The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-03-10
CC)IaCTM BI.Alsss s. G.
Wednesday Morning, Maroh 10. 1869.
rhe situatten.s

The Richmond Dispatch t.kes the follow
ing hopeful view: Nevertheless, the new
situation is better than stheAold. ~ The
old continued the passions and prejudices
of the war.by its bitter conflicts. The new,
ending the conflict OF departments, smooths
the way for the subsistence of those passions
and hatreds, whose presence oppose an in
superable difficulty in the way of peace
Fortunately, we find in that 'hero"' of the
war who, according to all precedent, was
destined to he President, aud has been made
President, an earnest determination to re-
press the feelings that lead to discord, and
in that way to restore harmony to the no
ton. Therefore we may, while feeling as
sured that the work of reconstruction is to
be prompt, hope that it will be relieved of
some of its. rigors- by the better feeling
which the absence of contention in Wash
ington may inspire.
General Grant has uttered sentiments that
are most favorable to the rapid disappear
ance of the sectional strife which has con-
tinued to tear and wound the country
since the war. While BY no means making
war upon the party through which he was
elevated to the Presidency, he has inform
ed all men that he considers the country
superior to party, and that ho will be 60
verned by the will of the people in his ad-
ministration. In the first act of his ad-.
ministration he has plainly indicated his
purpose to end the sectional strife as far as
he can by leaving out of his Cabinet the
leading partisans who were drilled and dis
ciplined in the war and are incapable of
surrendering the preiudices and hates that
have been so deeply ingrained in their ma
lures.
It is good general idea that the hero of
war is the best man to bring his country
out OF the decentralization which that war
has produced. In General Grants case, he
has in some most important respects shown
the country that he is we'll fitted for this
difficult work. He has requested that all
things that can fan the embers of strife shall
be put away, even including the uniforms
which the wearers who came to honor him
thought would be pleasing to his eyes His
inaugural address was free from any express
sion that could revive bitter feelings or
wound the sensibilities of the defeated, and
contained broad national views which, if car
ried out, must restore equality among the
States, and harmony and prosperity to the
people.
Standing, then, as he does, before the
nation, he must exert q great power in
bridging over the wide sectional gaps which
exist, and modifying the rigorons policy OF
the Government. Certainly to restore con-
cord he must tone down the party which
placed him in power; but it is equally true
that it is impossible for him, if he were
disposed to do SO, to secure for us oil that
we can ask.
People without representation have never
been heard with the patience and respect
thnt it is shown to n people who are repre-
sented; and never will be. But situated US
we are, we shall get hearing, probably the
best we could hope for, and we should
not fail to seek it on all matters seriously
involving the public welfare.
We are decidedly better off than wo wero
under Mr.. Johnson's administration, during
which the departments fought over us with
weapons whose blows fell entirely upon us
until we were well nigh dead. Let us be
both cheerful and hopeful, and get read
for the new era.
The old act of Congress under which Mr..
A. t. Stewart is ineligible, provides that
the Secretary of the Treasury shall not en-
page in irade or cOmmeroo undar ,,,;, ne q