The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-04-01
: dRxEiiS;TvainilIS, dii;Taiil; 81 s: n U.s Masshs2s, 1871. Il

8 GRz;ziTIvinals, g. s, St. iUs MasshE2s, 1871.
7b| His EsceQsncy Goponor Seoa.s s a
SR: Your .Exee llenoy VIII rdon.tbe
liberty 1 take inaadd5essihg ia, second
letter to yo4. Iw@ in hass. iromy youHsi
message B the Legislatnre pna EyouE
recsnt c61an1tatioM witt YbuApotitiosI
oppohents. that you were sincerely of
opinion some change IN the politics Of
the State was absolutely necessary to
preserve the peace and quiet the excite
meht in South Carolina. But your
application to the President for q mill,
tary force to be sent here to ocrush ont all
opposition to the pdious legislation which
disgraces the State, has induced me to
doubt your sincerity. Let me assure
you that this is step in the wrong
direction, if You are sincerely desirous OF
preserving the. peace and promoting the
prosperity and welfare of the country.
If your object is to establish despotlsm
in the State, and force the wealth and
intelligence Of the people to submission,
under the rule Of ignorance, oppression
seem safe md .judioious ..one. It will
not prove suoh, however.
y The President has been induced by
your appiiCntiou 10 issue an absurd and
most ridiculous proclamation, calling on
the people OF South Carolina to disperse
and return to their homes! This pro-
clamation is intended for the North, and
not for the. South. We oil know in
South Oarolinn, thnt there is no embodi-
ment OF force here, except your negro
militia, and has not been since the war
ended. Not on instance has occurred,
in all of our recent troubles, of any re-
sistance to the law or to public officers.
The gentlemen arrested at Laurens and
other places, charged with riotous con-
duct and murder, made no resistance,
but submitted themselves quietly to the
laws of their country, and will ever do so.
When your Federal troops arrive here,
they will find the country in profound
peace-no unlawful assemblies to dis
perse, but every one engaged at home,
in his daily ayocations. These Federal
troops cannot keep watch throughout
the State, over every mid night incen-
diary or assassin. It is impossible for
them to guard every barn and gin-house,
or prevent secret retaliation, where they
have been destroyed. These offences
cannot be prevented by an army, how
ever numerous. They must be aup-
pressed by the vigilance and virtue of
the citizens, the civil law and courts of
Justice. And here permit me to say to
your Excellency, that the good people of
South Carolina have been greatly out
notorious felons; to see them pardoned
as soon as they reach the penitentiary,
and turned loose on society once more, in
order to-, save, as you say, their civil
rights. the right Of voting, giving testi-
mony in courts of justice and sitting on
jariesl When guilt goes sunpnnished,
retaliation will follow, and society lapses
into o snvnge state.
The condition Of South Carolina, is,
indeed, most deplorable one. and calls
loudly for the sympathy Of the good and
virtnons everywhere. The government
Of the State is in the hands of our for
mer slaves, and vile adventurerr, who
have come here, from the North, to prey
on the vitals of the country. dishonor
the State, and return laden with stolen
wealth. The intelligence and wealth Of
the State are powerless, incapable OF
holding Office, and crushed into the dust
by Ignorance, pauperism and rascality.
Taxes are levied on them by those who
pay no taxes and own no property. All
the Offices OF tho State are filled with
negroes, scalawags and carpet-baggers.
Is it to be expected that high toned,
brave and honorable people would be
quiet under the circumstances, and see
their property destroyed by roguish and
ignorant legislation?
Several Of our most important rail
roads have fallen into the hands of
Northern adventurers. BY the grossest
bribery and corruption, the Legislature
have been induced to release the lien of
the State on these roads, amounting to
millions OF dollars, and have issued
100000 of State bonds for the same
companies, with the privilege of selling
them at any price and pocketing the
money. Again, the Legislature have
ordered S6.C00,000 of State bonds to be
issued, which they call sterling debt,
and which are to be exchanged for the
present bonds Of the State. It has been
shown that this exchange of bonds, if
honestly made, will cost the State over
81 100000. But this is not all. The
fraud and stealsge which may be prac-
ticed in Issuing these sterling bonds, can
not be foreseen or calculated. $4O0, 600
before the war paid the whole expenses
L.