The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-08-08
Tax Unions.

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of the State, it behooves them to unite
in solid phalan1, ''for their defence,
for the recovery OF their liberty and
the preservation Of their property"
havo said "depressed" and not de.
graded, for, though trampled under
foot, despoiled OF their substance. de-
prived of their rank and status ns citi-
zens, denied all participation in the
administration of the Government, ex-
cluded from all it's benefits, and we'll
nigh ruineh aud destroyed by horde
Of bnrbariaus, officered. directed und
impelled by band of Northern rob-
bers; though assailed by swur,n Of
vampires, who are now sucking, and
will. Gre loug. if not speedily aud
effectuAiIy checked in their ruthless
career, exhaust, their life blood, the
white people Of South Curolinu are not
yet degraded. No people are de-
graded who for the time yield to IRE.
sistible and Overwhelming force. Gene
ral Lee was not degraded under the
apple tree of Appomattox. No people
can be degraded, but by their own
default. The acts of others cuunot
degrade them without their own assist
ancc. But, though 1 say that the
! white people. the former citizens of
| the State and present owners of the
soil, are not yet degraded, the time lis
at Land when, unless they are alive to
the peril OF their position and alert in
the exercise Of the means Of preserva.
ton and rescue. they will become not
only ruined but u degraded people,
Overcome by superior force, placed
under military rule, compelled to yield
assent to measures by which they were
deprived OF all power and influence in
the State, it was but the part of wisdom
and prudence to await quietly aud
reason nnd Of justice could be beard
and the influence of wisdom and right
| be felt. That time has now arrived
The rottenness and corruption of the
present misnamed State Government
has excited the disgust Of the civilized
world against our base oppressors anG
enlisted its sympathy in our behalf.
We have no longer cause to apprehend
the employment of Federal bayonets
to frustrate any just aud proper course
of action which We mny devise for our
protection; and advise no other
course. But I shall be- asked what
course I would suggest. what measures
of deliverance 1 would advise. My
answer is, that all I have to suggest or
to advise is comprised in the single
word. union. Why should Uuiuu
Leagues and I. 0. U. B. Societies be
formed against US? Why should the
whole Radical party in the State be
banded together for our destruction,
and we form no union for our defence,
for our preservation, for the proteo-
tion OF all that makes life dear-nay,
for the protection of life itself?
The lax Unions now in progress of
formation, if thoroughly aud Ell.
cieutly established, and wisely and
energetically employed, canuot fail to
work out our deliverance from bondage
aud ruin. We are a minority in the
State, it is true; but we are large mi,
nority, the intelligence and virtue Of
the State is in our ranks; and as yet
we are the possessors of the soil. Our
influence, If nnitedly and energeti-
oaily eXsrted. would be felt for good
III fact, we must. if we are wise, exert
a controlling influence. But there
must be no half measures, no merely
nominal union. We must unite, heart
aud soul, in this work of redemption.
Let every ax-payer. every man IN the
State who has the well-being of the
State at heart, join the Unious; let
every member of every subordinate
Union in the State attend every
meeting OF his Union, with the hearty
desire and the earnest purpose to push
its objects to successful issue; let
every subordinate Union send dele
gates to its County Union; let every
County Union send delegates to the
State Union; let the Stale Union do
it's duty; lot every member of every
Union, as for life, sustain the action
of the Stato Union, and our deliver
ance is accomplished. We appeal to
the Government Of the United State;
we appeal to every civilized govern.
ment OH earth; we appeal to every hu-
man being who loves right and hates
wrong, not for material aid. but for
that sympathy which civilization and
humanity owe to the wrongfully op.
pressed. We can, without doing any
wrong ourselves. redress our own
wrongs, if only we have the sympathy
and kindly regard Of those whose sym
pathy is worthy our acceptance.
We confidently appeal to the tax.
payers OF the State, with the assurance
that every member OF the Tax Unions