The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-08

thinS5 IL, however. now Upon nE, and
we must do the best we can under The
:ii icn,nslnEces; and we hnre that the
better class iu the South, of AL p,ltirs.
nutivc-born and those Of the Norh,
Will all unite in the election. nut only
Of honest. but of educated and o,lnli
lied persons to the varinus utli1iml 10
sltlons among them, and thus right
the terrible wrongs aud abuses which
oppress them aud cat ont their sub
stance.
You Knew Your Duty una YIN Did
II Not.
MIR EDITOR: Tie Umion- Herald pnts
III the Plea OF confession aud avoid
ance" to the allegations Of crim.
against the Radicals Of South Caro-
lluu Great heaven! who ever heard
OF such plea on the criminal side Of
the Cour,? In civil action, man
may confess and avoid. II promised,
to be sure, but you cheated m. into
the PROMISE. Such plea the negroes
OF the State might put in, if charged
with not fulfilling their promise to
support the curpet-baggers and sca!n.
wags-'you promised mo forty acres
and mule for my vote; you have given
me neither" This would be u good
plea in confession and avoidance. But
to un allegation of c1ime-u charge OF
larcsny-the plea is equivalent to u
plea Of guilty. with an appeal for
mercy. Well. VIC accept the plea,
otherwise the confession of guilt, and
ure ready to forgive, If they bring
forth fruit meet for repentance. Let
them show their repentance by making
restituti D, not rs Z lccheus did, but
TO the best IF their ability; or, if they
cannot restore, let them ut least, like
the woman taken In adultery, Ego and
sin no more"
But this is not these peoples idea OF
repeutunce-nO Illumination, no dust
and ashes for them. They acknow-
ledge their crimes. they confess the
ruin they have brought upon the State,
and they uAli in retuin Tor their con
fession, not forgiuness, but-O ten,
poru-reward. I'VE confess our guilt.
now show your forgiveness by putting
us again IN the high places Of power,
by alordinG ns another opportunity
to steal some more" Strange, indeed,
IS the Radical idea OF morality in
South Carolinn 4 confession of guilt
not Only supcrseles the Necessity of
restitution. but is an insnperablc cuim
to trust aud confidence on the part of
those who huve been chcated, robbed,
despolled Of their substance.
But there il another phase uf R4di
cal morals exhibited in Mr. Climber
lnin's defence, or rather in Mr.. Chum.
bcllain's aemnnd to be pnt ut the head
of the Stnte: cit is true, [ was a mem
Der OF every roguish commission aud
committee; l was coguiz mt, or might
have been cognizant, of every act Of
rascal robbery. it is true, but did not
actively engage III any OF those acts;
did not force open tho door; / did not
put my hand into the treasury. Lam
80 much less guilty than the rest, that
my guilt is in comparison innocence-
nay. is entitled TO the highest rewards
which despoiled people can confer on
exalted virtue" Oh! Mr.. Chumber.
inin, you know better. Or do you
Perhaps not. QuoS 0eus rM ,,ertlere
pri"S asmentM. The highest intelli
gence Is often obfuscAted by de.
pruved soul. Know this, that III the
court OF conscience, there arc not
those degrees which can be recognized
IN court OF law. A petty larcener is
thief, nll the Same as Il bighwaymun or
burglar. 4 breach of trust is an
h'gh-yea, rather. higher crime
thnn actual theft.
will not insult your intelligence by
supposing that you did know your
duty. No; you knew your duty and
your defence-nay. your Justification
Of yourself is, that you only did it not
Ii this Is your view Of morality, OF
virtue, Of worth to bs landed aud re-
warded, God help you'll
CAED.-So. POI EAST BAY, CHARLES.
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