The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-12-01
COLUMBIA. s. e.
Tho Ohange OF Baeo

s. - sseuMoSuSy Morning lDAcembef I, 1889
4 ~ The Changs or Base.
The naessage Of Gov. Scott shows him
mot unacquainted with military tactics,
1t he iaignorant Of the olassios, as, illus.
tytratsd In his pronounoing Severps q
coiored freedman" We say that he
shoWs. an acquaintance with tactics
not ~ 's6ott'sp alone, bat Scott and
Kimpton's. Our military readers know
OF the movement called s'change front
I I fcywstd ana :change from. to the rear
eon this company or that company right
/; front SotA lsft in. front. This is the
Hnoyefaenti shat the General executes.
Heretosore the Blue Ridge Railroad, was
the special pet Of the Executive. By
/, thel completion OF this great work, the
Governor, was to immortalizs himself,
and visions Of an epitaph like this, after
Sss~=s!:, doubtless csaie before his eyes:
Here lies ono iuho bull Me Blue Ridge
Railroad ard opened the Columbia Canal. !"
But this programme, to say the least,
10 now held in allegiance. The General
changeS front forward or rear on the
Blue Ridge Company. There nre two
objects which the Governor probably
has in view. For, depend upon it, there
is an object in view. We ore not so
weak as to attribute the Executive action
to patriotic motives. If disposed to be
patriotic. his servility to his party and
to those who use him, will not permit it.
We have said that there are two conside-
rations which probably influenced the
Executive change of base. The one is
indicated in the proposition already in
troduced in the House and Senate, to
issue bonds to the extent of So, 900, 900
to provide lands for the freedmen. In
order to do this-in order to yield to
this sentiment-the Governor gives up
the Blue Ridge for the Black Ridge.
Doubtless he says to himself: Gone at a
time, gentlemen" Those who are con-
gratuisting themselves upon the thought
that the State is saved from the Blue
Ridge expenses will find that the public
funds and credit are not saved-they are
only to be diverted into another channel.
What the State gains on the Blue Ridge,
she will lose on the Black Ridge.
Another consideration that no doubt in
fuenced Gen. Scott, hinges upon the
market price of the State securities. It
10 said that he is largely interested in
these. We have ourselves been told
that when these securities were low down
in the market, that he invested largely
in them. Now, the proposition to aid
the Blue Ridge Railroad and other rail-
roads, was calculated to depreciate the
market value of these securities. Hence
the'question might naturally rise with
Messrs. Scott, Kimpton and the inner
ring: shall the Blue Ridge go up and
the State securities 60 down? Or shall
the State securities go up, or the Blue
Ridge go down? It was a question of
simple lelcomparison. It was no doubt de-
cided that the State securities should be
sustained-hence, for these reasons, and
doubtless other reasons-some looking
to other ends-we fnda change of base
on the railroad question in the Executive
message. We have but to lament that
deplorable state of affairs, when public
policies are regulated so much by private
interests, which, to considerable extent,
we are constrained to believe is in this
instance the truthful case.
Spain in Dangcr-The Resolutions OF
the Colored Assistant tAdjutunt-Gcnernl.
It seems that the soul Of Elliott is up