The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-06-26
VIEWS OF Ex.GovEnNoa MAcnArH

ON THE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS IN SOUTH
CARoL1NA.-:A correspondent OF the
NeF York Times says:
No greater> error could be committed
! than by supposing that the white ele-
ment OF the State could have succeed
ed In incorporating itself with the me-
Sroes after tho war, or that the same
Influence could be obtained over them
! which was now go ruiuously exercised
by the Northern settlers. Taking
into consideration the difficulty of two
races in On instant becoming political
| equals, after the relation Of master aud
slave had existed between them for
generations, it was Idle to suppose
that In the course Of few hours the
habits of life aud modes of thought
which had been cherished for many
years could be brushed away and TO.
tally different views adopted. Iu fact,
1t was to expect from the natives OF
South Carolina that Of which no peo
pie in tho worlds history bad ever
been capable. But evon if this had
been otherwise, il tho white natives of
the State had at once begun to incor-
porate themselves politically with
their former slaves, it was the general
belief that the distrust of the negro
toward those who had been their
owners, would be eyen greater than it
was now. 1t should not be forgotten
that the enfrarchisement Of the negro
was the result of war; was forced
upon those by whom the blacks had
been owned. Whatever might now
be tho opinion Of negro slavery as an
abstract question, there conld of course
be no doubt that in the slave. holding
States pefore the war the people Of
those States regarded such eervitude
as necessary to their prosperity, as an
essential eiement in civilization. At
this late date, it was unnecessary to
discuss the wisdom of the views then
entertained. The fuct remained the
same. The abolition of slavery was
presented to the mind of the Southern
shareholder as the confiscation of his
property, and az affecting him in every
source Of his well-bsing. The negroes
understood this thoroughly. They
knew very we'll that the whites were
opposed to their freedom. This being
the case. tue liberated slave was not
only himself unwilling 10 come nnler
the political control of his former mas
ter, because of n fear that he might
again be placed in position Of seryi-
tude, but, in addition, these fears aud
suspicious were fermentetl mud excited
to the highest point by the adven-
turers who came into til. State after
the war; and commenced IL career Of
~ickedness and corruption which had
continued up to this time. and which
bad been successful in the past because
Of the fears which had constantly been
kept alive in the hearts Of the blacks
e was unnecessary to say that these
fears we're groundless ones.
To the question, "How can these
evils be reformed?" Gov. Magrath and
other prominent natives of the State
replied, Only by the Federal Govern
ment." The negroes of South CAro-
lima had looked to that Government,
aud TO tue American Uuion, as the
effective means by which their delivery
from slavery had been secured, and
since that time their respect for and
obedience to that Cove :nment had
been one Of the leading fruits Of their
character. This beiug the case, it was
not to be doubted that if in any dis
| saooS obu InbBiOio lOIu IL CDuiQ Ue
conveyed to their minds that the con
dition OF tbings now existing. aud
which had been brought about by
them at the command Of bad leaders,
was distasteful to the United States,
they would halt in their presen,
course and adopt any line of conduc,
that the Government might suggest.
Whatever manifestation the authorities
at Washington might feel called upon
to make, to be effective, should he
made in some practical and uumistaka
ble manner. The necessity for this
would be bniter Understood when il
was remembered that the colored peo.
pie could not read nor write; that they
would not believe what might be told
them reg .rding politics by the white
natives. aud that all their Information
was derived from leaders whose inte
rest it might be- to keep them misin
formed. The United States offic.
holders. who ware directly responsible
to the Government, wore the person.
best lifted to convey to the blacks thu
desires aud wishes of that Government
Ii honest. educated men were appoint
cd to the United States offices, nov
hlied by corrupt and ignorant politica
favorites, much good would certainly
follow. The next step would be-.
throngn these officers, to lsabnse til,
mind Of the negro Of the insane notion
TINT there Was any power on earth b,
| uhiRh ba onnI1 uyo,- IN ,.,.l,,o,l