The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-19
COLUMBIA, I. & s. G.
Sunday HorninR. March 10. 1871.

Sunday HorninR. March 10. 1871.
The RenA Cause o1j Disorder In tho South.
It,the Federal Government, says the
New 0rleana Times. is determined to as-
Gume the responsibility of enforcing Law
and order in the States, and protecting
the right .. person aud property. and
the peaceful exercise of suffrage ana
other civil rights, shall 1t stop here and
not extend It's remedial processes to other
forms OF violence and criminality, by
which, the people of the South are more
seriously damaged and oppressed than
even by the outrages which Congress is
seeking, by such extreme and severe
measures, to suppress and punishP
Is it not obvious to the most careless
observer that the violence 80 much com.
planned Of in certain remote parts of the
South are the legitimate fruits of the
wretched government imposed upon the
people of the South by the policy of the
Radical Congress. which has only re-
suited in placing the powers of the State
government in the hands of persons ut
terly incapable Of wielding them and of
commanding the respect and obedience
of the people? What people deserving
freedom and political and civil rights
will ever yield any respect to govern
mehts conatituted, rs these are, of the
very worst elements of our society, and
conducted. in so unscrnpulous, corrupt,
fraudulent, and utterly reckless n man
ner? Can q people, who see the admi-
nistration of their affairs entrusted to
the most immoral, irresponsible and vi
cious characters in the community, who
see.the offices, laws and franchises Of the
State bartered away for money, and the
public treasure squandered upon rings of
corrupt and unprincipled speculators,
and the industrious citizens taxed, op-
pressed and despoiled Of their property
by the most shameless extortion, can
any people be expected to maintain q
sober, sedate, peaceful and patient de-
meanor toward such government and
such administrators of laws?
Congress and the world, that the peace
full, respectable, honest, intelligent, law
and order abiding portion of the people
of the Southern States, are tabooed and
excluded from any share of the govern
ment of their States? This is the result
of Congressional interference in the po-
litical affairs of the States. That is the
fo''s ct origo mali. The authority of such
rulers is not adequate to ensure order
and obedience to law among the excita-
BILE and turbulent. In this the people of
the South do not differ from those of
other parts Of the civilized world. If
the roughs and rowdies of Boston, with
additions from the penitentiary and
house Of correction, were invested with
the legislative and administrative powers
of the State Of Massachusetts, we ina
gino that some form of Ku Kluxism
would soon be manifested even within
the limits of that peaceful State. Let
Congress, then, turn its attention to the
root of all this evil, abandon its vindic-
tive schemes of persecution and ostracism
of the best portion Of our people, and
take proper measures to extend and
secure to them the enjoyment of the
right of self-government, and it will
soon be relieved of further duty and re-
sponsibility to enforce order and pre-
serve peace and obedience to law in the
South.
The TAxEs-PUDL1C DIssATIsFAcrIoS.
The extravagant taxes levied by tho ma
jority of the Legislature of South Caro-
lima, their oppressiveness and injustice,