The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-19
COLUMBIA, IS. G..
Thursday Morning. March 10. 1874.
Help NE, cassIus, or sink.

we are under many obligations tc
Senator Whittemore and those who sup
ported hil concurrent resolution, asking
Congress not to reduce the regular
army. and thereby necessitate the with
drawal of Federal troops from this
State. We are glad to have this con.
fession Of fear and apprehension of re-.
oeiving their just deserts from the peo-
pie whom they systematically plundered,
made by the legislative band, of which
Whitsemore is one Of the chiefs. Itex-
plains to all the world Why the vast pre-
ponderatiDg majority impiores the
strong arm Of The Federal Government
toprotect them. It is good thing 10
have them confess that their anxieties
and fears are aroused. It is an admis-
sion OF guilt, It is a proclamation that
they tremble for the consequences of
their crimes. This will do poor South
Carolina good in Washington. This
will open the eyes of the blind. Men
will ask, are we forever to bolster this
South Carolina iniquity? Are we to
keep up regular army there to enable
those who rule and ruin that State, to
continue their depredations under the
protecting folds of the national Gag?
Inquiry will be instituted, aud they will
discover that there is no disorder, 10
collisions among the people. and no.
thing that threatens to disturb the
public peace. The garrison aud officers,
while welcome personally, and of some
advantage to trade, accomplish nothing
IN the world in the way of promoting
order. The only effect of their pre-
sencs is to give confidence to set of
bad men, who insult the people, d.preci-
alto their character, appropriate their
property, cut of their children from the
advantages OF education, and persist
emily drag the good name of the State
into the mire of filth aud contempt.
South Carolina prays to be delivered
from thon. She bsgs to have the tax
grabbers stand before the country un-
masked and unprotected by extraneous
power. She wishes no longer the sort
of protection under which they flourish
like the green bay tree.
Remove the troops; leave the people
of all classes and conditions, who have
permanent and genuine interest in the
prosperity of the State, free to come to.
gether and strike hands once more in
the cause of honesty, just government
and economical administration of af-
fairs. There would, of course, be much
shaking and trembling Of knees. The
air would be filled with lamentations of
the receding hosts. who would be com.
PEELED to leave when tho soldiers were
withdrawn, but it would become purer
for those who remained behind. The
interests of black and white, OF native
and foreign or Northern population,
would become harmonized upon the
basis OF honesty, good lnws, broad tolo-
ration, active industry and fair field to
enterprise, vigor and thrift, from what
ever quarter they might come. AS
matter Of feeling and association, we
should be, pleased to have the troops re-
muin. But their departure is much to
be desired on public grounds. Wc Gun
never get relief from oppression and
corruption until those who inhict them
are made to feel that they must face the
consequences. That they dare not DO.
The United States Government will find
it the easiest and most practicable form
of relief which they can extend TO tie
people Of South Carolina, to leave them
to themselves. We are willing, few as
we are, to take the consequences.
Whittemore and his confrsres, many as
they ore. are not willing to take the con-
sequences. We have nothing to fear,
bnt they dread the day when they Shall
be lett i'll their nakc,lness and hlueous
ness. It will he day of account to an
outraged people. day OF terror such as
they cannot stand They will make
themselves scarce. and the mourners
over their departure will be few indeed.
Whittcmore's piteous appeal to Cnugress
to sustain the rotten artificial and urre.