The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-24
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Wednesday MORNING. Noyenibs "a. leg
: T'ho Pre.ent Lsgsaiatare-An Analysis.
This body assembled ON yesterday.
We propose to engage in o brief analysis
OF it-an analysis conceived in no spirit
Z Of mare prejudice, but in the spirit OF
truth and soherness This assembly,
like the; existing State regime. is the fruit
OF the seconstruction scheme Of radical
Congress- It was imposed upon the
white people Of the State, and naturally
- was accepted by tho oolored people.
With The exception of the few Democra-
tio msmbera from, Anderson. Lancastt r,
darlington, Oconee, Pickens, Spartan
burg and Horny, the Legislature is COM
posed Of persons elected exclusively in
the inseress Of the freedmen of the State.
What, now. are the elements that compose
this body2 First. we have che Democra-
tic element, without strength at present.
Seeondly, We have the white (native) ra-
dioaI element Thirdly, we have the
white adventurer. Fourthly. we have
the colored adventurer. Filthy, we
have The native South Carolina colored
man. These are the mixed elements that
mako up this Legislative melange. Bear
ing in mind that the intelligent men,
composing the Democratic vanguard,
have no influence in the body, the ques-
tion arises, what influence controls in
this bodyp The answer is plain: It is
the white generally known
as che carpet-bagger. He it is that has
the Legislative tact and the necessary
sharpness to WELD the sceptre, and he
sways it with gentle power over the less
informed and the confdipg colored men.
Under the pretence Of advancing the in
terests of the colofed people, the keen
and astute politicians from the North,
and especially from New England, are
fast making their fortunes by sucking the
blood from our people, So far as the
Legislature is concerned, we look with
hope only to the Democratic members
and the native South Carolina colored
men. Those members of the present
Legislature who are here for n time
white and black birds of prey and of
passage-these, We deem especially hos
tile to our interests. With violent pre-
judioespgainst everything connected with
South Carolina as she was, they will use
their power to the detriment of the State
until they are driven from their places
But of the colored members of the Le-
gislature, we expect something more
They are natives here. Here, they expect
to live and die. They must know that
the present order of things cannot long
last. Knowing this, it becomes them so
to- legislate, as not to SOW now the seeds
of future retaliation. The solid into
rests of the State concern them. The
future of their race should suggest to
them the policy of conciliating those
elements in this State, which, though in
allegiance now, must ultimately have u
controlling influence in South Carolina.
The present Legislature-the whole
State Government-rests upon peculiar
basis. But it is the Government de facto
of the State. AS such, we do not desire
to embarrass it in its impartial and legi-
innate operations. When it does what
is right, we shall chronicle its action with
pleasure. When it does what is wrong
and unfair and oppressive, we shall at
tack it with all the weapons that indie
pendent journalism afford to men, yet
free enough to say what they think of
public affairs.
BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD. "A preliminary
meeting of the Direcfors of tho RInn