The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-03-12
COLUMBIA. s.. c.
W dnesday Morning, Mlonriane2 March IL. 1873.

Wednesday ShsfaiaiS hsorinaiSs. March IL. 1873.
wn@ afAt' oelanbi.{ I s.ss.ssi n.
We have taken second look into the
pamphlet published BY the counsel for
the claimants before the mixed Com
mission on British and American Claims"
in Washington, in which the importance
Of the gu estion Of who burnt Columbia
represented to>the people OF the South.
in the tcatimony of the two leading Of
aoers of the United States as it relates
to this question. and in extracts from
depodftiops for,the claimants. The OBJ.
jed'is that the people shall see that the
mstteE is not Insignificant. It CONCERNS
their honor aud possibly thsir interests.
and eiteonoerns' truth and justice. As
far as in them les, they should oontri.
butte their aid to settle it. No doubt.
much valuable information may still be
brought forward. It is certainly desira-
BILE that il shouM be done. We think
that we see double utility in it. Our
people. who know how things were here,
who know the guilt OF Gen. Sherman
and hit tHsoldsers to be indisputable, do
not fully realize how prone the judg-
ments Of mon. are to; side with the vic
tors in any contest. It is the upper dog
ia the fght who gets the most cheering.
Sherman and his people deny the delibe-
rate burning of the town; and although
their own statements and denials, read
as we know how to read them, are almost
sufficient to convict them OF the crime
which they are evidently appreheasiye
will be fixed on them, we must remember
that they will appear in different light
in communities which admire the mill :;
tary conduct OF Sherman, and who. re-
garding him q great General, are nnwill-
Ing to credit charges against his human
ity and truthfulness. The facts should
all be brought out with the greatest pos
sible fullpess. Let MS have blaze of
light, in which the falsehoods, prevarica-
tions, suppreasions and eyasions Of Ho-
ward and Sherman shall be made, mani
&es TO all the world. as they are to our
shtyes already: Il ~ II i Il
It may suit General Sherman, WELD
ing ting. baton of power, and basking in
the smiles of governmental and popular
favor, while, as we hare no doubt, smart-
ing, at the same time under the charges
which bic aoonsofodsn6aa tells him are
true, to say that he "would not. on the
mere say 30, or even the oath of any per-
son in Columbia that night, when he
would state that he saw FIRE kindled in
house; or in shed, whereby it spread
to the adjoining property, he would not
believe it, unless it were confirmed by
some Of my (his) own people." Such
inoredulity may be popular to-day. but
time will come when the truth will be
regarded. As it rolls on and facts be-
come settled, they will be separated from
such prejudiocs as cloud them now, and
relieved from suoh- clogs as Sherman
would impose on them. The question is
a wide and open one. General Sherman
may influence it to just extent, but,
thank Heaven, he Annot absolutely de-
termine it. All who have any positive
knowledge OF the events of the dread full
nightof February II. 1865. in Columbia,
should come forward and aid to eluci-
date the question. They should do 80
as men who are able to further the ends
of justice, by throwing the light of their
information, OF their knowledge of facts,
upon u disputed point, destined to have
historic value.
We suggest, further, that such testi-
mony may become of value in another
point of view. Hate. prejudice and in
justice cannot last always. The time
will come when, preiudices having faded
away, better feeling will re-appear, and
the long-banishod sense of right and
justice to the South shall return again.
Time will be friend of those who,
having suffered wrong, yet remain true
to duty, and who, maintaining their in:
tegrity. commit their vindication into
J., IN ho~ L.