The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-01-22

people OF South Carolina. And we are
confident that every right thinking man
will gladly accepS tho olive. branch ex-
tended to him. The welfare and peace
OF the State tower above the schemes
and plots of party. This is a generous
and law abiding people. We are con
fident, therefore, that Governor Scott,
in the honorable, dignified and inst DO.
sltlon which he has tuken, will receive
the cordinl support and earnest co ope-
ration OF the white citizens Of the State.
Tho Augusta Chronicle md Sentinel
says:
We take pleasure in laying before onr
readers to-day the special message of
Gov. Scott in reply to resolutions of in
qulry passed by the South Carolina Le-
glslature, because it is the first official
paper emanating from Southern Radi-
col Governor which shows disposition
to do justice to the Southern people.
Whatever may be our opinion rs to the
responsibility of Gov. Scott and his
party In South Carolina for the present
deplorablc condition of affairs in two or
three Counties in that State, we cannot
withhold from him the need of praise
duo Tor the sound conservative and con
stitutionnl views expressed in his mes.
snge, and the frank Acknowledgement he
makes that the public sentiment of the
people in the disturbed districts does not
give countenance to these disturbances
while 'leading and influential citizens
have declared, in language sufficiently
strong, their nbhorrence of these crimes
nnd their willingness to mid the Executive
IN the suppression of them"
We entirely agree with Gov. Scott in
the opinion 'that the civil law of the
State ought to be sufficient to protect the
person and property of every citizen in
the State" and TINT '.the use of an
armed force to punish individual viola
tons OF the law in time of profound
peace would be remedy as bad rs the
disease" We proudly assume that ours
Is 'Government of consent, not of
forcc;' that our whole system is founded
on the voluntary consent of the people,
and n resort to armed force in the ordi-
nary administration of the law would be
IN violation, not only to the express pro-
visions OF the organic law, but of the
great principles which underlie our sys-
tenn of government. The truth is, the
pnbllc sentiment of the communities in
which these outrages take place is mainly
responsible for their occurrence, and
public sentiment is the only agency
which can suppress them. we are glad
to note the fact that Gov. Scott takes
correct ground on this question.
Since tho war, high civil functionaries
In the South have relied for the enforce
ment OF the law too much upon military
force. Indeed, the bnyonct power has
been appealed to for the enforcement of
all the Legislation enacted in the pro
gress OF reconstruction. Perhaps it was
to be expected that civil officers who
obtained their Offices and were supported
IN their positions by military bower.
would naturally look to the same power
AS the proper means of enforcing the
laws. But when government was again
returned to the hands of tue people
when State Offices, high and low, were
bestowed by the suffrnges of the people,
the civil authority WAS rehabilitated with
It's long lost powers, and became inde-
pendent Of and superior TO the military.
We regard the message of Governor
Scott as favorable indication that lead
ing Southern Radicals are at last yielding
to the force of public sentiment in favor
OF the time-honored principles, that the
military is subordinate TO the civil au-
thority in the State, and that in the
future, public sentiment will be called
on to enforce the laws through the ju-
dicial power of the government.
special Notices.