The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-07-29
Mr.. Wallis Reply tn tho snchems OF
Tammany.

We publish, says the Union County
IN. J.) Herald, the following instructing
and ably written document. being the
reply of Hon. James w. Wall, of this
city, (ex-United States Senator,) to the
Sachems of Tammany, who invited him
to be present at their banquet on the 5th
instant. 1t is caustic review of certain
phases of the late war, and scathing
rebnke of the decoration day perform
ances. 1t will be read with interest:
ELIZABETH, June %, 1869.
Hon. William NJ Iareed, Grand .Sachem;:
a. Oakley Hall, Brennan, Bell, et ol.,
.SdchemS
GENTLEMEN: I have this moment re-
celved your highly esteemed favor, in
vltlng me to participate in the ceremo-
MES on the anniversary of American in
dependence with the venerable Tammany
Society. regret very much that it will
not be in my power to be present.
If eyer political prophecies and warn
ings were verified and justified by events
the present condition of this nation is
now sadly vindicating the sngacious pa
triotism that foretold the consequences
of attempting to maintain, by violence
and slaughter, a goUer'nment founded on
consent. Had not the recent Qevolution
caught MS with wretched class of igno-
rant and corrupt politicians in power,
the Constitution might have been main
tained by honorable compromise, and
republican institutions consecrated and
perpetuated, by showing their capacity
to take the sting out of civil discord.
They were warned of the peril which
must follow the introduction of military
force as ON element in the popular GO
yernment.
They were told of the folly of attempt
ing to preserve by armies union which
would be worthless as soon as brother
hood ceased to animate it. They were
warned against the wretched weakness of
supposing that they could entrust abso-
lutte power to their rulers, and yet live
safe under its shadow
1t was demonstrated to them that even
If the fortunes of war should be ulti-
mately with them, victory would be but
the beginning of their real danger, mas
much rs conquest would put nm end to
equality and liberty; and it was madness
to suppose that nation could be en-
slaved in one of it's sections, and CONT
nue. free under the same government in
the rest.
Aears have gone now since the last
sword of the war was sheathcd, and
where is the Union, where is the peace
Tor which the nation and it's institutions
were upheaved? What has become of
tho patriotic officials who were to bring
back, and deliver up, the extraordinary
powers with which they were entrusted
for the hour of the crisis? Where is the
constitution in whose sacred name so
much hope, happiness and plenty, turn
ed into desolation? Except the vultures
who have grown fat on power and plum
der, the greedy monopolists who have
thrlven Oh high tariffs, and the tax
gathering leeches who suck out the mar
row of this land, from the Aroostook to
the Rio Grande, where is the man who
Is better off for this war? Who but
these should not pray God on bended
knees, to be remitted to what we were in
1861, before the touch of "the irrepres-
slble conflict" was put to its incendiary
work? Not discarded warning of those
days but has been brought home to us in
sorrow. Not prophesy whose fulfil
ment Is not written on the crumbling
walls of the great edifice our fathers
builded. And how many who scoffed
at warning, where to have needed it
would have been our salvation, are now
tlmidly muttering their protests How
many who denounced hesitation as trea-
son, and remonstrance as rebellion, are
now shudderiDg at the terrible uncer-
tainties of q future which they could
have averted by the commonest exercise
OF moral integrity and courage.
The corrupt and ambitious organiza-
ton whose elevation to power brought
this !li"d of woe upon us necessarily
magnify tue events of the late civil war
as lar surprising those of the revolution,
which released us from the thraldom of
the British tyranny, and hence, to use
the forclble Language of your invitation,
they seem willing our children should
be taught that anniversaries Which are
peculiar to the recent war of the great
rebellion should usurp the place of cele-
bratlons OF days redered illustrious by
revolutionary events to emphasize some
occasion that seems to consummate n
fresh amendment to the glorious old
constitution, rather than to commemorate