The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-02
COLU MBIAi'.,.,, A., S.as.sCC. S. e
Tuesday Morning, May q. 1871. I
The Leading Issue BEFORE the Country.
Thinning attention for the present from


Turning attention for the present from
matters Of local interest. and looking to
the questions that AFFECT the whole ooun-
try in its great present and yet creator
future, the question may we'll arise, what
now is the main issue before the people?
In our judgment. it is not the negro.
Nor il it the recent amendments to the
Constitution. We regard the status of
the colored man settled, and we hold that
the legislation connected with the new
amendments to the Constitution has the
force OF law. Wise OF unwise, constitu-
tiornl or the reverse, the matters therein
involved have passed into the domain of
accomplished facts, to be taken there
from only by the same power that put
them in. What, then, is the true issue
before the country? Upon what pivot
ehall the next general canvass turn? We
think that the Democratic address clearly
pointed this out The same issue Of
doctrine divides the two great parties of
the country now ns formerly. It is re-
served rights against rights delegated
It is local sovereignty against centralized
despotism.
Short of secession and notification,
there is an important, vital mass OF
State rights, which must be kept intact,
or our form of government must prove
miserable failure. In this country two
great principles are undergoing trial
S,,1
The one is UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. and this
will fail, unless linked with proportionol
representation. The other is SELF GOVERN
MENT in general, and this will fail unless
the rights Of the States are left intnct
and local rule not swallowed up in the
vortex OF consolidation. And it may be
said that the larger the territorial limits
of the country, and the more numerous
the States, the more important does it
become that the exclusive powers possess.
ed by the States be not exercised by the
General Government. Nor is it the
Democratic mind Of the country alone
that appreciates the Importance Of this
issue. The strides recently mado by
Congress from constitutional to an
absolute form ,of government, have cx-
cited the apprehensions of many OF the
wise and thoughtful men OF the Republi-
can party. The New York Eueninq Post
edited by Mr.. ". G. Bryant, calls the
recent legislation Of Congress. embraced
in the force bill, centralized imperial
ISM" Mr.. Bryant holds ''that Congress
can do no act unless it can point to war.
rant therefor in the powers granted or
delegated in the Constitution. - Refer
ring to the force bill, Mr.. Bryant uses
the following language:
'tThe danger is no less real, and
scarcely less serious, than if we had an
imitator .of, Napoleon at the head of the
patton and the army. If this act be en-
forced, snd If it succeed in the work
proposed by it. erery barrier which the
Constitution holds up against the en-
oroaohment of the central upon the
local governments is broken. Reverence
for the fundamental law will disappear,
and all the checks aud forms of orr
Federal system will become tho sport Of
political controversy. No man can fore.
see what the next step towards centraliza-
Itoh AAAuy boS Oub every QUO ulhJ GOuu-
IDENTITY predict TINT no constitutional
Limitation or prohibition will hereafter
be:permitted by any political purity in
control Of the National Government to
defeat its ends, or to protect municipal
privileges against it. The local rights of
persons and OF property, tho local con
hiots Of corporations, the whole system
OF local laws, with the controversies
they involve and the passions they excite,
will become elements of national politics.
and0the very organization of society
throughout the land will become the
stake. of national party struggles. Tie
absolute centralzqtion Of our Government
and the destruction Of the Federal system,
must soo,, Tol!o,o, aoih cirn arar and dis
union as he only alternative.
In this connection, We may point to
the views recently announced by Asso.
ciate Justice Clifford, of the Supreme
Court, in giving the opinion of the
Court, with respect to the powers Of
Congress. upon question that arose in
Massachusetts. He takes occasion 10
give his views as to the nature and OBJ