The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-22

when we have the power, to grant
qualified sufrage-is in no degree
calculated to iniure our cause North.
But, on the contrary, as conserva-
tive, reasonable proposition itputs us
on high ground, and helps the cause.
Suppose we are in advance on this
point. If we are right, let us plant
our flag and keep our position.
2. AS it respects the second point
made by the Mercury. we observe, in
the first place, that our contemporary
has suffered itself to graveiy misrep-
resent the motives and purposes of
the State Central Executive Commit
tee, in the matter of their sending on
committee to Washington 10 repre-
sent the remonstrance against the
new Constitution for this State. The
Mercury asks: els it sensible, is it de-
cent, for US in the South to send
agents to Washington, to striUe to
patch up compromise aciM our n,alig-
uant and deuihsh enemies; when, if
successful, the effect would be to
weaken. and, perhaps, defeat the
great party at the North, which is
now struggling for the Constitution
of our fathers and the free Govern
ment they have transmitted to us?"
We ask now, is it "decent" in the
Mercury thus to suggest what it ought
to know is absolutely untrue, in point
of fair construction of motives, words
and acts? The committee, to whom
reference is made, went to Washing
ton to perform high public duty.
They went at the instance of the Rich
land Democratic Club, and by the ap-
pointment of the State Central Execu-
tive Committee. composed in part of
such men as Wade Hampton, F. w.
McMaster, Jos. Daniel Pope, Samuel
MCGOWAN and WIN. Nj. Shannon
men who, we suppose, are quite as
competent to decide questions of po-
litical wisdom and decency as the
Mercury. They went not "to strive
to patch up a compromise with our
malignant and devilish enemies" but
to demonstrate against the imposition
of an infamous Constitution upon
our people, and failing to accomplish
o practical result, to put on record q
manly protest against the sacrifice of
the rights of white men in South
Carolina; and how they performed
their task, the country knows. The
Mercury may seek to disparage the
movement; may sneer at the failure
of the mission, but we submit,
that even a virtuous effort is o
commendable thing, and that there is
this difference between the Mercury
and the Committee, whose acts are
assailed: whilst the Mercury remained
at home and confined its action to
windy defamation and extreme ut
terances, the Committee went to work
and made O practical effort to benefit
the State.
But it is not true, that the efforts of
the Committee produced no effect
as the Mercury alleged. Read Mr..
Beck's speech; read the New York
World; read the Northern papers,
and it will be found that the Com
mittee succeeded in putting our ar
gument before the country, and that
important moral results have been
achieved.
8. With respect to the third point
in the Mercu,y's article, we have only
to say, that this is question that be-
longs to tie gentlemen concerned;
but we may add, that i'll deciding
what course to adopt, it is likely thai
they will conform rather to the sug-
gestions of their own mind than to
the advice of the Mercury.
Onepoint more. The Mercury says,
in reference to the delegates elect:
"We know these gentlemen too we'll
personally, to believe that they would