The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-04-03

rock upon which the Repnb blican party
will be wrecked. From the debris an
other party will arise composed Of the
progressive men Of the country, whose
leaders will be real statesmen and
economists, and under their adminis-
tration the Union will advance in true
greatness and solid prosperity. Doubt
less the next census will change the
basis of power. More relative strength
will be given to the South and West,
which will result in weakening the
influence of the New England States,
and transferring the control of the
country to the agricultural sections.
Q. Do you think the country would
be better off under Democratic ad-
ministration than 1t Is ut the present
time?
A. I can only answer that question
with qualifications. In my judgment,
the election of General Grant avoided
violence and bloodshed throughout the
South. Under the administration Of
Mr.. Seymour, efforts would unquestiOn
ably have been made to overturn exist
ing State governments, even before his
Inauguration, because the people were
stimulated by the delusive repressnta-
tions of ardent partisans, who believed
he could undo the entire work of recon-
struction.; The truth is, however, that
had Mr.. Seymour been elected, he
would have been as impotent as An
drew Johnson in every cndeavor to
render assistance to the South. The
majority of the Senate would have
been against him for ut least two years,
and he could not have removed or ap-
pointed a postmaster. The House was
in the same opposition, and none of the
party would have felt amiably inclined
toward one that had defeated their can
didate.
GRANTS ELECTION A BLESSING.
In this view, therefore, it was a bless
ing to the South that Grant was elected
may not be agreeable; some of the Con-
gressional legislation that has followed
has been based upon a misapprehcnsion
of the real public sentiment of the
South; but the end will prove the
wisdom Of the election of General
Grant. 1t must be remembered that
the war did not close with the termina-
tion of hostilities. 1t required time to
make the people fully realize the fact
that they were conquered, and to
adapt themselves to the new situation.
The principles for which, thcy. had
fought were, SO to speak, hereditary,
and it would be marvel in history or
in human nature for them to have even
theoretically submitted to "a stronger
power at once.
@. Suppose, on the theory that the
Southern States were never out of the
Union, their representatives had been
admitted to Congress without the re-
strctions which have been imposed by
the enactments of that. body, what then
would have been tho result?
A. In my judgment, one-third of the
States of the Union would have been
hostile to every leading feature of the
policy of the conquering party. They
would not have synlpathizcd with the
power by which they had been defeated.
They would not have given universal
suffrage to the negro; they would not
have permitted the South to be ovcrrun
by irresponsible and, in many instances,
corrupt men-mere adventures, having
in view solely their own elevation. In
fact, such was the temper of the people,
that they would not have recognized
the rights of qualified suffrage to the
colored man ut the timeit was proftercd.
Of course, ut the present time, they
would be glad enough to make such n
compromise. 1t is the knowledge of
this fact which accounts for the per-
sistcncy of Republicanisnl at the North,
and for the adoption Of a plan of recon-
struction which would remove the
fangs Of the serpent by which that sec
tloli liuu Deell SLuuS. Dull, L 90 IOU
wish to be understood as endorsing all
the peculiar manifestations of that po-
litical creed which have been exhibited
in the South, because Republicanism
has gone to extremes here which would
never be accepted ut the North. A
reaction must, necessarily, take place,
and is already i'll progress.
RErUBLICANIsM TO PREDoMINATE.
@. But will true Republicansm
gain nccessiOns to its ranks from the
native white men of the South?
A. Most unquestionably, but it will
be work of time. 1t is every day be-
coming evident to men of shrewdncss
and foresight that there is no organiza-
ton antagonistic to the Republican
party which can be successful in South
Carolina for the next ten years, and the
remark is equally applicable to every
Southern State in which there is a
large colored majority. The results of
the last three years have satisfied the
people that all the present evils of
which they complain might have been
averted by showing to the colored
voters that thoy intended to maintain
their new rights. Large numbers of
the best men in South Carolina arc