The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-08-28
Lett. Letter from wYnnsbopTo. p

Letter from WinRsboro.
The following letter will be read with
interest. A citizen of Fairfield. Of high
character and populsr standing, onr cor
respondent may well claim to represent
the sentiments Of the people OF his
County: il : s
W1NNsBoRo, August 25, 1863"
Mr.. EDITOR: Having observed with
much interest the reception given to the
"third party movement" Of our District
paper by the press of the State, and par
ticularly the discussion to which it has
given rise between your paper and the
Winnsboro Ne,os, I beg, as q native OF
the old banner District, to say q word on
the subject. And, first, let me declare
my firm belief that the position assumed
by the News meets with little sympathy
in the District, and does not represent
the sentim snts OF our people. We are
all, believe, prepared to make any sa-
crifice, consistent with decency and
honor, TO compass the much desired end
of delivering our State from the beaks
and talons of the vultures now preying
upon her vitals; but We are not yet con-
vinced that policy demands the forma-
ton of q conservative Republican"
party in our midst. Nor, indeed, do we
regard the Virginia elections as being an
unmixed success; for while the sacrifice
of sentiment has been made, with the re-
suit of an overwhelming popular ma.
jority, the treachery of the satrap Candy
threatens to nullify it with the internal
''test oath" No, sir! Ere we mount
the steed, it becomes us as good horse
men to see that he be we'll billed, lest the
reins avail US nothing and we be pitched
ignominiously over the ears of the vicious
brute we seek to manage.
I rejoice to see with how little favor
our editor has met in this new scheme,
and must confess that I believe every
thing possible can be accomplished un-
der the old organization, provided every
man lend himself with all his might to
the good work. At the same time, I
cannot, like some of my clearer.sighted
friends. see the process by which that
Augean stable, the negro Legislature, is
to be cleansed Of radical majority. Nor
can read in the signs around me any
indications OF division of the negro
radical vote. Since the last general cleo
tions there have been no issues to call
forth display of hands; but for all that,
the gulf is not the less fixed and yawn-
ing between the two races. and any mo-
ment may bring cause which will sweep
away the deceptive veil which hides it.
Then, too, we must place in the balance
against us the decentralization of our own
people, or of that weaker portion to
whom defeat is fatal, who think the lazy
tranquility of oppression preferable to
the trouble and sacrifice of manly strug-
giles against it, and who, beginning with
finding that "things are not so bad after
oil, end by fawning like beaten ours,
and licking the plundering hands of our
oppressors. With them our cause is not
safe; and in new issue, it is more likely
that they will desert to the other side,
than that the ruling party will be dimi-
nished by tho desertion to us of any con-
siderable portion of their strength.
l sincerely trust that my fears may
never be realized, and no one would hail
more gladly the dawn of day of brighter
promise to our unhappy State, and no
one will enter more heartily into the
struggle than myself. Let our editor
find but the best and surest way to sue.
cess, or even to reasonable hope of it,
and he will find no warmer supporter
even of the conservative Republican
party than LIBERALIST.
THE GETTYSBURG GATHERING The
Gettysburg gathering, as q national af-
fair, is poor business. Only one ex-