The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-11-03
Our Answer.
The Charleston Republican says:

The Charleston Republican says:
'.The Columbia PHOENIX says it is
time to let the negro severely alone and
put forth all energies to secure white
emigration.
"How does that journal think that the
bnrbarous murder Of the white immi-
grant, Powell, latf:Lnurens. will affect
such of bis former neighbors as might
be inclined to move to our State? The
very first step in our efforts for white
immigrants is to guarantee them full
freedom Of political opinion-full free
dom OF speech and full freedom of the
baliot-and complete protection in lhe
exercise of that freedom. Will the PHG-
NIX help Eaufens to take that step?'
We shall answer the Republican. We
have no conoealment to make Of our
views. They are the same in the closet
as in the field. AS usual, the Republi
can, as the supporter of radicalism in
South Carolina and the ready apologist
for all it's outrages and extrayaganccs,
does the white people OF Laurens and of
South Carolina foul injustice in its re-
marks given above. In the first place,
we know nothing OF Powell, who was
killed in the outbreak at Laurcns. But
we do not understand that lie was IN
Immigrant" We have understood that
he was brought from Ohio to be one Of
the constabulary in South Carolina.
But whether M immigrant or one of the
State police, he fell in an affray, that
occurred Mt Laurens Court House. The
lives lost are matter of regret. But
where does the responsibility rest? We
charge it upon those who brought about
that state of feeling. which accident
caused to break forth in riot and blood.
We charge it upon the Executive, who
armed one race and denied arms to the
other race. We charge it, further, upon
the local aiders aud abettors of the Exc
cutive. So far as the whites were con-
cerned, they went into the Reform move
ment, which was based upon the idea of
conciliating the blacks. And had the
colored people not been arraycd with
arms in hands against the whites, and
had it not been for radical inccndiary
harangues, we believe that no outbreak
would have occurred at Laurens, and no
lives would have been lost. This is our
deliberate judgment.
AS for achite Immigrants, Laurens rs
we'll as all South Carolina do cordi-
ally welcome them, and in spite Of the
systematic effort of such journals rs the
Charleston Republican to cast odium
upon the whites OF South Carolina, there
is guaranteed to white immigrants "full
freedom of political opinion-full free
dom Of speech-full freedom of the bal
lot, and complete protection in the ex.
ercise of that freedom" The only Offset
to this is the case of the anti-radical negro
voter. Experience shows. that in many
places in South Carolina, negro voter
votes against radicalism at the peril of
his life.
We have this to say to the Republican:
Laurens needs no help from the PuGN1x
to take the step the Republican speaks of.
The immigrant will receive in Laurens
the same reception accorded to him else
safeinSouth Carolina as in any other State
of the Union. It is only here as else
where. The honest settler is welcome
But there is no love for the scheming
demagogue, the political trickstcr, the
vile incendiary and the midnight plo:- :
ter.
Turning now to general principles, We
have this to say: In the solution of the
serious questions and the vexed problems
pending in South Carolina, our course
has been consistent. We prefer and we
advocate moral agencies, and VIC desire
to see these problems worked out by
peaceful means. We dare not advocate
other than God-approved methods of
action. But, subjected rs our people
have been, to the most outrageous treat
n,ent to which civilized communities
have ever been exposed, it is not to be
expected that the community will be en-
srnIx, Tr0a