The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-18


for the dedication of the monument
erected to the memory of the fallen
members of the Washington Light In
fantry. Although the weather was
lowering and the rain fell, these did not
deter the citizens Of Charleston from
turning out en- n,asSe to do honor to the
memory of the brave men who had
fout in their behalf At an carly hour
in the afternoon the principal stores
were closed, and the people began to
flock towards the city of the dead, and
5 o'clock the streets of Charleston SEEM
ed deserted of the population. The
various Masonic lodges i'll the city
marched to the depot in procession, and
companies, lin citizens dress the Caro-
lima Rifle Club, tho various German So
cieties, and the Hberunn Society. A
long train of thirteen cars, loaded with
human freight, carried the crowds who
hocked thither. Arrived on the ground
the crowd soon augmented to over 6,OOO,
and the ceremonies began. After prayer
by the Rev. L. G. Edgerton, m original
poem was recited by Rev. E. j. Winkler
when soul-siirring address was deliver
ed by Gen. Wade Hampton. This ad-
dress was earnest and eloquent, en-
braced glowing tribute to the memory
of the fallen defenders of the soil.
The monument is of the Gothic order
OF architecture. It is made of Tenues-
see marble, and is twenty-five feet high
The base of the monument, resting on
foundation of Southern granite, is oc-
tagonal In shape, and inscribed ut equal
intervals around it are the names of the
battles in which the companies of the
Washington Light Infantry participated,
viz: Richmond, Drury's Bluff, Cold Har.
Dor, Fort Fisher, Seven Pines, Averys-
boro, Fort Sumter, Battery Wagner, Ma
nassas, Gaines Mill, Petersburg, and Se-
cessionville. From the pedestal, which
is five feet high, ornamcnted with but
tress corners, and caps and hoods, and
rising in clustered pinnacle form, is
lifted shaft fifteen feet in height, panel
faced and pinnaclcd, and the apex en-
riched by bunch of foliage The four
sides Of the pedestal bear the names of
those members of tho Washington Light
Infantry who fell during tho war.
The GRADUAL CHANGE IN OUR Go
yERNMENT.- Damn, of the Now York
San, WAS formerly chief associate editor
of the New York Tribune, and was
Assistant Secretary of War under Stan
ton. In the Suu, of May 3lst, lie has an
article in which he acknowledges the
great fact that Democratic presses have
frequently announced, viz: that by the
usurpations of Congress, our Govern
mcnt Is undergoing gradual change
Power IS passing away from the people
into the hands OF tho few. We copy the
following from the Suns article:
The New LAW FOR ENFORCING THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. The law
just passed by Congress, entitled San
Act to enforce the rights of citizens of
the United States to vote in the several
States Of this Union, and for other pur-
poses, is practically law to carry into
effect the thirteenth, fourteenth aud fif-
teenth amendments to the Constitution
AT the first blush this Act will seem to
carry the power OF Congress to an extra
ordinary extent, aud it will undoubtedly
clash with our old-fasliioned, hereditary
ideas, especially on the subject of the
enjoyment Of the right of suffrage, and
the exclusive control OF tho State over
that matter.
But the powers exercised by Congress
during the war aud the reconstruction of
the Union, almost without question, have
so accustomed tho people to novelties in
legislation, that we doubt whether any
serious issue can be raised upon the main
provisions Of this Act
These three amendments OF the Con-
stitution, and the law just passed to en-
force them, with other laws enacted, not
by Congress only, but by somo of our
State Legislatures, not excepting that of
New York, demonstrate that the govern
ment of this country is undergoing n
gradual change by the absorption of al
amount of authority into the legislative
department which never was contemplate
ed and never would have been tolerated
by our revolutionary fathers, nor even
by the statesmen of both parties who
played their parts in the later era of
Adams and Jackson.
SENsIBLE.-A Yankee who has settled
in Georgia, aud engaged in agriculture,
made q sensible speech in all agricultu-
raj convention i'll Charleston. He said: {:
''If Il Northern man comes down here
to look ut the country, as hundreds nre
doing every month, get him to settle on
your land. If he has $500, get it away