The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-06-30
COLUMBIA.
Tuesday Morning, June 80, 1868.
EDITORIAL Retirement.

tic Convention in April last, the, ,un-
dersigned has been in charge Of the
political columns of the Phenin. In
closing his brief editorial term, he
asks the indulgence of the readers of
this journal, whilst he briefly reviews
the course of political events in this
State for the past three months. In
the. April Conyention, the. under
signed was one Of those who frankly
declared himself a conservative, and
yet progressive, Democrat. He de-
sired his State to take bold and
brave step forward, and alone, if ne
cessary, to grasp and mould the new
elements that had sprung up around
her. Abating nothing of fidelity to
the memories and sentiments of the
past, he proposed to himself, and
yentured to recommend to the State,
line of policy adapted to the new
order of things. The great question
that divided the. country was the re-
lation which should exist between the
two races that inhabit the. South
standing, asrespects numbers, 8, 0Q0.-
600 whites to 4, 600, 600 blacks: AS a
matter of right; asa matter of policy;
as an inducement to the North to re-
NIT to us The settlement of this grave
subject of State concern, the under
signed advocated the concession to
the colored race of qualified parti-
cipation in the government of the
country. He thought that this, con-
ceded by the State generally, and ac-
ceded to by the North, would prove
the peaceful solution of problem
which, in its, violent settlement,
would result in disasters to both
races, but in especial disaster to the
weaker party. At the same time, tho
undersigned took occasion to suggest
that in his opinion, this course was
in no wise prejudicial to the interests,
the rights and the dignity of the
white race, to whom he regarded the
control of the South as being secured
by immutable circumstances. Having
faith in the prestige of his race, in its
Caucasian blood, in that Anglo
Saxon, and Celtic, and Germanic,
and Gallo energy, which commin-
Cling and combining its diverse ele-
ments and forming one powerful COM
posite whole, had conquered wherever
it had marched, he expected that the
freedmen Of the South, fairly dealt
with and hunianely treated. would
ultimately, and at no distant day,
yield to influences that they could
not resist. and under the influence of
moral and equitable principles, would
find the peaceful level which God in
tended them to occupy. He con-
tended that it was our part to deal
with the emancipated negroes Of the
South as members of the body poll
tic. For to deprive them of all par
ticipation in the Government, he
held this to be inconsistent with the
peace OF society, contrary to princi-
pie. contrary to policy, contrary to
the genius and spirit of the age. At
the same time, in making this liberal
advance towards the political recog-
milton of the negro, the undersigned
took occasion distinctly to declare to
the colored man-that lie must neue,.
enpect 10 govern in The South. eve
aoM gireAim Matjustand proper parti-
cipation in The Government TO acAicA his
qualifications may entiae him; but aoe
acM meoe,' consent that he shall rule Tie
free arhite men Of tie SouM." This
was his language.
These sentiments and these views.
expressed in the April Convention,
and received with marks of hearty
approval and sympathy by that dis
tinguished and able body, for the
past three months, we have re-
affirmed in the columns of the Pho