The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-16

OF years OF labor and of war and blood.
shed. Well, if the Northern States pro-
claimed and secured your freedom. with
out the aid or desire of the Southern
States, how can the latter remand you to
slavery, without the aid or desire OF the
North? Then, if the Northern States,
or the part of the country that fought
for the preservation Of the Union, de-
sired to place you back in slavery, why
could they not do that without the voice
of the South as well US give you civil and
political liberty? Bring the matter
down to our own State. Here you are
in an overwhelming majority. You have
the right to vote upon all questions sui
mitted to the people; therefore, what is
to prevent your defeating any measure,
at the ballot-bo1, which is intended to
infringe upon your rights? The idea is
too prepostcroas to admit of further dis
cussion.
We are addressing ourselves directly
to the colored people of this State, and
have few more wholesome truths to tell
them. You have among you many in
telligent men, who can aud do read and
study for themselves; but the most of
you are ignorant. You listen to what is
said by those who have your willing ear.
The black or white man who tells you
such stuff as we have referred to above,
does it that he may secure your vote.
Where is the carpet-bagger or scalawag
in the State who has not been before you
for your suffrages? They want your
vote and the Office. They are kind to
you on the eve of elections; they may
do you "a good turn" "a small one,) J
when they are running for Office; but
when the electoral battle is over, they
have secured the victory and the plum
der, and you are left the glory of placing
an unfit person in Office. You see the
men whom you have placed in power
rolling in ill-gotten wealth. and they are
crying out to you to give them San
other two years of good stealing" You
have it in your power to do so or not.
They may say their wealth has been
accumulated by legitimate means. Then,
why have the State officials in former
days retired from Office without one
dollar more than they had at their install.
ment? Because they we're honest men,
and served the State for the public
good, and not for speculation and plum
der. Why has the State debt been
more than quadrupled in the last four
years? Because dishonest and corrupt
men have been at the head Of affairs.
Why are your own leaders now crying
Justify for honesty and reform? Be-
cause they know that thieves and scoun-
drels have held the Offices and plum
dered the State. There they are, in
your own party; OF your own choice; you
placed them there; you gave them the
opportunity to rob; and now they come
before you, and say that this stealing has
been going on; they boldly confront
you and proclaim their venality; and
these same scoundrels cry out for reform
tell you the men you elected to Office at
the last general election have proven to be
villains and thieves. And who are those
men? Why, there they stand before
you; it is they who are addressing you
at your political gatherings; there they
stand-confessed and self-c onvicted ori-
minals proclaiming to your very teeth
their corruption. fraud and theft. And
what do they propose? They have
adopted the watchword of honest me1,
and demand reform and honesty; and
demand that it shall be accomplished
by giving them another lease of power!
''Oh, shame! where ia thy blusA?"
Would any Of you, colored citizens,
expect penitentiary convicts to establish
a code of morals for the guidance of
yourselves and your families? Just as
soon might you expect these self-con-
demned thieves to work q reform in the
State administration. If dollar should
be in the Treasury on the day OF cleo
ton, and you re.elect them, the next
do ill Iou hoo