The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-05-13
COLUMBIA, S. c..
Wednesday Morning, May is. 1874.
Ths Un.vrltscn Law.

written. It is more powerful than all
codes. It springs from the conscience,
and it only has power to bind the con-
soieuoe. Enactments may be wise
they may be we'll adapted to the genius
of people; but their object is mainly
to restrain. to operate as cheek on
passion and evil propensity. But the
law written in the heart has different
and nobler Office. It acts on the bet
ter side of our nature, keeping it up TO
an ideal standard. When its force is
dulled in m individual, he loses tone.
the moral perceptions become blunted i,
aud what is called. character begins to
wane. The man who is not law unto
himself, who requires the hangman's
rope end it's representative. the penal
Law, to keep him in order, can accom-
plish no good in the world. The emo
tions Of gratitude, the inspiration Of
duty, the love Of country, q reverence
for truth, are all strange to him. When
he is gone, he is not missed from the
current of the higher influences of life.
Having done, said and thought nothing
that should place him above tho plane
OF a merely sensual and animal exist.
ence, he passes to eternity, leaving
scarcely a ripple Of memory in the
minds Of men.
There are eras in tho history of peo-
pies when the conscieuceless man
comes forth to exercise temporary,
but baleful, sway. We entered upon
that era in this country when the bar
~1fezs of justice. as between it's sections,
were broken down. Once the bull
warks of honor were overthrown, and
the instinct Of refined feeling, which,
from self-respect, learns to respect
Others and consecrates the Scriptural
injunction to do as you would be done
by, was transmitted into so-called
higher law and made aggressive upon
svacred rights, the tide of immortality
poured over the land and swept away
all its ancient landmarks. We need
not trace its disastrous flow or point to
its consequences Of war, famine, degra-
dation and misgovernment. The vials
OF wrath have been poured out, aud
ne see to-day 'noisome and grievous
sore" fixed upon the vitnls of the
country. In great measure, the
sense of responsibility, other than
what is merely technical and formal, is
lost. Those who, in positions Of
power, thought it smart to tamper
with truth. and, as they phrased it. 10
''camp outside OF the Constitution,
did not consider that in parting with
necessary restraints they were aban.
doning oil idea of obligation, popular
izing looseness of thought about duty,
and opening the food gates Of corrup-
ton and ruin.
The prevarications which, in WISH
ington, have met the remonstrances Of
the conservative people of South Caro-
lima against the evils which oppress
them, are suoh as could not have been
uttered unless degradation had first
been installed in place and power.
Gen. Grant may be popular now; he
may cherish hopeS of being elected
President for the third term; he may,
indeed, be elected, and pteans may
again be sung in his praise. but ho-
norable men Of all ages will recognize
a shameful moral obtuseness, as we'll
as disregard Of those sweet small
courtesies which grace station. in the
coarse reception given to gentlemen
who, asking nothing for themselves,
went only to represent the wrongs Of u
whole people, and to ask the Presidents
good Offices in having them properly
considered. The kindness extended,
on the other hand. 10 the Whi.temore
delegation. the ready crcdeDce accord
ed to their false statements, showed
where his sympathies were, and a
notifying lack of that nice discern
ment which it is q disgrace not to have
as an instinct.
Our poor tortured State, ruled by un