The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-07-31
COLUMBIA, S. c..
Friday Morning. July 81, 1874.

Friday M0r1inEs July 81, 1874.
"A Glance Back-what Supports tho
State Government.
In November, 1865, General Grant,
under instructions from President
johnson and the Secretary of War,
made tour Of inspection through
some of the Southern States. He had
two objects in view. Que was to ascer-
tain what changes were necessary in
the disposition Of the military forces,
how they could be reduced and the e1-
penses attending their maintenance
here be ourtailed, and to learn and re-.
port upon the feelings aud intentions
OF the citizens as regards the General
Government. Towards the close of
December. he made his report. Touch
ing the last mentioned point. he said
shat the mass OF the thinking men of
tho South accepted the situation Of
affairs in good faith. He thought it
unadvisable to retain black troops, as
their presence and advice tended to
demoralize labor. He was evidently
OF the opinion then that the stay of
the forces would be bat for short
time. "My observations, he said,
''lead me to the conclusion that the
citizens Of the Southern States are
anxious to return to self-government
within the Union as soon as possible;
that a0hils reconstruciing, they want and
require protection from the Govern
ment; that they are in earnest in wish
ing to do what they think is required
by the Government, not humiliatinR
to,them as citizens, aud that, If such q
course were pointed out, they would
pursue it in good faith" An intelli-
gent Republican writer. in comment
ing upon this letter in it's application
to South Carolina, says that "there
never has been any reason" since it
was written ''to show that any modi6-
cation Of it's judgment is required to
express the facts of the situation from
THAT time to this" Early in 1868. the
State Constitution of South Carolina
was adopted. We have had three
successive Legislatures and three
terms OF Governor, in the six
years which have passed since tho
government was formed. We are
entitled to conclude. from General
Grants report, that it was then e1-
peoted the troops would be Withdrawn
30 soon as this MAS dole, aud thei.
protection no longer needed in the
process of reconstruction. Their con-
tinned presence here. nearly nine
years since Gen. Grants report and
more than four years since the adop-
tion of the Constitution and the inau-
guration OF regular government, has
compelled President Grant to come
forward with an explanation. The ne
eessity for this was rendered the more
imperative from the information COM
munioased to him by Senator Robert
son, that the mass OF the people in the
State. black and white, all believe that
the troops s:e Kept here for the puT-
pose OF protesting the State Govern
ment. This statement he took pains to
correct, saying that they are retained
only for the purpose Of enforcing the
laws OF the General Government.
"s ha76 lad our say upon this sub.
jeot more than once, and shall not re-
peat It to-day. II We could view it as
matter of taste, as to the music OF
the band, OF benefit to our merchants
from certain amount Of expenditure.
and of good fellowship with the Of
Acers. We should be strenuous in urg-
ing upon the President never to re-
move the troops. They are orna.
mental, and they are in certain sense
even usefnl, to the extent, at least.
that they spend money hero. The
music floats pleasantly on the breeze.
We should undoubtedly miss the
troops, il they should be called away.
In bald country town like this, they
contribute something to the sources of
amusement. They are very good fel.