The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-07
Ci0LGMBIX, 1s..l g.
Sunday Morning. Nay z. 1871.
Letkpr Or ME. Rs4z. Cpnmesrlaln:LoC cpl.
WsL.STrenholm-AR Republicans Re.


The state of affairs in South Carolina
at this 'nompnt, resulting frop loSal mis-
rule and its Consequences, is so grave
that all suggestiona looking to relief
should be treated with patriotic copsi7.
deration. Mr.. Chamberlain, the AttgM
ney-G General, has. upon more than dne
occasion. evinced truer appreciation Of
the gravity OF our situation in this State,
than his party associations would lead ns
to expect. Whilst avowing himself Q
sincere adherent Of Republicanism, he
protents that his Republicanism must
not be confounded with those practices
and excesses which in South Carolina
have brought the term in disrepute.
Mr.. Chamberlain has the intelligence to
see that the present abnormal condition
OF things in South Carolina is inconsist-
ent with order, peace and development.
BE has further the candor and justica to
acknowledge and totdshounce the abuses
that exist on the part Of the dominant
party. AS to the remedy, he holds
that the system Of minority representa-.
tion. by cumulative voting, is the one
that furnishes the true solution TO the
great pToblora Of peace in the state. In
Mr. CAAm6etlain'e Iaayocaoy Of this
Pripoip1as Ne ta1ly Sonqqs. as our readers
have teason to, know Atthe same tune,
at But jaAs g 'silspsaafk That the
tages cohneoted with this measure of
reform,,, ! are re prospective aid contingent
They may Or hay not be evailabls. 1T
is the remedy. for many Of the evils that
afAict the State, and looks 70. the due
settlement 81 our troubles. But what
guarantee have we that the rank and file
OF The dominant party, who hold the
uuznerical power, will agree to the wise
conoessionP Although just and fair and
cneditable to pronounce it good how
easy for .seli-seeking demagogues to per
suade the body Chat! passes upon it to
vote II down at the laBt momentl Whilst,
therefore, we are fully persuaded:of the
efficacy Of the measure Of minority rep
resantation, we. cannot but bear IN. mind
the fact that the great point lis to make
1t available. III other, words: the qaes-
tion is., mol whether it sis a good thing;
but ,yheth4sf 81 not twill hs' ,eonopded.
and thus made of practical advan tage as
q remedy to be now relied Upon. This
consideration, however. .doeE not debar
as from oommeadih Mr. Chamberlafd'l,
advocacy Of the measure, and we trust
that his influence with his political asso.
niates may be instrumental in securing
FOR the common good q wise voting sys-
TEN. AS to- the ldemanaa which Mr..
Chamberlain holds that the public shodld
make and entorcs. looking to present re-
Lief, they are. we are persuaded, just
demands, and wo hope such as may with
success bo insisted upon.
Mr.. Chamberlain. opposes violent me-
thods as mode Of relief. and holds that
peaceful and legal agencies can be suo-
cessfully invoked to redeem the State
and restore it to wholesome rule. This,
we earnestly trust, may be the case, and
measures to this end, We hope, the saga.
city OF the approaching con vention may
Initiate. Much depends upon the tenn
Per and disposition of the dom inant
party. We arc. satisfied that the mi no.
rity in the State would hail with satisfac.
tion peaceful settlement OF our trou-
hles. To bring about this result, no
efforts should be spared aud no reasonc-
bic method left untried.
Reason tells us-experiences teaches
us-history writes it upon page after
page that bloodless reforms are tho
safest; that States enduring interests
are best subseryed by such political
changes as are effected by civil means
and through the fundamentally Of law
1al forms. That the reform demanded
in this State may find this kind OF con.
summation, every thoughtful and right
minded citizen will hope. Bnt the re-
spcnsibility rests in the main with the
majority. Under the forms of law, they
led the State ''into tile wilderness. ;"
Under the forms OF law. in spirit Of