The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-04-30

AVk 49, ~ Oitki tWElteSt HS Al0lluW I16
speaks Of the collection 81 the enormous
taxes 8 Il. b gS
The thing cannot be done. .I In the ups
country the people are selling their oot-
tom at twelve cents pound, having
planted in the expectation Of at least
twenty, and they cannot meet two years.
| taxes at one swoop, each year's assess
ment being three-fold greater than ever
before known, and six per cent. gold in
terest on q new debt Of $6,000,0O0 It
is confisoation, oonfscation OF the pro-
perty Of the industrious and honest by
the rogue and pauper, and give it as
my firm conviction that no power save
the irresistible arm Of the Federal Go
vernment will be able to carry this medi-
tated robbery into effect. The State is
goaded to madness, and 30 far from
wondering at the few cases of violence,
it is remarkable that the population is
not en- masse in arms. No community in
the North would endure for an instant
the organized robbery which constitutes
the Government of this State
To be rid of it in some way is the fixed
determination, and should peacenble
means fail, hnve somo reason to suppose
that violence will be resorted to, upon q
deliberate calculation TINT it would be
better, and safer, mud cheaper to have
the Stnte filed with United States troops,
and put absolutely under martial law,
than to have theinfamous characters now
ID power remain any longer at the head
OF atfulrs. Tho Federal troops, say the
people here, We do not fear, their pre-
sence is even in one sense desirable, since
wherever they are quartered they dis
purse money and prove good for trade,
mud whom compared to the rule of the
thief and African. their sway is even to
be welcomed. With such views-and
they are all but uniyersal-it can be seen
that the Ku Klux legislation Of Con
gress has no terror for the people of
South Carolina. Their papers dismiss
the bill with brief contcm ptuous
notice, and in common conversation the
theme is seldom broached. AS elsewhere
throughout the South, the popular senti-
ment IS lndnrated, and cares not O straw
for any bill Congress may pass. The
worst of them can only come to the
military at last, and the South now fro
ternizes with the military. A new spirit
has taken possession OF this indomitable
people, and where they once turned their
backs on the troops, all is now conciIia-
tion, attention. civility and respect. The
stnbhornest Bourbon of them all will
shake hands with the soldiers now, and
what with pleasant greetings, the social
glass, and friendly notices and invita-
tions, it is wonderful to gee what can be
done. Instances have come to my know
ledge where on officer complained of by
the local carpet-bng politicians as ''too
friendly with the rebels" has been re-
moved, and another of sterner mould
ordered to supersode him in command,
with no better result than the same com
plant by the Same csrpet-baggers in
weeks time. AS to the men, it is to be
borne in mind that the bulk of the in
fantry is made up of Irish and Germans,
and that much Of the present cavalry
is composed of old Confederate troopers,
just as Ben. Butler complained not -long
since In the House, the cxnct truth being
that II Wheeler were to ride down the
line OF some squadrons. he could think,
but for the flag and uniform, lie was
back at the head of his old wild riders.
Material like this is very unpromising
support to a rascal Government like that
affecting South Carolina, and even were
native born American Republicans to be
enlisted, it is doubtful if any better re-
cults could be obtained. Blood is thicker
than water. A man honest and brave
enough to be q soldier would never side
more than he could possibly help with
these knaves and towards. whose busi-
ness is to steal with both hands and roar
continuously for protection to their
honest industry from the troops.
A. r, the correspondent of the New
York Sun, furnishes to that paper some
information concerning the cost Of
fitting up tho State House in Columbia: !:
1t seems that when the job was first
put up to saddle the cost Of this extrava-
CANT furniture upon the people, it was
intended to contine it simply to the
Assembly Chamber, which, by tho way,
was in rather dilapidated condition.
| Speaker Moses took the thing in hand,
and gavo an order in writing to Dennis
to contract for the furniture, at the same
time enjoining upon him the necessity
Of strict economy and wholesome re-
gard for the then impoverished condi-
ton of the people. In upholstery,
Dennis is an artist, or at least he thinks
he is, and he didn't propose to throw
away his talent upon the mere decora-
ton Of an Assembly Chamber. Ho re-
solved to furnish the whole State House.