The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-15
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Tuesday Morning, June l5. 1859.
War Against escniawngs and Carpet
EaEgers---AE New Political Invention.

War Against escnla,snas and Carpet
BaEgers---A New Political Invention.
A new way OF stling ''carpet-bag-
gers" and t'scalawags" of the South has
been proposed in Washington, where
the reconstruction Acts for tthat lately
rebellious" section were blocked out by
Congress. The correspondent of n New
York paper says:
"MrsW w. III. Robertson writes to John
Tyler, asking him if itbe not practicable
for the conservative mon of the South to
select sound Union men of the North
men of respectability and intelligence
to vote for, agai.St the wretched carpet
baggers and scalawags who offer them
selves as candidates for nll tho offices in
the South. Mr. Robertson says that so
many competent and honorable men are
disqualified from holding Office in the
compelled to vote for the carbet-baggers
or scalnH ags or remain away from the
polls altogether.
Mr.. Robertson then writes:
''The Constitution of the United
States us it was, and even in it's present
deformed and mutilated condition, con-
tains nothing to prohibit Virginia,
Texas or Mississippi, or any other
Southern State, from choosing its Rep
resentutives and Senators among the citi-
zens of Indiana, Illinois, New York and
New Jersey, and the other Northern
States, if the people of the South choose
to do so. No previous particular length
of residence is required to render such
citizens qualified to act. One days prior
sojourn is sufficient to meet any require
1ment."
Mr.. Tyler, in reply, says that he
thinks there are very many high-toned
citizens Of the North who would consent
to throw themselves into the breach to
save their suffering brethren of the
South from the "scalawag" and "carpet-
Dagger" if properly pressed and invited
: to Office, and there is no doubt that he
speaks the truth. But he does not say
whether his political invention would
find any more favor with the "respecta-
BILE" voters of the South than the "car-
pet-baggers" lave received.
The above is copied from a Baltimore
paper. This paper, commenting on Mr..
Tyler's reply, says: "He (Mr. Tyler
does not announce whether his political
invention would ind more favor with
the respected voters of the, South than
the carpet-bsggers have received
Mr.. Robertson is correct in the parti-
cular ''that Office is denied to competent
and honorable men," We answer for it
that the occupations of Office in this
special section of country, by good and
upright men, "like angel visits, are few
and far between" If such plan
as Mr.. Robertson suggests be at oil
practicable, it can only be SO by those
''sound Union men of intelligence and
respectability, who would consent to
throw themselves into the breach, buying
real estate in the South, acquiring local
habitation and name, owning property,
and paying taxes on the same, in the
section which they propose to represent.
The present carpet-bagger and scala
wag, has at this moment such start,
such an identity in the minds of the
negro, that extraordinary efforts would
be required 10 counteract their influence
No man from the North may come here
AS it were on furlough-and expect to
undermine their pernicious ascendancy !;
but if he embarks his money in our
midst, buys land, enters into business,
it is not impossible that he may rout
these unclean birds from their prey.
We think the new way would be in
finitely more pnlatable to the Southern
people, than the ancient class Of peripa-
tetic politicians. We cannot represent
ourselvss-and disclaimipg being invidi-
ous-we would say of two evils we choose
the least. This poor suffering South,
with every vein bleeding and every
muscle quivering under the wholesale
torture administered by these wretched
robbers and marauders, we feel constrain-
ed to believe would gladly hail any
change which might render lighter, if
not entirely assauge, her suffering and
distress.
BY all means let these high-to toned
citizens of the North come among us
and try the experiment It has been our
nnspeakably bad fortune to have found