The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-16
COLUMBIA.
Saturday Morning, Nay l6, 1868.
Gen. Butler's Letter.

Gen. Butler's Letter.
The sentiments of so true and gal
lanta man as Gen. Butler are en-
titled to consideration. We suppose
that there is no man truer to the
State than he. But we are disposed
to think that the impetuosity of the
soldier that is in him, is not wholly
consistent with the conservatism of
the statesman. The General is of
the opinion that the position taken
by the late Democratic Convention of
this State on the subject of qualified
negro suffrage, is premature and cal
culated to prejudice the interests of
the party North. In the first place,
we have every reason to believe that
the course taken by the South Caro-
lima Democrats meets the warm ap-
proval of the leading gentlemen of
the party fin the North. 1t helps
them; it helps us; and more than
this, and far above this, it is right.
The rule of the white man is not in
consistent with o fair and legitimate
showing for the colored man. It is
true, TINT, politically speaking. aOe
must neuer 90 to The negro, but zoe must
bring The negro to as, by Kindness and
BIZ i,tSt concessions. In the second
place, as we conceive it, the whites of
the South and the Democratic party
must take an affirmative position on
the subject of suffrage. This gives
vitality to party. In fine, we are
neither for ''no suffrage" nor for "all
suffrage" but, as the Journal Of Com
merce says, ''there is middle ground
that would meet the views Of the
great body of the American people.
On that middle ground, the South
Carolina Democrats have planted
themselves anG raised their standard.
Allow us to commend our friend
from Edgefcld, and those who con-
cur with him in opinion, to the fol-
lowing extract from our Washington
correspondence. The writer being
one of our fellow-oitizens, and, when
he wrote, in position to write know
ipgly, his statements may be relied
upon-at least, as the truthful results
of his observations:
Sin conversation with leading De-
mocratic gentlemen here, we find
that the course that South Carolina
has taken, through the late Demo-
cratic movement, is highly approved
and without exception commended.
It is deemed the only practicable and
practical line of action that is before
us; and the idea which some of our
people have, that our conservative
action on negro suffrage is calculated
to damage the Democratic party
North, is deemed utterly unfounded.
We are told that the Democratic
Convention started out in the right
direction, and they bid us go on, as
the course is calculated to give US
successes South and to help the cause
North.
"The great objective point before
the South, is success in the Presiden-
tial canvass next fell. To this, let
the Southern people address them
selves in all earnestness. Let them
not fail to seek to bring the colored
element on the Democratic side.
Show the colored people where their
true interests lie; deal with them
kindly, fairly, truthfully, and they
will be found ready to vote with their
ancient friends and natural protect
ors. We have around us, as prac-
tical thing, negro voting elements.
Such being the case, and dealing, as
we must, with accomplished facts
accomplished though they may be for
q time only-let the Southern people
consolidate their negro elements into