The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-01-13
AT HOME, january 10, 1871.


AT HOME, January 10, 1871.
MIR. EDITOR: You must have had
stereotyped such headings as 'AIore
Troubles in Union," "Another Gin
House Burned" and other similar un-
pleasant captions, for seldom does your
welcome sheet reach me without herald
ing such news. missing over this thought
tonight, soliloquizcd to myself, who
Is to blame for this lawless condition of
things? Are the whites? No. Are the
colored2 No. Is the Radical party? :?
Not entirely. Who, then, is? Without
the fear of contradiction, assert Gov.
Scott is the prime cause of MI these
difficulties. Possibly lie may be iquo
,dnuy SO, and therefore, in degree, the
innocent cause of all South Carolina's
troubles. Will Gov. Scott reason with
me little upon this subject?
The population of South Carolina is
composed of two races. One nre the
whites, who own all the property, Tor
nearly SOL pay all the taxes, Cor nearly
SOL and were once the owners of the
other race. That other race are the
blacks, who, owning but little property,
and paying a nominal tax, were once
the slaves of the white race, but, by
national legislation, have become free
men and our equals before the law,
right which no honest son of South
Carolina desires to deprive them of.
tortuitous circumstances have empow-
cred General r. X. Scott, Of Ohio, with
executive authority over these two peo-
pies.
l..
the prejudices of race existed with both
of them, and this must be assuagcd be-
fore happiness and prosperity could
return to his constituents Unless he
entertained malice for the conquered
rebels, common interest would have
suggested the policy of first rcconcilpg
the more intelligent of the two races,
and through them, educate and elevate
the inferior race. But finding the blacks
IN the numerical majority, he quietly
saw that the ballot could be made to
usurp the throne of knowledge and be-
come powerful. Forsnking his race, he
has clung tenaciously to TINT minority,
and by his every gubernatorial act, has
shown disposition TO widen the breach
rather than quiet the difficulties between
the blacks and whites of South Carolina.
His armipg the colored militia, and
other similar overt acts of irritation, can
be we'll understood. Political quiet and
contentment throughout the State, dur
ing his first term, would have eventu-
ated last October in his political decapi-
tation. But if Gov. Scott knows anything
OF human nature, he must certainly
know that compulsory measures resorted
to by black numerical majority can
never effcot peaceful ends over q white
minority. The wonder then ip, why
does he not attempt some single step Of
reconciliation by recognizing the rights
Of this minority?
Has he ever appointed q white gentleman
to Office because of his efficiency? IF 80,
that gentleman most assuredly perform
ed the duties of the Office satisfactorily
to both races; and possibly voted against
Gov. Scott at the last election. cannot
think that an honest officer would viii
lingly bring discredit upon his office,
simply because Of political differences OF
opinion between him and the appointing
power. If Gov. Scott could visit some
OF the Offices Of his appointces. be would
De ashamed OF the manner in which ho
has prostituted his power.
NOT long since had writ served upon
mo by authority of one of his Trial
uSe'SS9. ~ mHSs 1uuCCl, 1uluy uOCu-
mcnt. L could easily have sworn nv
name was not on that paper. an
swered to the summons, however, and
when went to the office, had to per
form the duties of both clerk and teacher
to his honor, for he could not have filed
up the blanks to save him from death.
| concluded my interview by remarking.
believe l would traverse my case for a
tWclvcmOnth The Stnnil fellow ro,,I;o1
Very vol, sir." Can anything be ore
Ear"ical?
But to conclude, have no hesitation
IN asserting that. if Gov. Scott will with.
draw his arms from the militia; admin
lister the laws of The land through intelli.
gent appointees, white or black; forget
that South Carolina is not the Radical
party; remember that the minority have
some rights; believe that attempting to
rule white men with negroes is rubbing
off the ecab from an old sore; credit the