The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-23


which have bestowed an earnest atten-
ton, aud with which I have made myself
familiar. During the last session of
Congress / demonstrated from official
proofs that system of plunder has been
pursued under the protection and ap-
proval of the present Administration, by
which the entire eleven reconstructed
States of the South had been impo-
verished, and majority of them made
bankrupt. The debts and outstanding
obligations, amounting in the aggregate
to at least $500. 900, 900. have been fast
ened by official thieves ou tho taxpayers
OF that blighted region, for the purpose
OF aiding III this wholesale robbery by
reducing the Southern people to silence
aud submission. While it was going on
it has been falsely assumed that they
were in lawless frame Of mind, and
must be placed under laws as despotio
and Infamous as an Austrian edict against
Hungary in 1849, or British Act of
Parliament against Ireland in the last
century. The true policy of the bandits
prevails from Virginia to Texas. Wher-
ever the touch Of this Administration
and it's followers has been felt, it has been
the money Of the people, or their lives
and Liberties, and, in majority of the
States, both. They have not only had
their substance eaten out by adventurous
scoundrels, but they have been deprived
in their own persons OF every American
right. Their property is not at the
mercy OF these vagabonds, but under
the legislation, of the past few years.
any husband or father, wife or mother,
son or daughter in the entire South,
could be consigned indefinitely to prison
on the mere suspicion of any brutal or
depraved spy, whether white or black,
there to lie. without hope of speedy
trial or release on bail, until those who
had deprived them of the benefit Of the
writ of hd6cds corpus either turned
them out or packed jury for their con-
viction.
When recall and dwell upon these
appalling crimes against liberty and
against common rights of humanity, 1
cant wonder ut the strong and bitter cry
which comes up from the South for any
body to defeat the reelection of the very
man who has inspired them, regarded
them with grim and heartless satisfac-
ton, and in many instances committed
them himself. The man who is drown.
ing, or who sees his wife and children
perlshing in flames, must not be censured
for adopting any method, not criminal
in itself, by which to save himself or nll
that is dear to him. I have, therefore,
listened with perfect patience to the
voice of the South in this crisis, know
ing, as do, her extreme and immediate
necessities. Her urgent appeal for the
nomination of Mr.. Greeley has been re.
garded by her friends in the North as the
last despairing cry OF brave and noble
people. reduced to hopeless extremity,
beholding, as they think, one more
chance to save themselves from ruin
infinitely worse than death. I fervently
pray God that this hope may be real
lied, and many Northern man will
suspend his differences with Mr.. Greeley
on account Of the people OF the South,
who would not do 30 on his own. They
believe the election of Mr.. Greeley will
afford them relief. and in that belief
they have demanded his nomination.
1t has been accorded more in Difference
to their condition and their wishes than
to any one cause. If Mr.. Greeley. under
these circumstances, should be elected,
he will stand pledged by the strongest
obligations that ever rested upon nn
honorable man to bestow upon the South
the blessings of just, kind and frater-
uoi PoAASJ "a IL u6 OlQ QOL
do 30. after the confidence reposed in
him by that section, he would be
accursed among men. Let us hope,
however, with our brethren in the
South, that the experiment may be q
complete success, that his election may
Danish mis-rule and plunder from their
midst, restore peace in reality as we'll as
name, bring back cheerful and oon-
tented devotion to the laws of the coun-
try, and pride in the flag which affords
an equal protection to all citizens. Let
us hope that the deadly paralysis 80 long
utlicting the South and destroying her
vast producing energies may speedily be
succeeded by perfect health and vigor.
If our Government is to be restored to
it's national proportions and strength,
our States must be as free in one section
as in the others; we must have no line
where freedom is halted by the bayonet
on American soil; and when all are
treated alike by the Government, they
will all bear to it the same allegiance,
whatever may have been the bloody
struggles of the past. When this kind
of union of hearts in support of the
Government shall take place, having for
its base the principles of justice, liberty
and equality, then will this nation rise