The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-02-12
COLUMBIA, S. c.
Friday Morning, February l2, 1869.
Favorable Reports OF the South.


Favorable Reports OF the South.
A despatch from Washington states that
Gen. Grants staff, returning to the seat Of
Government from recent trip to the South,
submitted a very favorable report of the
condition of affairs in this quarter Does
this report refer to the political attitude of
the South at this time? pertinently asks the
New Orleans Times. Partly, perhaps. Our
people are quiet enough on the ordinarily
exciting top;n Of governmental Affairs, party
projects ano the like. They are willing
that Congress should legislate as it pleases
having themselves no voice in the matter,
or none that is in fluential This repose,
this acquiescence, is the result of necessity,
and by no means establishes the fact that
our citizens approve of every measure that
ls adopted by the majority. The truth is,
the South are q peculiar people, and long
ago entertained and advocated the doctrine
that that government is best which governs
least. It has always been our boast in this
country that we call in reason and the Con-
stitution to our aid, and by their enlighten-
ing influence and direction govern our.
selves. If we take less interest in Federal
affairs than formerly, it is from the general
conviction and consciousness which prevail
in our midst that the Federal Government,
as administered for some time past, is un-
American and antagonistic to what we call
sef-government. By-an-by there will doubt
less be an improvement in this particular,
and we of the South will be left to pursue
our own interest in our own way, and the
party in power desst from any further re-
taliatory measures on account of the late
war. The people approve of the 'let-alone
policy" on both sides, unless it be in the
way of friendship. We are quite willing,
nay, desirous, to aid constitutional go
vernment in its administration, if the Go
vernment, faithful to its old pledges is
prepared to promote the general welfare"
of all the States without exception. We
are not informed of the particular topics on
which the Generals staff reported; but pre-
sumo they informed him that, notwithstand-
country, the war over, and our people hav-
ing, in popular parlance, accepted the
situation" they are quietly pursuing their
own yocations, hoping for tho best in the
future. and especially hoping that the in
coming administration, by its wisdom and
virtues, will form an era in American histo-
ry, and by its generous consideration of all
American interests, regardless of sectional
preferences, will restore this national har-
mony and consolidate the Union They
might we'll inform him that, under these
encouraging expectations, n people natural
ly brave and enterprising, and favored by
Heaven with fertile soil, rich staples and
great natural and artificial channels of COM
mnnication for the convenience Of trade,
have not wholly lost their courage. All
classes OF operatives, from the highest to
the lowest among us, are satisfied that by
the pursuits of steady. quiet industry, the
interests and honor Of free people may be
best promoted. They, therefore, are with re-
markable spirit and unanimity, putting
their own shoulders to the Wheel in order
to extricnte themselves, their families and
their country from the difficulties in which
they were involved by the late war; bcliev-
ing that magnanimous government will
aid them in the effort to the best of it's
ability. This-whatevcr time-servers, NAL
contents, crokers or par'isans may say-is
the universal sentiment entertained Mt the
South 10y nil patriotic, honorable. high
minded men.
GRAND COUNCIL OF RoYAI. AND SELECT
MASTERS. At the annual convention of the