The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-02
COLUMBIA, rs. C.
satur lay Morning. March 2 1872.
Municipal Election.

oA0oIAoA AoI u6yoE uuo u lew ooa1o "a
Aldermen will take place. II the good
people of Columbia intend making any
efforts to effect the desirable and needed
change in the character of our city 60
vernment, it is high time that initiatory
steps were being taken. A certain ele-
ment of the Republican party-mostly,
We believe, those in sympathy with the
present Council-have been stirring
pretty actively for some time past in,the
interests Of their favorites. Ward meet
ings have been held frequently, and
grand speeches made, with view to
awakening party spirit; and thus delud-
ing our oolored people again into en-
trusting the pnblio interests to the vam-
pires who have 80 thoughtlessly sacrificed
them for the Lost two years. Say or do
what they will, the present Council can
of the community, of having been cog
infant and most probably directly inte-
rested, in the City Hall fraud. It is be-
yond the limits of the remotest probabi-
ity, that such q stupendous swindle as
was contemplated-am to up
wards of $50, ,0O0-oould have been suc-
cessfully run in under their very noses,
without their being conscious of it
some of them, too. experienced mechan-
les and builders, and must be presumed
to be able to give, at least, an approxi-
mate estimate of the cost of building.
More than this, the short advertisement
for bids given; the declarations of MEM
bers of Council themselves prior to en-
tering into the contract; the neglect to
employ an architect to make an estimate
for them, and host of circumstances,
Ineligible only on the hypothesis of
their guilt, would be sufficient to convict
them even before judicial tribunal.
Where rational suspicion Of such con-
duot-much less such strong legal proof,
as We have here-rests upon any man or
set Of men, they should be instantly
thrust from positions Of honor and trust,
and will always be. except where majo-
rity of the people are wanting in moral
sense and a proper appreciation OF their
duty as citizens. - ~.
For the colored people to Nfoist upon
our city again such dangerous set OF
officials as we now have. would be
shameful and inexcusable on their part.
We do not believe they desire to do such
a thing, nor will do it. unless their party
fidelity is played upon by designing
men. Excited and blinded by Radical
spur and lash, they may be induced. by
those in whom they have sadly mis-
placed their confidence. to take almost
any erroneous step. We are firmly of
the belief, that of their own accord, they
will not do gross injustice to the inte-
rests Of the white people.
The white people. in our judgment,
should adopt measures at once to defeat
the purpose of those who are scheming
to give political ooloring to the cleo
tion. We must effect compromise with
the colored citizens, if possible-such
that their personal rights and privileges.
and the pecuniary interests OF the
whites. shall be alike observed and Sc
cured. How to go about this, is the
question. The most simple and adyisa-
BILE mode. appears to us to be to call n
public meeting of both races, discuss
the matter candidly and calmly, and we
can then ascertain whether q compro-
mise be practicable. An arrangement
whereby six of the Aldermen wonld be
selected By the wbitee, and the Mayor
and six remaining Aldermen by the CO.
lored people, would, we believe, be en-
tirely satisfactory to the former, and
willingly acquiesced in by the latter.
We would urge the matter upon the at
tontion of our philosophical citizens,
as one of vest Importance and pressing
moment, and invite an expression of
views and opinions, though our columns,
from both races.
Forney Wus out Of humor with the
I" President not long since, but Grant un-
derstands very we'll how to conciliate
..I