The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-15
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Sunday Morning. March 10. 1874.
The Signing OF the Emancipation Pro,
Clamntion.

clamation.
A noticeable debate sprang up at the
evening session Of the Senate on Friday
last, upon occasion Of the introduction
OF concurrent resolution, by Mr..
Whittemore, to authorize the joint COM
mittee, to which was committed the
duty Of preparing suitable resolutions
commemorative of Hon. Charles Sum
ner, to procure for the Senate Chamber
and the House of Representatives. two
historic paintings each, one represent
ing President Lincoln in the act Of
signing the proclamation Of emancipa-
tion; the other, representing Senator
Sumner in the act of presenting his
Civil Rights bill in the Senate. The
object professed to be sought WIS that
future legislators might emulate the
virtue of these great men "by behold.
ing their likenesses." $1,000 was the
sum named as sufficient for the .pur-
chase. The resolutions, which had
been prepared in honor of the deceased
Senator, wero pissed unanimously.
That was appropriate. The special in
tereet felt in the matter, by the colored
members particularly, was respected by
the Conservative members present. No
objection was made, mono was felt.
But the next step was not so easy to
take. In the frat place, the committee
hod not been charged with the task of
bringing in any resolution Of the kind.
It was purely voluntary on their part.
It embraced new matter, and was Of
questionable fc!icgy. Every good nan
desires to bury all painful remembrance
Of the war between the States out of
view. Senator Sumner himself was, of
late years, one of The mos. earnest ad-
vocates of banishing everything culcu-
lated to keep alive sectional feeling or
wound lingering sensihjlities. His pro-
position TO erase from the battle flags
the, inscriptions which commemorated
battles in which the Federal armies were
successful, is sufficient evidence of his
feeling. He incurred the censures Of
the Massachusetts, Legislature for it.
Only few days ago. just in time to
soothe him on his bed of death, was
this action reversed and comm unicated
to him. The committee, or Mr.. Whit
temore, had no warrant in his example
for the Introduction of MEASURE whose
only effect can be to perpetuate the feel
ing of strife, aud to make the two
classee, whose representatives in the
General Assembly will look upon these
significant portraits. feel that they are
still estranged from each other.
African slavery is dead, and we are
under no necessity or obligation to dis
euss =. =. -, .--..:c- -.-.. rhn ""nt"sta which
it engendered in the fold of debate aud
on the fields of battle. are, hnppily,
things of the past. The relntive de-
grees of wrong connected with it's in
PRODUCTION and spread, we may safely
leave 10 history. So we may say OF the
Incidental advantages or disadvantages
which have sprung from it to the
African race. These are curious aud
interesting questions, worthy of tho
consideration Of thinking mon, but un.
necessary and unwise to be thrust into,
and Mingled with. the legislation of
State. We eau but condemn the pur-
pose Of Mr.. Whittemorc and those who
sustained him, in the passuge of q reso.
luton, which, if carried out, will tend
to foment disngreement5 and produce
alienation OF races. In Mr.. Lincoln's
inaugural address, he reiterated de.
claration which he had formerly made,
that he had no purpose, directly or in
directly. to interfere with slavery in
the States where it then existed. IT
believe" he said, Il have no lawful
right, and have no intention to do SO. I"
When demonstrated with by Mr.. Gree
ley. and urged to proclaim tho slaves
free. he declared that his paramount
object was not either to save or destroy
slavery. He regarded it as IL ''minor
matter" lie promulgated "scheme
Of emancipation with compensation in
the border Statos." In March, May and