and firm
and unchangeable' resolution. No
man having at heart the true welfare
of his country, the safety and we'll
being of his household, or the Sc
curity and stability of his posses
sions, can quietly abide the danger
which threatens the peace and har-
mony of us all, whether as States,
communities, the family compact, or
as individuals; and it would seem
that he who would ignore the aItcrna-
tive presented lis, of calm submis-
sion to outrage and degradation, or
patriotic, temperate and honorable
resistance, cannot be the man entitled
to receive from his fellow-citizens at
large confidence in his integrity of
purpose, nor appreciation of his
principles or acts. To trust such n
man with Office, power and emolu-
ment in times SO perilous, would
argue Indifference to the best inte-
rests of people feelingly alive to
the indignities already extant to-
ward them and those in reserve, to
be eliminated by the lust of power
and venom of hate. Amid the up
heaving of State rights, the displace-
ment, destruction and overthrow of
time-honored principles, usages and
laws; amid the doubt, uncertainty
aye, almost despair-which surround
us; and amid the secret or open con-
sternation, which tells on the anxious
care OF thousands and tens of thou
sands among us-it is a peremptory
requisite that we should aoisely choose
the men whom we may select for
office, and to whom we may commit,
for the time being, our liberty, our
possessions, our names, our destiny.
1t was said by q distinguished politi-
clan of the State of Georgia, noted
for his notification enthusiasm in
1882, when ADDRESSING his fellow-citi-
zens on that then untried remedy:
HE that dallies is bastard, and he
that doubts is damned;" and so now,
at this hour and in this extremity, it
may be well said that he who does
not exert the modicum of right and
privilege left him for the extension OF
sound laws and properly balanced
Government, is a foe to republican
liberty, an enemy of the social COM
pact, and deserves not the approval
of his immediate fellow citizens, nor
OF his common country.
By authority of the so.caAed Re-
construction Acts of an american
Congress, a Convention has been
held, q Constitution concocted and
promulgated, and q legislative body,
with State officers, elected for the
State of South Carolina. Of the
composition of this distinguished Sc.
lection, IL were vain now to write OF
speak. The fact is patent to us,
ring g-streaked-a striped" though
it be; and, for the time being, silence
in reference to this ne,c order o.
things may be the better wisdom
But closed up as we are on the elec
tion of State law-givers and law
expounders, we yet have in our mu
nicipal and District elections, tn,
permitted choice of men among us
You recollect, Mr.. Editor, in you
Bible readings, land your friends dt
think you read your Bible still3 20,
recollect that Joshua, the then leade
of the hosts Of Israel, was command
ed to have assembled the Hebrew
tribes OF Shechem; md after recount
ing unto them the great goodness O
God towards them, and having il
view the Israelitisb ;proclivity to fol