The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-28
Denocraaie Addreas.

Democratic Address.
The following is the sensible address
made by the Democratic Senators and
members of Congress. We deem it good
advice, and the case is strongly put:
To our Felzow. Citizens of TIE United States
friends Of Constitutional, Economical
and Honest Government.
The undersigned beg leave to call your
attention to the peculiar importance of
the elections which take place this year,
and respectfully to submit some sugges-
tions for your consideration. By State
Legislatures to be elected, nearly one
third Of the United States Senate will
be chosen-nearly all the members Of
the next House of Representatives arc to
be elected next fall. Upon the coming
elections, then, depends the question
whether the Democratic and conserva-
tive element in the Senate shall be in
have majority in the House of Repre-
whether we shall have constitu-
tional, economical and honest govern
ment, or q continuance of revolutionary.
extravagant and wasteful partisan rule;
whether we shall have general, uniform,
just and constitutional legislation, with
reasonable taxation and frugal expendi-
ture, or unconstitutional, partial, unjust
class legislation, with oppressive and un-
equal taxation and wasteful expenditure.
That we havo strong reasons to hope for
a favorable result is plainly apparent.
Elections already held clearly show that
tho tide Of reform has set in with a
power that cannot be resisted, if no
blunders be committed by the friends Of
reform. If they do their duty and act
wisely-if they throw off all apathy and
act with vigor and steadfastness-ther
is every reason to hope that their efforts
will be rewarded by success. Let there
be no dissensions about minor matters,
no time lost in tie discussion Of dead issues,
no manifestation of narrow or proscrip-
tive feeling, no sacrifice of the cause to
crafty personal ambition or resentment,
and let the best men be chosen for can
tiidates, and we may hope to sec our
country redeemed from misrule. And
in this connection, we beg leave to say O
word to our fellow citizens of the South
ern States: Do not risk the loss of Sena-
tors or Representatives by electing men
who cannot take the test-oath, or who
are under the disability imposed by the
fifteenth amendment. Whatever may be
said Of the validity of that amendment. or
of the test-oath Act, you may rest assured
that Senators elected by the votes of mem
bers of Legislatures who are held by
tho radicals to be thus disqualified, will
not be permitted to take their seats, and
that members of the House of Repre-
sentativcs thus disqualified. will also be
excluded. 1t is the plainest dictate OF
practical wisdom not to incur any such
risks. We hope soon to see the day
when oil disabilities will be removed, but
in the meantime, do not, we cntreat you,
lose the opportunity to strengthen the
Democratic and conservative force in
Congress, and the possibility, nay, pro-
liability, of obtaining majority in the
next House of Representatives, by put
ting it in the power of our adversaries to
overthrow or disregard your elections.
The National Democracy has thus put
itself on tho ground Of Constitutional,
Economical and Honest Government.
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