The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-02-10

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A Cheering Indication.
We mentioned, few days ago, as an
indication of coming reformation in
the political morals OF the radical press,
that many of the ablest journals of that
party espoused the cause of Dawes in his
Aght with Butler in the House. applaud
ing and thoroughly endorsing his efforts
to expose the extravaganza of the Ad-
nlinistration, There are other indica-
tions of q growing regard for truth,
honesty and justice on the part Of that
press: Three years ago there was scarce
~ radical newspaper in the country
which felt called upon to condemn any
Of the high-handed measures of Congress,
or TO utter enc kind word in behalf of
the South, which was daily being crushed,
insulted and betrayed by Congressional
enactment. To-day the case is different.
There has been marked change in tho
tone of the press of that party-of many
members of it, at least. They can no
longer shut their eyes to the disgusting
nature OF this reconstruction business Of
Congress. Such articles as the follow
ing, from the Washington County (N.
~ Post, the party organ in that strong
radical county, are now to be met with
almost every day in newspapers which
once looked upon the Congress of the
United States as the embodiment Of NIL
that is pure in morals and infallible in
craftsmanship:
cit is matter of regret that the ultra
Senators of the Republican party, head
ed by the visionary, impracticable Sum
ner, have triumphed in their endeavor to
obstruct the closing of this RECONSTRUCT
ton business. There is no excuse for
the imposition of the additional condi-
tions upon Virginia imposed by the Sc
nate bill. The only result which will
follow is to delay the admission Of the
State aud to embitter the people. It is
folly to attempt, under our republican
system, to bind the people of any State
for all time. No requirement which does
not bind oil the States can bind any one.
SO long as the Constitution Of the United
States permits any State to amend it's
Constitution, restricting the qualifca-
tions of voters, any conditions imposed
on q new State forbidding this will bo
held null and void. Sumner is too much
of q lawyer not to know this. The talk
about additional protection for the negro
is bosh. The real object in re-opening
the question of reconstruction is to di-
vert the attention of the country from
the tariff and financial questions; and in
this light the whole matter becomes an
outrage, which will be resented by an
Indignant people.
Outside of the halls Of Congress,
there is not even q faction of the Repub-
lican party that justifies Summers course.
Even so decided radical us Greeley de-
nounces it. Everybody is sick of this
eternal reconstruction. The whole
country wants peace. The business Of
the country, ground down by the burden
Of taxation, the masses smarting under
an unjust tariff, demanl relief, and will
have it. The people have waited pa
ticntly and borne long with the negro,
but now they are considering their own
rights, and it will go i'll with the Repub-
lioan party If the present session of Con-
gress is squandered in fighting over
0Sohh uChu HuCSClOh. hC Olo ely
of loyalty rouses no emotion in the
popular heart. We have fought tho last
campaign on this rallying cry. We must
have an adjustment of this tariff, re-
duction of taxation and rctrenchment in
public expenses. The kind of recon
struction that is needed now is recon
struction of the ultra members of the
party"
All this is true, and its appearance in
Republican paper-it is not radical
while it speaks thus-is m indication,
small though it may be, of the coming
of that better day in the political history
Of the country, for which we have all so
long watched and waited.
The RAILRoADs.-Thela latest news from
the railroad authorities is, that contract
for building the Blue Ridge Railroad to
Il