The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-16
whom you have been reared? Is not the

otate nDove reproacnI linen, why do
you distrust them?
The answer to these questions brings
us directly to the discussion of the rela-
tions existing between yourselves and
the carpet.baggers and scalawags.
By carpet-baggers, we mean those who
have come into the State in the wake of
q conquering army, who were Yankee
enough to see their chance for gaining
power and place over an already subju-
gated people; who came here without
dollar, comparatively speaking, in their
pockets, and who have acquired untold
wealth by filching from the public purse;
who are peculators and speculators; who
have nothing to lose and all to gain;
who. in short, left their native New
England hills as poor us church mice. in
all but their knavery, cunning and craft,
and fastened themselves upon your
shoulders, bearing you down, while they
reach aloft and pluck the golden fruit.
Ey the scalawags, we mean those of
our native citizens who have left their
old associates through selfish motives;
who have taken you by the hand as "hale
fellows we'll met" for their own advance
ment; not that they have any intention
OF aiding you in any manner; on the
contrary. they are Of that class who
seize upon the opportunity to benefit
themselves at the expense OF others.
Well, now to repeat our question.
Why do you distrust those whom, for
the sake OF making the matter simple,
we will call Democrats? It is because
you are taught by the carpet-baggers and
scalawags to place no confidence in them.
You are told that if you place them in
power, they will deprive you Of your
right to hold Office, of your right to
vote; and some even have the boldness
to affirm that if the Democrats $50 to
speak) were put in power, that they would
rob you of your freedom, and again
shackle you with the bonds of slavery.
And, to make the matter more ridicu-
lous, you believe every word OF it. But,
let US tell you. they are perpetrating
gross frand upon your credulity. They
know with whatimplicit faith you receive
their teachings. They know that your
reliance upon what your leaders say is
akin to your religious fervor. Hence,
they allow no opportunity to escape to
add fuel to that flame OF prejudice and
superstition. But we will prove wherein
they are imposing upon you. and there
by show you the duty you owe your
selves. Suppose, for instance, that you
were to elect what you are pleased to call
a Democratic State Government. How
could they proceed to deprive you of the
right to vote and to hold Office? The
United States Constitution has prescribed
regulations for the exercise of suffrage,
and no State can abate one iot or one
title OF that law. Your party organs
claim that it was adopted by an over
whelming majority of the States. Do
you not see that the State of South Ca
rolina has no power. to interfere with
your right to vote. when the Constitu-
ton Of the United States has declared
that no State shall deprive any citizen of
the right to vote or to hold Office on ac-
count OF race, color, or previous cond-
ton of servitude? Then, why do you
allow these renegades to cram such false
hoods down your throats? Reason
among yourselves; ask yourselves the
question. and answer it to the contrary,
if you can.
Do you not see how ridiculous is it to
take for Gospel truth the shameful false
hoods of these political renegades, who
feed your ignorance with such state
ments? that were particle of truth in
them, would warrant yon in manifesting
tho most unbounded distrust in those
who entertained them.
Now, as to the statement that those
who are not members of your political
household have any desire or intention
to remand you to bondage, it is almos;
too barefaced fraud to admit of treG-
ment: but. neyertheless wa will seL a