The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-04-21
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Tues lay Morning. April 81. 1874.
Reform by PeaceabIo Bfeans.

The Union asserts that Gen Kershaw
used these words, in his address to the
Judiciary Committee OF Congress: "The
TaS%Psyers' Convention resolved, at it's
!ast session, to submit to it no longer
There is no other mode OF redress left
US but an appeal to force" We branded
this ss misrepresentation. The Union,
by declining to correct this, repeats it,
The report that We have seen of Gen.
:Kerskaw's remarks is different:
<'Gen. Kershaw followed on the same
side. who, after recapitulating the evils
of the present Government, said that
'the iniqnity was 30 hard to bear, so op-
pressive to the taxpayers. that 1t was
the opinion of many that there was no
resource left but forcible resistance by
che taxpayers. There was limit to
human endurance, and no one could
say, knowing all the faots, but what that
limit was at hand in South Carolina.
They had come up to Congress hoping
for the relief they had vainIy struggled
for at home. Let them have u thorough
inquiry by Congress into the wrongs
complained Of, and if nothing more
should come of it, the moral effect
would be good. The memorialists were
gong home to do their best to conciliate
public sentiment in the State, and they
trussed for all the support from Con
gress that that body could feel justified
in afording."
1t will be seen that he did not say that
anything had been resolved upon by the
x-Psyers' Convention. He did not
= coy that there is no other mode of re-
'asesS'bnt an appeal to force. His state
ments ARE essentially different from
shese. sHe .iriated at trouble as likely
to come ont of The corruption and MIC
Z Hsise prevailing here. This corruption
and its possible consequences were the
grounds upon which he based his ap.
peal to the Government for relief. He
deslse~ to anticipate and prevent colli-
'Asaa;ss of any sort. He asked at least for
thorough inquiry into the wrongs COM
!Gh1l2ed OF. urging that some good moral
effect might result from it. What good
motive can any one have for opposition
to Investigation? If the Constitution is
go peculiar since it has been tinkered
Shat under it the Government can only
Interfere in the affairs of State to pro-
duce anarchy and misso7srnmcat, but
not to remedy any evils, it surely can
ind no constitutional impediment to
:. ing ui.y which is invoked in the inte.
T"rests Of peace, and in order to secure its
moral influence for good. General
Aershaw declared, further. that the me-
moFialists would do their best upon
their return to conciliate public senti.
ment.
There is nothing revolutionary or
Questioning in all this. The Conserva-
tives are not amenable to the structures
OF the Unio" in charging upon them
readiness to resort to force and indul-
genee in threats. The militia clans are
gathering in Elgeield and other Coun-
ties. as in 1872, but the design is to
startle the rural colored mind, and make
the race rally and vote 'solid" in the
next elections. The Conservatives look
On. add decline to give them any capt.
tai. in the shape of abuse and threats
But they dc mean to make an issue with
this rotten government. They do mean
to correct some of it's abuses. They
.wiE eet submit forever to outrage. They
Will require the tax to be moderate, the.
assessments upon property to be ad ga.
!ore"s. according to the Constitution,
and the money to be expended for pub
!ic objects. and not to pamper rogues.
They call for no bogus reform. They
demand the genuine article. And they
will have it, too. If it comes through
the means OF the better class OF Repub-
licans, it will be none the less acoepta
bIe 1t is time they were showing their
hand. The job is heavy one. Those
who mean to undertake it must be NY
and doing. There must be reform in
SouM Carolina.