The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-02-20
'DemoUratse CoHgressmeu Address emo
,,e - People Of vta G6uth.


DenaoUFatse 'Cosgressmeu Address eho
|,,t - People Of vtla G6ash.
WAsHFSaToN, February l8..-The
following address hss jass been pre-
pared by the Democratic members Of
the South end South@west: ssh . a1s
10 THn PEoPLE OF THE SoUTHERN
STATEa:. ,You have confided to the
undersigned in this coniaucture OF
affairs the delicate and difficult task of
guarding in the Federal Congress your
public interest, your rights and reputa-
ton. You will, therefore, pardon the
liberty We take Of addressing you at
period 30 critical upon a matter affect
ing your destiny and that Of yonr
posterity. You cannot have failed to
observe the persistent Efforts Of some
OF the leaders OF the Republican party
to revive the nuimosities Of the late
war. which. happily, are fast giving
place to spirit of concord and unity
In every section of our common
country. 1t ie impossible to predict
certainly the effect of these appeals To
passion. We believe that through the
honest representation of few upright
and conscientious Federal officers aud
agents, an independent and able pub
lic press, and of many citizens without
regard to party. the true condition of
the Southern States and the real senti.
ment OF the Southern people are being
gradually made known to our fellow.
citizens OF the North. We hope for
their favorable decision whom fully
spprised of the facts. The great
ends of good government will be
reached when the people of all Sec
tions forget that we have ever been
enemies, and come together again AZ
in the early days OF the Republic.
emulating each other only in deviation
to the best interest of the whole
country. With this exalted purpose
in view there is nothing inconsistent
with the honor aud manhood OF
brave people to resolve to suffer with
heroic patience whatever be their pro.
vocations and wrongs, looking through
the fearful present to hopeful future
and repelling uni uss epithets and
gratuitous insults with dignified mod
GRAFTON. Let every white man in
every heighborhood in the whole
South regard himself as commits.
sioner of peace, maintaining the kind
liest relations toward the black man;
remembering that the responsibility
for the extreme poverty to which We
have been reduced, and the corrupt
governments to which his vote has
subjected US, rests not 80 much upon
him as upon the bad men who wish
tho assurance of Federal support and
have by appeals to his worst passion,
sought to make him our enemy.
While Wa labor by all honest means
to convince him of the truth that our
interest, aud his are identical, and
that both must be- preserved by
good government, aud that those
who stir up strife between US are
the enemies Of both raoes, let us, at
the same time that he is fully protect
ed In his guaranteed rights to vote as
he pleases in all elections, continue to
deal with him honestly and fairly, and
let us oontinue cordially to invite to
our midst those Of any political party
who either seek to know the truth or
not exsggerate when we admonish you
of the disheartening fnct, that every
street disturbance, every homicide of
whatever character, by whomsoever
committed, by black or white, Repub-
lican or Democrat-such as are moi
dents to osery community-esch is
perverted into evidence of q spirit of
lawlessness and violence, and pur-
pose to accomplish political ends We
we'll know the gross injustice OF such
charges, which have weight only where
ignorance Of our true condition pre-
walls. Strenuous efforts are now being
made by those who misrepresent yon,
to induce the passage by Congress of
the most dangerous measures. ID order
to irritate our people. to drive them to
despair. and to provoke them to vio-
lent outbreaks, in order to furnish al
excuse for applying for military inter
ference. We express the hope that Il
mujority of the present Congress will
not be found ready to sanction such
legislation. II it be accomplished, it
would be against the protest, not only
OF the Democrats. but of the moral
worth and the statesmanship here of
the party in power. and of such Re-
pnblicans as Bryant, Evarts, Charles
Francis Adams. and others, whose pa.
triotism and sense OF justice are known
to the entire country. We may, how
ever, be mistaken, and the most OK.
treme, oppressi ve and unconstitutional
measures may be imposed upon you.
In suoh an event. we would appeal to
khQ uSq0nns md nokriot;oc, - 1o--