The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-06

very embarrassing circumstances, declined
to employ military force, at the present
time. when the turbulent seem to be COM
paratlveiy quiet, and the community appear
TO be wisely deyoting. their attention to
their material Interests, there IS little iikeli,
hood that shall resort to military agencies,
or to any policy calculated to interfere with,
or withdraw attention from, onr Industrial
pursuits In confirmation Of this, may
appeal to my efforts heretofore to encourage
and stimulate the agriculture Of the State:
while others, who are now my revilers and
calumnlators, were inculcating a. contrary.
policy, IN driving off the lmLorers from the
| plantations who digered in politics with
their EN- mployers.
wish ito be distinctly understood, now.
ever that upon the arrival of the time
when, In my opinion, it is proper to carry
out the militia law of the last session, by
enrolling the people of the State, white and
colored. subject to military duty, I shall
assuredly order it to be done, without re-
terence to, or apprehension of, the war of
races predicted by the Neus Probably
the wish was father to the thought" and
1t can only be accomplished by the foolish
and incendiary articles of the News and it's
coadJutors. Their appeals to the prcjnlices
and passions OF the ignorant, the lazy and
the fanatical, may lead to the renewal of
murders and outrages, recurring prompt
anu efficient measures to enforce the laws
and punish the wrong-doers. These if ne
cessary, will he resorted to, however reluc-
family; and ii evils do come, the RESPONSE.
Dlnty or the consequences must rest upon
those who provoked them.
l have frequently received communica.
tlons from prominent gentlemen, deprecat-
ing and denouncing outrages committed in
| their ncighborhoods but until these assur-
ances are developed in something more posi-
tive than mere words they will condnce
but little to the restoration and maintain
ance OF law and order. Their active co-ope-
ration in arresting and Furnishing those who
by their omtrages disturb the peace of socie.
ty, aud lnjuriously affect the prosperity of
the community, would soon put all end to
disturbances that disgrace the State, and
render resort unnecessary, on my part. to
the military or any other extraordinary
agencies, for the preservation of the peace.
| Occupying position in society which gives
| them great moral weight in controlling its
action, 1t is the imperative duty of these
gentlemen to give more active and decided
cooperation In the suppression of outrages
which have affected the character of the
State and all who bear her name.
1t is made my duty to see that the laws
he faithfully enforced; that the citizen, white
and colored. shall be equally protected in
his rights, civil and political; and this I will
endeavor to perform, and hope to have the
cooperation of all aw.abiding citizens in
my efforts But no silly affectation or as-
sumption of superiority by tho privileged
class, which only exists in the hunkeyism
of the NerS, ''of their right to rule the State
which is theirs by inheritance, Meirs by ma
tural right, &c, will be tolerated, and if
attempted to he enforced, the editors may
find that those citizens whom they term
''their own negroes" will have n word to
say about their ownership.
Of the motives Of the Necs in its re-
peated assaults upon me- partaking so much
| OF personal bitterness, it is unnecessary to
speak, as the public are not Interested in
them. From the vehemencc of their lam
guage, and tnrgid appeals to the proud
past OF South Carolina, (what do the edi-
tors know about it?) it might be suspected
there was an intention, If not expectation.
on the part of its editors, of stepping into
the slippers of the Mercmy; but even if
successful, it would only be reproduction
OF the ass III the lions skin. No one would
mistake its dissonant bray for tho roar of
the old lion. or any Of his brood The edi-
tors of that brilliant but falIacious journal.
''native and to the manor born" were ac
knowledged gentlemen; their strong Ian
guage covered strong thoughts; and, how
ever extreme or erroneous were their views,
they had the courage to stand up to them
me former supporters of the Mercury, aside
from the want of confidence, would hardly
be content to accept rs substitute for the
strong meat to which they were accustomed,
the milk and water of the unstable Nems or
rather the milk one day and the water the
next with an occasional dash of acidity,
when there Is personal maevolence to
crafty.
Bnt it would he a waste of time further
to discuss the News and its vapid preten-
sions The article to which you allude
would have passed unheeded by me, had
not you called my attention to its false
hoods and misrepresentation; and appre
hending that other well-intentioned citizens