The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-29
Ge)LU.MlllBlI9.Il1A: s. g.
Sunday Morning. March %, 1874.
NThe ..Ta9.Payers in WnshIuston.l

Tho gentlemen composing the delega
tion from the Tax.Payera' Convention
. A;==e had a satisfactory audience with
the President. He was kind enough tc
express his sympathy with the people. o,
South Carolina, and deplored the CON
dition Of affairs as no less unhappy here
chan in Louisiana. AS was eto have
fbeeR expected, the President sees nc
direct action that either he or Congress
can take to remove the evils which
af3lict us. He has to keap within certain
official bounds, and to regard the peou.
1iaritiea OF the public opinion which will
counsel interference id State affairs in
ono set Of circumstances and forbid ii
in another. We have reason to feel
some satisfaction that our case is getting
fairly before the court OF the great pub.
'lic opinion of the country. and is, to a
reasonable extent, appreciated in the
Cabinet and in official quarters in Wash.
ington. Interest in il will increase the
moreSfully It becomes known. It can
not be dismissed with bow and a
smile. But it will take time for the
struth to make it's way. It will take time
sto1have it demonstrated that the ques-
fions which seem only to concern South
Carolina, the suffsrings which pecu-
-saiarly oppress her, are questions which
q oescern the whole family of States. are
: snferi1gs to which each may be liable
: in tnin.. Our people must be patient.
I. Immediate results OF relief in such a
>tapglaRs swe,nre in, it is not wise to cx.
pect. ,1ilsfs 9
We find some encouragement from
- the language OF the President, that '.the
matter is one which rests. entirely with
the people, in the thought that he is
revolving athe dvantages which must
resalt.bdk them from their untrammeled
If the solution Of our troubles
must be worked out by ourselves. if the
executive and the legislative depart
.mentsiof the Government have no war
,rant to interpose in our affairs. then let
.us have a fair field and relieve us from
1.-The presence and pressure OF military
power. As We have often said. the
stroops are in no way offensive to our
people. Personally. they are welcome,
officers and men. Nothing of a disa-
.&reeable character marks the relations
swbish they have with our citizens.
E3us while they look with proper respect
Ito the fag as it floats in the breeze, and
would gladly recognize its mission a.
the country's symbol of power and pro-
lection to the weak and oppr essed, they
cannot but grieve that here it is diverted
from its true object. The minions OF a
.despicable and rotten State Govern
sment, the robber bands who consume
our substance, as they look mp at that
flag, smile as they feel that it protects
them in their plunder and encourages
them in their insolenos. Think You
TINT Acts OF the Legislature would be
stolen by officials 30 as to defeat the
peoples will-think you that bribery
and corruption would Haunt their ban
vners in the face OF honest men-think
yon that the whole machinery Of State
Government would continue mass of
pntreiaction. il thereswas not something,
some artificial support, upon which vii
-&siay leans and by which it holsters
itselff That something is the power of
the United States Government. Re-
move H., and things will adjust them
selves Alright. Villains will flee, o. 20
down to their proper level. Confidence
in honest and capable men will revive.
The interests of races and classes, that
are now made to conflict, will become
reconciled. Remove the pressure which
keeps the people under the heel of vul-
gar tyrants, aud makes merchandise OF
their dearest interests and most sacred
rights. It is not consistent to say that
State is 80 sovereign that no interpo-
sition can be made, for her relief, and at
the samo time to keep her bound hand
and foot, while rascals consume her
substance and trample the life blood out
of her. AS the matter rests entirely
with the people, leave it to them, and