The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-27
COLUM1sIA.S s. C.
~ ednes lay Morning, january J 81, rs
Uabridl.a License OF speeoh.

Aonday, short discussion took place
apon the bill to mako the offices OF
County Auditor and County Treasurer
vof the several Counties in this State
elective. It was reported favorably
upon by che Committee on Privileges
and Elections, and came up in the
general orders. Mr.. @. P. Leslie, of
Barawell, took the floor in opposition
TO the bill. BE did not discuss it's
provisions; he did not examine it
either in the light of principle. or
Qolioys or right. He denounced it as O
proposition to turn the State over to
the Democracy. and an act. il it should
pass. OF political suicide on the part
Of the Republican party. He did not
develop, by any argument or state.
Saent, how this would come about. He
simply rung the changes upon the dis.
estera to party which, would ensue
upon its adoption, He confined his
view steadily to this aspect of the
matter. To give the election Of these
public officers to tho people. wonld be
ITO give away the patronage. power and
money in which tho partylived, moved
and had it's being. This was narrow
and bigoted enough, one would have
Thought. But the member went Il
good deal further in another direction.
BE used all the nischievous power OF
'mis-statement and perversion of truth
and faote. in savage denunoiation OF
what he called Democracy. He ap.
:.naaled to the spirit of party. caste.
color and prejudice. He represented
the Republican party as the product of
was. bloodshed, toll, danger and sacri-
Gee. Es bic cho!se ph-ssec!ogy, it hsd
been running round the tree to keep
from being ehot. Having escaped the
'amlfet, the lash, the bayonet. Ku Klux.
srifo clubs and tax unions. it should
mot 0ow deliberately consent to a mea.
sure which would cut it's precious
throat. A;%l"F '5''
That was Mr.. Leslie's speech. inter
Rarded with the peculiar expressions
which belong to the dialect ia which
he speaks. The venerable Mr.. Beatty,
OF York, while not favoring the bill as
reported, took occasion to express his
tregret At these senseless and fierce ap.
,peals to party spirit. He came to rep
resent tho people of South Carciina,
not so fan tho Aalnes Of division and
contention between the casses OF race
or party into which they were divided.
Mr. Crittenden, of Greenville. also re-
mcnstrated against this mode of pre-
ssenting questions which concern the
.publio interest. He described the
.calm which prevailed in our political
seas. The parties which sought the
auErsges OF thopeople all proiessed q
desire for reform, retrenchment and
purer management OF affairs. In this
&hey agreed. however much they diff
.eeFed in other matters. It was upon
these terms the present Administration
came into power. The Governor had
sent in messages fully in accordance
with this view and purpose. The
Speaker OF the House, in his opening
address, had refrained from the pas
sionate partisan appeals usually deli-
~efed from that staud. Expressions Of
satisfaction, of confidence in this new
departure-if We may SO term it-had
come from all parts OF the State, and
the people appeared to be united in
the essentials of good government. In
the midst Of this universal good feel
ing, jarring most unpleasantly npon
the harmony of the General Assem-.
by, was constantly heard the one dis
.cordant note of the member from
B.ruwell, seeking to stir up strife, to
rake in the ashes of the past, and to
arouse bitter aud relentless preiudiccs.
The reader will observe the purpose
We have in view in this reference. We
are not discussing the measure itself.
We have abetained from anything like
sharpness OF comment upon the Oh.