The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-05

ED.TIt would seem, from tho deliberate
manner with which the arresting Of citi-
Gems commenced and is being persisted
~, that another reign Of. terror in this
County has been attempted. It ia
painful fact to rsai;so that the strong
arm of the Government should be used
tbus-that the very power which ought
TO protect it's people, lends it's aid to
such diabohcal tyranny. Where or when
THIS thing of. harassing and torturing in.
aocent citia9ne. to gsatifythe whims and
caprtoas OF a few, will end, no one osn
! tell. - There seems to beR kind of per-
| sonal spleen, the bitterest animosities, to
CRAFTY. The smallest pefsonRl dislike or
the 20 oseItriyial. quarrel is smaguihed into
| grave ofsnce against the United States,
and the unfortunate victim is thrown
Into: prison.: The thirst for revenge
seems unsuitable. The instigators ef. this
tyranny and the partieipators in the
sanre appear to take fendash delight in
the torture they are infiicting. We say
how an officer may ba called upon to
perform an unpleasant duty, but that
duty may be performed in tenderness
at all events, in decenoy; bat rudenesa
in language and violence in breaking
looks and forcing doors is disgracefnl
alike to the officer who ;ndulges in such
conduct and to the Government he rep
| resente. Such conduct. we learn from
good authority, has characterized some
OF the arrests recently made in this
County.
We have little hope that an thing we
might say could cause those who IRE
prompting and encouraging this oppres-
slon 10 pause In the exercise Of their un-
natural pleasure, yet while we are per
United (uo knowing how long) to enjoy
the pnre air of freedom, nnd the priv.
lege OF free speech, we feel oonetrained,
as an humble advocate of right and u
suppliant for justice, to enter our pro.
test against such procedures as those
under consideration. Justice is all we
want, justice we have birth. right to-
and that justice we demand. II there
be those In our midst that are guilty OF
crime, we say punish them. We would
not screen the perpetrator OF any deed,
be the crime high or low; bnt for the
sake OF justice and humanity, by all that
is sacred, Let the guilt be established by
truthful testimony; not by hired dupes
and scape; ;gsllows. who, guilty them
selves, lend their periured aid in the un-
just condemnation OF the innocent; not
by hirelihgs' who would turn States evil
dence. and swear faisely in order, posi-
bly,, to save their own guilty necks.
1t Is fact too patent to be- successfully
controverted, that the arresting now 60
ing on iPF for four-fold purpose: First,
for political effect; second, the venting
of personal hatrea-the pnuriug out of
pent-up spleen against certain indlvidn-
ais. lof whom the number seems not a
tew1 third. to create general stampede;
fourth, to let It be seen and felt that u
mighty poWer-the strong arm OF the
Government itself-can be called to the
aid, Tor rather to do the dirty work, of Il
revengcful spirit, and deal out the
poisonous wrath til, T. turks in the
bosoms Of few unmanly, nnsorupulous,
OF snail wo ssy co war,iiy, peraons whu
fancy that they have been i'll used. II
they hope by huoh tyranny to force tile
Innocent into Is can aud bringing sub.
mission to their nefarious desiens-to
e1tort false co1fsssiuns and crlmiua.
tions. they mistake the spirit of proud
aud honorable though so-ely oppressed
people. They for onGe have reckoned
without their host
The ring.leaders of this oppression la
Dor under another delnsion, equally
7aiI. il they nope for general STAN
pede. a few may 'hide out" but we
believe our citizens. with perhaps few
exceptions;, understand the game, and
conscious OF their innocence,, and feeling
thereby securely armed in moral sense,
are Fesolved to stand their ground, aud
risk the consequences. Gliding out" or
"dodging," however, we will hure nuke
the dlgression to rematk, is not the
slightest evidence OF guilt No man now,
be his condition or calling what it may,
young or DID, is safe from arrest. Like
the rapacious blood. hound. our oppress.
ors have the scent of human gore, and
under the meckery OF law, coupled with
"lust of lucre, they would cease their
pursuit only when the victim is d..
voured, pecuniarily and bodily, could
they consummute their own wicked Wills
to such cowardly ends. Aye, Guild tue,
carry out their bnrbarous schemes an eh..y
seem inclined. nothing short Of "'j:ryian
justice" would satisfy them. But, tha.ks
to lingering justice. harsh US the laws
may appear, and difficult ns it may oe to
get justice In the courts, they huvu Tot
that power.
The leaders in this oppression know
not what they do. Their cruelty Will
one day rscoll upon their own heads.
They nre working out their own damna-
tim i'm, tI,iu = a.