The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-10-17
The a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. In Co
sSlumb1a. IjFyf

The a -Convsn,ion In CO.
@lumbia. ,sal.
Daddy Cain, in his Missionary Record,
speaks thug Of the colored convention
which ASSEMBLIES in Oolumbia on the
18th: u 81 5fs.f ;9s. 5s3S
On the 18Th of this month there will
be'assembled in Columbia lsrRel body
OF representative men OF the oolored
race, to deliberate upon the great ques-
tions which underlie their future vel
fare in this country. This assemblage
will be composed of Southern men, or
men who are now identified with the
South in all it's varied interests. Never
before in their history has there been
such IN opportunity offered them to
place before the country an evidence Of
their ability to comprehend the demands
of the age, aud their relative positions
IN the affairs Of government. And vet
there never was q more dangerous aud
critical period for them. at this time
tho country is in feverish heat. Par.
ties are moving in their combinations to
secure the next Presidential election.
The coloredrvote, being of vital impor-
tance, will be sought to be controlled,
and made to subservo the ends of vari-
ous partisans; individuals who may as-
pire to Office. will seek to control their
votes in their own interests, or those OF
their particular friends, who hope to got
place through their elevation. The dan
ger to the colored people is that they
may be drawn into hnsty giving in of
their adhesion to this or that party, be-
fore proper understanding as to the
policy to be pursued toward them in the
future. We observe that in all the con-
ventions held there hEve been resolu.
tions endorsing President Grants admi-
nistration, and thus forestalling any fu-
ture action which might be taken by the
great Republican party in '72. We
heartily endorse President Grant and
much of his administrative acts-such
as his reduction Of the taxation, reduc-
ton OF the army and navy expenditures,
the collection of the revenue, and reduc-
ton of the public debt, his appoint
ments to foreign ports, with many other
OF his acts. But we are not prepared to
endorse oil his appointments to the
Southern States. There nre lnen np-
pointed in some Of the Southern States
who are the most consummate OF all
scoundrels and unprincipled knaves.
These men, by the great power in their
hands, are capable of expressing the
humble citizens, who have no mems OF
redress. By virtue Of their appointments
at the hands of the President, they feel
independent of the people, aud are the
most arrant tyrants which, we have to
deal with of oil officials in the South.
In South Carolina, tho most outrageous
violations of law and the rights of citi-
zens have been perpetrated by the United
States Marshals. In the Second Con
gressional District over 800 men have
been dragged before the United States
Commissioner and Court by the Marshal
and his deputies; innocent men have
been imprisoned for political difference;
bribery and corruption have boon prao-
ticed by those sworn officials; the juries
have been packed, in order to insure
convictions; men have boasted that there
were measures adopted to convict GER
tain men who were obnoxious to the
United States Marshal and his friends:
staunch Republicans have been op.
pressed and imprisoned, to crafty the
petty spite Of those copperheads. While
President Grant keeps suoh vile parti-
sans in Office. against the protests of the
Republican party in the South, he can
not expect their support nor their votes.
And let him bear in mind, that the Re-
publican party in The South is composed
of the poor whites and emanopated
blacks, whose rights arc as sacred to
them as is his own to him. Let him re-
member that they will support that party
who will guarantee their rights to them,
and hold sacred their homes and their
fire-sldes; and that he can take his choice.
whether to keep in Office set of blout-
ed, purse-proud copperheads. who are
opposed to the people whom they seek
to Cypress. or whether he will give them
honest, upright Republicans, who will
protect and not outrage the liberties OF
tho people, as has been done in South
Carolina and Louisiana. We should not
be hasty in our endorsements till wo
have ample proofs that they are proper
and deserved. We want practical 20.
vernment The President may discharge
his functions, but his nppointees, in
many instances, are miserable poltroons,
and disgrace to their places Then it
may be that great and important changes
may take place in the Republican party.
The colored men in this convention
should adhere to the great party OF H.
berty and to the great and noble leaders
who have fought out these great princi-