The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-01
COLJJM BI.A. s. 81.


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postmaster for the city Of Columbia-
exit white. enter black. Bit few weeks
ago. the people of this city, by petition
and special committee, solicited the
appointment OF an ex-Union officer and
soldier to this Office. They protested
against the appointment of the negro;
they urged that soldier who had "done
the State some seryice''-whose record
was honorsble-exhibited higher claims
to the Office, and were paramount to
those of the negro "Wilder," whose
chief and only virtue was-"God save
the mark!"-the endorsement of the
Congressional delegation. This appoint
ment is in perfect consistency with the
course adopted by the Administration to-
wards the Southern States. Amidst so
many instances of direct oppression and
cruel tyranny, directed against this Sec
tion, it is difficult matter to determine
which are the most prominent; but from
all may be deduced the same painful
conclusions-from one and all may be
learned the self-same lesson-that this
land, shackled, down-trodden, and over
run by native and foreign peculation,
must expect from the Administration
every official obstacle and hindrance to
honest industry; every abrogation of
local and sectional prejudice. General
Grant orders the elections to take place
throughout the Southern States in the
fall, at q period when the services of the
laborer are indispensable to the planter.
Every day spent at the polls is an incal-
culable loss to the planting community.
Not only to them, but to the North, for
Northern money has been largely spent
in the enterprise. The whole Union
aye, Europe also-views the success or
failure of the cotton crop with the closest
interest. The planters of the South,
pledging their last resources, straining
credit to its utmost tension, have en-
barked their all in the venture of cot
ton crop, to be realized in the autumn.
Undeterred by the contingencies of
weather, worm, and unreliable labor,
q livelihood, and pay the moneys
advanced by factors and merchants
A wise and benevolent Government, it
would be presumed, should lend its care
and fostering aid to SO laudable an un-
dertaking, and yet it orders the elections
to take place in the South at time pre-
cisely when the absence of the freedmen
will be-if not fatal-at least of infinite
damage to the harvest. Every impedi-
ment, every obstacle, has been officially
thrust upon our people. Every mortif-
cation, tho most carefully selected spe-
cies of humiliation, has been heaped
upon us; and still General Grant re-
peats. Let us have peace" Certainly
the circumstances of which we have
written, in common with others of SINH
lar nature, do not conduce to the estab-
lishment of that blessed element so
ardently desired by the President. Cir
cumstances which would stir fever in
the blood of age;" the fearful extremi-
ties through which we have passed, or
Tue sao lessons OF trlbulatlon, may pro-
duce an apathy to the blows inflicted, and
the hand which strikes; but never will the
"peace which it is presumed General
Grant desires-be produced between
North and South, until more liberal,
more protective line of administration be
1naugurated. These two sections can
never be united in heart and hand, so long
as the South groans under system
OF wholesale persecution and rob-
berry; SO long as she is a prey to
domestic and foreign peculation
whilst her local sympathies are dis
regarded, her traditions despised, her
interests contemned and her honest ef-
forts for livelihood and payment of
debts, neutralized and destroyed by the