The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-07-08
The New Departure.


"The stone which tho builders reject
ed .is Become the head Of thhi cornsr.y
At is put a year ago that a convention
assembled in Colpmbin at the invitation
OF tho'press conferences, to take agnew
departure" in the politics of;the State,
upon tho basis of the resolutions OF that
conference. The convention adopted
the principles embraced in those reso-
!ntlons, IN tho following language OF it's
own:
-. The fifteenth amendment Of the
Constitution Of tho United States huvipg
been, by the proper authorities, pro-
Claimed ratified by the requisite number
ot States, and having been received and
acqniesced in ns law, in all the States
Of the Union, ought to be fairly adj
rninistered and faithfully obeyed as fun
damental law.
g. The vast changes in our system
of government, wrought by the interna-
tional war between the two sections Of the
States and following in its train, nre 80
far Incorporated into the constitutions
| and laws of tho States. md Of the United
States, rs to require that they he regard
ed rs accomplished facts, having the
force aud obligation Of law"
This step taken by convention of the
people Of old South Carolina. was jnsti-
fed in the address OF their executive
com mittee by the following argument:
The Infamous character of the Govern.
ment OF Suntl Carolina was attributable
To the unhappy aniMgonisnl Of the Taces,
produced by circumstances and the
machinations of selfish aud corrupt po-
litical asivcnturers, whereby was array
ed practically, ''the whole of the one
race in political hostility to the whole Of
the other race" One race owning all
tho lands, the other furnishing all the
labor and controlling, absolutely, the
power OF tho Government; n subjection
Of capital to labor. necessarily producing
ruin aud disaster, aud tending to bloody
conflict. 1t was shown that there was
no hope OF aboishing universal suffrage,
md Tint the attempt, under the most
favorable circumstances, would light the
fires of Il civil war ''ierce, bitter, bloody
aud disastrous The only ALTERNATIVES
was the adoption Of q policy which
would abato the sharp nntag0nism of
races, and ''ennblo the good people Of
both to combine for the purpose Of good
government" The question resolved
itself thus: Should they continue to en-
dure tho infamous government imposed
upon them, enjoying tue poor privilege
OF protesting against its legality, or
strive for better government, to be OBJ
tained. as they supposed, by yielding
that privilege?
vi course, unless reason were de-
throned, it was impossible that men of
intelligence WHO really desired the good
Of the State could hesitnte to give their
adhesion to Il purity which promised the
hope Of relief Mt the expense only OF
hat which had become mere abstract
sentiment. It is true some pharisaical
! and dictntorial Democrats exhausted
their fierce rhetoric in denouncing the
movement and its leaders, but these
were sustained by the snffrages of the
patriotic, practical and honest people Of
the State, with u unnnimitv never con-
manded by any other movement, that of
secession not excepted.
This platform is now commencing it..
self to the great Democratic party of
the country. aud promises to be the
lonDdation stone Of their platform in
tho next canvnss-the vantage ground
from which to fight the battle Of free
dom. II anything were needed to de-
monstratc Tho wisdom and patriotism Of
the people Of South Carolina who inan-
gnrnted and sustained this movement
lust yenr. it is this action OF the Demo
Gratis Of the North. under tho lead OF
their best and brovest champion, tho la
mented Vallandigham.
Tho Reform party failed of success by
reason of the stupidity, ignorance and
prejudice Of the great mass Of the voters,
which rendered them ready victims to
lfing and malignant delnagogues. The
Democracy have the advantage Of ad-
dressing their arguments to tho consd-
Grafton Of the great American people,
too intelligent md too honest to be Sc
dnccd to their own ruin by the cunning
arts OF political trickstcrs.
CHmden yomm0,.
DEATHS. Mr.. John Cashion, who was
n native Of Nirginin, but for tho last
thlrty-iive years resident of Yorkvilln,