The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-29
THn PaaslDsiNiT AND TEE THE soo1u31r1H.- Sou r1

THn PRfs1DHiNT AND '':r1hE The Solu1Tr1H.- r1
The peYBtstent determination of leading
Republican partisans in Congress to get
some legislation for direct notion by The
General Government in States OF the
South. including even Kentucky, which
never seeded. for the suppression of
alleged outrages and lawlessness, seems
to be seconded by the President, in a
brief message, which he sent to Congress
yesterday. referring to affairs in some Of
t,e States of the Union. The President
we are bound TO regard as actuated by
the most honest Intentions in the matter.
but that Influences have been brought to
bear upon him, to which it would have
been wiser had he not yielded, we thiuk
there can hardly be dunbt. All action
Of the sort, suggested by the President.
it intended to be intruded into the States
without the solicitation of their unthori-
ties, at this late day after reconstruction,
and especially in State which was never
in condition to undergo that process,
cannot but be a cause of further irrita.
tion. III cases where there may be some
outlawry. If not of actual alarm to all the
States. In the debate in the Senate,
Yesterday. nllusion was made, by lead
ing Republican Senator, to q charge of
judge Bruce, of Kentucky, In Demo-
cratic jndge.) severely coudemuing GER
tain mnrderous outrages, by unknown
ontlaWs there, and calling for the utmost
effolt+ for their condign punish hmtnt, in
accordance with what be knew was the
sentiment of the community. Instead
Of this proving the necessity of congress
sional action in the matter, to our minds.
and in the light of the most ordinary
common sense and reasun it proves the
very reverse. and that the State authori-
ties and conrts mean to reach nnd repress
all snch offences, if possible. When
they find it impossible, and call upon the
Federal Government for aid, it will be
time for the President to take action,
and he will find the mass Of the people
supporting him in it. without reference
to political parties, or the location to
which the action is applied.
Both Houses of Congress have adopt
ed resolutions (though not yet agreed ms
tn the nnmbers) for another Southern
investigation committee. In the House
this was II triumph of the moderate ele-
ment over revolutionary fucion, and
therefore, in degree, is matter of public
congratnlation. The sectional an nimosity
of Mr.. Butler, as evinced in his atrocioua
Ku Kiux bull. was thus thwarted. and his
rage excited accordingly. Tits to behoped
the President has no more sympnt lies
with Mr.. Butler in this than with Wen.
dell Phillips, who has lately tlelared that
"nothing short of shooting half dozen
Southern millionaires (where would he
find then?) at the drum head will drive
the Kn Klux into submission" and that
IN certain contingency ''the North will
sweep rebeldom with the bosom of de-
strnclion, and leave it no ruler but the
sword until every now living white man
IL in his grave" The President NAV
well, then, wait upon the result of any
commission that may be appointed to in
vestlgate, as the conservative members
of the House have shown that they do
not dread an investigation, and an ex-
treme course en- the part of the minority
was thereby avoided. There is little
reason to doubt the probability that out
rag"s have been committed in some of
the Southern States by reckless men of
both parties. No one can doubt that it
ls most important to. the peace and pros
perity of the South that sncl. state of
things should cease Any secret assuci-
alton or unlawful agencies in the South.
even if provoked by the secret political
societies and Ontrages of their persecu-
tors should be ediscountennnced and put
down, as being in themselves worse
enemies 10 Southern safety and welfare
than the combinations they seek to re-
sist. It is of the last importance to the
Southern people that their adversnries
should not be permitted to make cnpitul
ont of the acts of few reckless and
violent men in their midst.
Baltimore Sun.