The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-04-26

each. Gan q man reflect upon the power
that THE STATE holds over him ahd be
Indifferent to its uffairsq' As another has
we'll said:
''Consider for moment what the
mysterious entity which We call the State,
practically isl It is the whole force Of n
nation organized into IN ultimate and
paramount authority. It dominates every
him are final. What avail for nn indi-
vidual to resist it's DEGREES? It can crush
him as q Behemoth crushes tho spires Of
the grass. Laying hold Of the individual
as soon rs he is born, the State claims
some sort Of jurisdiction over him to the
end of Ills days. He is its ward or its
subject. His status is determined by it
his family ties. his rights and duties,
even his life. The very fruit of his loins
the dearest aud sweetest objects of his
affections. it may tear from him, to thl ust
into armies, to linger out years of priva-
tion and suffering in prisons, or to die Of
wounds on the battlefield. How i'm
portant, then, seeing the tremendous
scope of this power, even in its most re
stricted form, that the exercise of it
should be prescribed to certain, definite.
manageable, and salutary ends? How
important that we should all know, and
ever keep clearly in mind, its proper
sphere and limitations?"
Can you, -oitizens, reflect upon
the power that the STATE thus Yields,
and feel that no duty is demanded of
you ut the polls? You hold your desti-
nies in your own hands. And you are
recreant to your trusts. as citizens, if, in
the political world, you do not resolute-
ly, energetically and persistently throw
all your weight. oil your influence and
oil proper efforts in behalf Of the pros
perity and honor Of the commonwealth
Your duty is plain. You have esteemed
it heroic to fight for South Carolina
upon the red fields of war, and you have
admired the spirit Of them who in the
forum have raised eloquent voices in her
beloved name. Now great task de-
wolves upon the voters of tho State
South Carolina will expect every man
that is loyal to her, to do his duty when
ever the power of the ballot is evoked.
We repeat it, that the duty OF the citizen
is plain. We may read it in our fortunes
that were broken and in our fortunes to
be restored. We may read it in the
great and yet undeveloped resources of
the State. We may read it in the fertile
soil with which God has blessed us and
in the balmy influences now upon us.
We may read it in the duties we owe to
the living and in the memories that
throng around the silent dead
Are Debts Contracted ia the Purchase OF
Slaves Recoverable or Not.
Mr.. EDITOR: Much of the unsettled
business of the people is now suspended
upon the decision of this question. All
of them. that there is any hope of com
promising. have already been adjusted;
yet there remain many, in the hands of
executors, administrators and trustees,
which are now clogging the settlement
OF estates. and doing great injury to all
the parties interested, because it has not
been judicially determined, whether the
Constitution of 1868, is to have any ef-
feet upon them or not.
The people were satisfied to wait until
the vacancies on the Supreme Bench
were filed: and they expected that this
question would be Immediately settled.
So fur, it has not been noticed, and it
may be we'll to state, that there is q very
general dissatisfaction that so much de-
lay has been permitted on this subject.
In spirit of kindness, wo would ask,
respectfully, of the Judges, who now
hold in their hands the settlement of es.
tates, i'll which 80 many widows and or
phans are concerned, thnt they ;wauld
make known their decision. If the Con-
stitntion of 1868 is nullty. be it so;
and, if of force, let the people know it.
The uncertainty" is causing moro da-
mage to private interests than the de-
cision OF the Court could possibly do.
Let us know, at once, whether or not
this class of debts is to be paid. Cru
NOR" informs us that the Judges of the
Supreme Court are waiting to know what
Judge Chase thinks about the matter;
NJ fIuf T,,l