The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, March 23, 1866, Image 2
COLUMBIA.
Friday Morning, March 23, 1866.
Tlic Freedom of tile Pre**.
Iii all civilized Governments and
those claiming to bo free in their
principles and practice, the liberty of
thc press has been regarded as one of
the brightest stars iu the coronet of
tl int cherished goddess. Every jour- j
nal in the land which is faithful and
true to the principles of the Consti?
tution, and maintains tho laws of the
United States, has the privilege and
right to express its vie^s on the po?
li tical questions of the hour, and to
criticise the official acts of jmblic
men. It will bc a sad day for tho
country when the press shall be !
muzzled -so that it cannot point out j
the faults or misdoings of public
officials, or freely express its opinion
respecting^ all measures of public
policy affecting the weal of the Com?
monwealth or of the people of the
United States.
The editors of the South generally,
we presume, as well as ourselves,
have taken in good faith the oath of
allegiance to the Government of the
United States, and, as far as we liave
observed, like ourselves, have coun?
selled their readers and the people of
the South to the faithf ni performance
of all their obligations to that Go?
vernment, and urged upon them a
cordial support of the Administra?
tion. They know tlrat their people
have ?grounded their arms and sur?
rendered to the authority and power ?
of th J General Government in ho?
nesty ?ind they know, further, that |
the c^k^j^itweeu the two sections]
'?.??iwm I H^l by such surrender,
overthrow a l
jk has proven its
ie Union intact |
jijfiJH^Btde, ?ut belittle
laSnesstBid folly. Hence,
have said, as far as our observa
^xtends, the general tone of the
Tm jress, since the conclusion
l?ties, has been temperate in
itical t^me^loyal to the Govern?
ed fa]P Jft in its teachings
fcConsti. mm: and. laws j^^th?^
Ifideli
adherence
?which the
public founded their
^It is our intention to
istration of Presi
) **o*long as it maintains
es and r?olicy that dis tin
r^ias enunciated. It is
nnselthe people of
rn' States to stand by
y, and to maintain invio
encwed allegiance and ob
to the Unit?d States. We
nipt wilfully say ur-writc anything
Iciilated to keep up hostility of
ng between thc different sections
e country," (which is forbidden
i f?oent order from Gen. Grant;)
ad having done that, we feel we
luve clone our duty in this respect as
\f>l'?- journalists, whose wish, desire
and aim it is, to promote the best in
tejrests and prosperity of the people
of? the whole country.
?But. growing out of this lino of
net as journalists, and indeed, as
nd parcel of tho obligations
ed upon us as conservators of
nee and well-being, .of society,
iq porpetmty and stability of
ions of the country,
a duty to oppose any
on whoso political course
would be to overthrow
and keep the coun
iuch we
I polity,
he radi
ki gross,
frying
policy
Jera timi of
r\of
of
her
t of
of
^^^^^^^^P^re feel
B^''l! these
HPW^<~ those
??fr^Bm- interests of
l^iSfc^own p.olitical
^Vnl(7 keeil^ open the
?ned by former sec
B. at the expense of
?estions, between all,
?e render us a united,
laperons people.
bm 'of tho press, how
hoved from licentious
tion or personal abuse,
rs oT journals who pros
g^h^v^e uses, are
worthy to occupy such a position.
The civil law yields its remedy, and
personal responsibility deters men
who thus fail to appreciate that dig?
nity and courtesy which should ever
characterize the press in a christian
and civilized community. The pe?
nalties of the law against libels, and
the strict personal accountability to
which their authors are usually held,
have generally been found sufficient
to secure a community in its social
relations in this respect, in the pro?
tection of private character, virtue
and honor.
Nor can it be denied that a Go?
vernment, in the discharge of its du?
ties under the Constitution, upon
which it is founded, and in mainte?
nance of tho laws frailed under that
Constitution, has a right to protect
itself from treasonable counsels and
utterances ? And at the present junc?
ture of our national political affairs,
after four years of civil strife, every
right-thinking man must admit that
it is wrong, in the language of the
order referred to, to put forth through
the public press, either North or South,
" articles calculated to keep up hos?
tility between the different sections
of the country;" and every press that
counsels ' ' hostility to the Govern?
ment," under the circumstances that
now exist-when the Chief Magistrate
of that Government and its other
conservative members are using every
effort to fully consummate the peace
initiated by the surrender of the ar?
mies of the South-is not only unwise
and unpatriotic in its counsels, but
transcends its legitimate functions
under the true freedom of the press.
The people of the United States are
.sick of strife and bloodshed, and it is
their province, as it is their highest
duty, to frown down any attempt to
revive them, and promptly withdraw
their countenance and support from
any journal making any such at?
tempt
But if the position we have taken
be correct-and we think it is-seve?
ral questions pertaining to its right?
ful support have to be considered,
j Disloyalty to the Government and
counsels of hostility to it should be
suppressed, and, if need be, punish?
ed, and that is in the rightful pro?
vince of. the Government; but the
censorship of the press, when it be?
comes necessary for the weal or safety
of the State, should be kept within
metes and bounds, and exercised
with a wisc prudence and a sound
judgment. The penalties of offences
of this kind, provided by the Consti?
tution and laws of the ?and, should
be inflicted on all offenders. But as
Robert Hall says in his celebratec
"Apology for the Freedom of th?
Press," "there is no injury whicr.
m en will remember so long, or reseni
so deeply, as that of being threatenec
into silence. " Gen. Grant has justhj
a high reputation as a brave soldiei
and an honorable mau, and in hi
date report on the condition of tin
South, and in his support of the re
storation policy of President John
son, has shown himself to be a con
servative statesman; therefore, wear?
loath to believe that he meant by thi
order to threaten the Southern paper
into silence, but that ho thpugu.1 it :
wise precaution against any tendenc;
that might manifest itself to kee]
alive hostility of feeling between th
people of thc two sections of th
country lately at war, or to provofc
hostility to the Government of th
United States. It may have been ai
error to promulgate t his order; ye
from what the people of the Unite*
States have learned to know of hi
character as a soldier and a man o
conservative views, they will eosii
conceive it was promulgated from pa
triotie motives.
But there was one error or omis
sion in the partial application of tl?
order; It is stated that it was to b
applied to Southern papers only
That there may have been somoparn
graphs in ? -few Southern papers
containing some ebullitions of pas
sion, some lingering spark of sections
feeling, there can be no doubt; bu
tho keen provocative deserves consi
deration. The action of the radical
in Congress against the restoratioi
policy of the President; the bitternes
of sectional feeling against a peopl
who had in good faith renewed thei
! allegiance to the Government; th
exulting tone of the radical organ
both towards the Executive and th
people of thc South, all contribute
to some recrimination from those wh
stand by the Chief Magistrate in hi
work ot' reconstruction. &Y
And thia hostility to the A<LWMbs
trat i on and its policy; this bitterness
of sectional feeling against the South?
ern people, is to this day rampant
amongst the radical portion of Con?
gress, and is still the offensive daily
text of their newspaper organs. Is
not this course calculated to keep up
hostility of feeling between the dif?
ferent sections of the country? Is it
not evidence of "hostility" at least to
one branch of the Government?
Then why not apply the corrective to
the newspapers of the North who are
keeping up this spirit of sectional
hostility, as well as those of the
South who remonstrate or indulge in
some recrimination? Fiat Jusiitia,
rural colum-so will the ends of jus?
tice, patriotism and right be effect?
ually accomplished. If it is wrong,
as it is, to revive the smouldering
embers of strife and discord, let all
efforts in that direction be squelched
in every section of our common
country.
We have done. In anything we
have said in the foregoing para?
graphs, we must uot be construed as
approving or sactioning any abridge?
ment of the true freedom of the
press; but at this time when the
whole country needs repose and- rest
from strife, the instrumentalities most
effectual in restoring peace, unity
and harmony, are those springing
from the counsels of wisdom, patriot?
ism and forbearance.
CAPT. SEM MES.-We are pleased to
learn from one of the New York pa?
pers that the impression gains ground
that, though Capt. Semmes will be
tried by a mixed commission, com?
posed of military and naval officers,
his conviction and release will turn
almost solely upon the question of
whether or not he violated the usages
of war in escaping from his vessel
after striking his flag. It is conceded
that tho laws of war justified his
burning, sinking and destroying his
prizes, and that he is protected hy
the terms of Lee's surrender from
acts of lawful warfare.
UNFAIRNESS OF THE COMMITTEE.
The telegraph furnishes the follow?
ing, which, brief as the extract is,
from the correspondence between
Mr. Fessenden, Chairman of the
Committee, and Senator Graham,
shows the unfairness of the Commit?
tee, and their unwillingness to admit
impartial testimony. The following
is the despatch :
The Hon. W. A. Graham, United
States Senator elect from North Ca?
rolina, publishes a statement, from
which it appears that in January he
."''dressed a letter to Senator Fessen
d.^ ., suggesting that it would be lint
justice to permit the delegation elect?
ed from each State to be present at
the reception of all ovideaco touoking
the State or any of its members be?
fore the Committee on Reconstruc?
tion, with the privilege of cross
examining witnesses and of intro?
ducing evidence, if they shall deem
it proper.
To this letter, Mr. Fessenden re?
plied as follows:
"It is not necessaiy to allow a
cross-examination of witnesses before
a committee appointed to report on a
subject not involving individuals. The
.committee is supposed to be desirous
of ascertaining the truth, and capable
of making all the examination ne?
cessary.
"The committee is quite willing,
I however, to examine any witnesses
j who may be produced having know
I ledge of the subject matter to any |
j reasonable extent.
j "The credentials of gentlemen !
claiming to be Senators have not been !
referred to this committee, and there
is no probability that they will be."
Mr. Graham subsequently replied
as follows:
"My sole purpose is to aid the
j committee so far as this State (North
Carolina) is concerned in the ascer?
taining of truth, and to guard against
ex parte testimony from unknown or
irresponsible sources.
'Tf, therefore, the committee will
at any time furnish notice of the
points on which evidence is desired,
or of prejudicial testimony which it
is necessary to meet, my colleagues
and myself will gladly avail ourselves
of its permission to offer such rele?
vant proofs as may be in our power."
Mi:. DAVIS BESIEGED ny VISITORS.
The following statement, attributed
by a Mississippi paper to Bui-ton N.
Harrison, Esq., rather surprises us.
We doubt its truth :
"He gives favorable accounts of
the present and growing sympathy of
the Northern people for Mr. Davis.
At times, he says Mr. Davis' quarters
are thronged with visitors. So great
is the crowd that they stand for hon i's
about the doors', and when they can't
get in themselves, send in their com?
pliments and assurances of regard
and sympathy. This is especially
the case with the officer* of the
army."
-? ^ ?,
There has been a ?aistom house
Universal Suffrage and General Am?
nesty.
We have published a biief tele?
graphic summary of Senator Stew?
art's universal suffrage and general
amnesty preamble and resolutions,
offered in tho United States Senate on
Friday, and referred to the Recon?
struction Committee. The resolution
involving the, to the South, vital
question of the day, we give it in full,
together with Mr. Stewart's and Mr.
Sumner's remarks thereon. Mr.
Stewart, though a Republican, has
hitherto voted with the conservatives,
and has advocated what is known as
the President's policy :
Whereas, in the present distracted
condition of the country, it is emi?
nently proper and necessary that all
just and constitutional means should
be employed for the quieting of
popular excitement, the removal of
unreasonable prejudice, and the ob?
literation of all hostile feeling grow?
ing out of the Inte unhappy civil war:
and whereas one of the most prolific
sources of unfriendly sentiment is th?
conflict of opinion existing on thc
subject of negro suffrage; and where?
as it is now most evident that there is
no probability whatever that Senators
and Representatives in Congress fron
the States whose people were lately ir
insurrection will be allowed to occupy
the seats to which they have beer
elected, until said States shall have
complied with certain fundamenta
conditions, a portion of which ar<
hereinafter recited ; and whereas it ii
unreasonable to expect the establish
ment of harmony and good feeling a
long as the eleven Southern State:
whose people were recently in insur
rection are prevented from resuinin?
their ancient relations to this Govern
ment; therefore, be it
Resolved, &c., 1st. That each o
said States whose people were latel;
in insurrection, as aforesaid, shall b
recognized a*-- having fully and validl;
resumed its former relations with thi
Government, and its chosen repre
sentatives shall be admitted into th
two houses of the National Legislo
ture, whenever said State shall hav
so amended its Constitution as, Isl
To do away with all existing distinc
tions as to civil rights and disability
among thc various classes of itspopt
lation, by reason either of race c
?olor, or previous condition of sci v:
tude; 2d. To repudiate all pecuniar
indebtedness which said State ma
have heretofore contracted, incurre
or assumed in connection with th
late unnatural and treasonable wa:
3d. To yield all claim to eompf>n?;
tion on account of the liberation i
its slaves; and, 4th. To provide fe
the extensioh of the elective franchi
to all persons upon the same tern
and conditions, making no discrim
nation on account of race, color (
previous condition of servitude: Pr
ruled. That those who were qualifie
to vote in the year 18G0 by the la\
of the respective States shall not 1
disfranchised by reason of any ne
tests or conditions which have bet
or may be prescribed since that yen
Resolred, That after the aforesa
conditions have been complied wit
and the same shall have been ratifi?
by a majority of the present votii
population of the State, including i
those qualified to vote under the iai
thereof as they existed in 1860,
general amnesty shall be proclaim*
in regard to all persons in such Sta
who were in any way connected wi
arm? 1 opposition to the Governme
of the United States, wholly exon
rating them from all pains, penalti
or disabilities to which they may ha
become liable by reason of connect?
with the rebellion.
Resolred, That in view of the ii
portanee of the thorough assimilati
of the basis of suffrage in the vario
States of the Union, all other Stat
not above specified shall be respe
fully requested to incorporate
amendment in their State Constil
lions respectively, corresponding wi
the one specified.
Resolved, That in the adoption
the aforesaid resolutions, it is not
tended to assert a coercive power
the part of Congress in regard to t
regulation of the right of suffrage
the different States of the Union, I
only to make a respectful and earn
appeal to their own good sense a
love of country, with a view to 1
prevention of serious evils now thre
ened, and to the peaceful perpet
tion of the repose, the happiness a
fTi?<ir ir glory of the whole Amern
people.
Dan Duncan, a landlord in Inc
napolis, called on a poor tenant
collect his rent. He found the pi
woman toiling at tho wash tub, w
the evidences of destitution all aron
her. Duncan took a look aroui
and concluded he didn't want
collect rent as bad as he thought
did. He gave the woman a rece
for the two months due, and i
months in advance, and then call
on some friends sent her a load
provisions to see her through
winter.
There has been a report going
rounds of the press, says the P?
Kentuckian, that General J. ii. H<
was to be married to a daughter
(?en. William Preston, of Louisvi
We remarked to bim, recently, t
he had to suffer for his notorit
'.Yes,'" said he, "and it must be
ceedingly annoying to the lady, a<
hiiVehadno acquaintance whatc
frs^uif- never even oneanotlH
From Waalilngtoii.
Though it is felt that the worst fea?
tures of the original civil rights bill
are destroyed, there is enough leit
for a keen constitutional lawyer to
drive through, four in hand; but it is
urged that the thing will be imprac
I ticable and ineffectual, and therefore
not dangerous. There is much
anxiety among Congressmen as to its
fate with the President.
It is understood in Republican
circles that Senator Foster inspired
.the resolutions which were introduced
by Mr. Stewart, of Nevada. The
latter proposes points for the action
of the Southern people, but does not
endorse the proposition.
Gen. Steadman is expected to re?
turn to this city to-night from New
?ork, where he has been for a few
days. Certain of his friends still
persist in the belief that he will suc?
ceed Mr. Stanton as Secretary of
War, whilst others assert that his
mission is only in regard to military
matters in the South-west, it being
understood that he will succeed
Gen. Canby in Louisiana.
The following internal revenue de?
cisions have been recently rendered :
All bills of lading contain an agree?
ment or contract. Domestic and in?
land bills of lading, being neither
otherwise charged, nor expressly ex?
empted from all stamp duty, fall
under the general provisions of the
law, and are to be taxed not as "bills
of lading," with ten cents each, but
with two cents or five cent?, accord?
ing to whether they are receipts sim?
ply or agreements. If they are exe?
cuted in sets of two or three, or
more, each one should be stamped.
Each has the same legal effect as the
other, and the holder of either of
them may find it necessary to use his
copy iu evidence.
Wlien receipts are made and issued
in duplicate, both require to be
stamped as originals.
An agreement to lease should not
be stamped as a simple agreement.
It requires to be stamped as a lease.
As each copy has a legal value, each
requires a stamp. The assignment
of a lease requires the same stamp as
the original, increased by a stamp
duty on the consideration or value ol
the assignment equal to that imposed
upon tho conveyance of land for simi?
lor consideration or value.
The depot Quartermaster of thc
Department of Washington is rapid?
ly reducing the nnmber of clerks,
messengers and teamsters, under his
supervision.
Maj. A. H. Andrews, United State;
army, has been assigned to the com
maud of the military district o:
Ouachita, Department of Arkansas.
Lieut. Gen. Grant has instructet
commanders of military department
to reduce the number of voluntee!
organizations in their respectivt
commands.
It is said that the project offerer
by Senator Stewart, of Nevada, hftv
ing the partial extension of the righ
of suffrage to the black populatioi
connected with and in consideration
of a declaration of universal amnesty
to all persons concerned in the rebel
lion, has been the subject of consulta
tion among some conservative Re
publicans, as well as radicals, but i
is not likely to meet with any sue
cess.
A letter received from the Dry Tor
tugas, on the Florida coast, datec
the 25th of last month, states tba
Edward Spangler, ?id Arnold, am
O'Laughhn, have been all that coule
be desired as regards correct deport
ment since their incarceration.
A special despatch to the New Yorl
Ckmimercial says: "The Republicai
Senators on the Reconstruction Com
mittee, to whom were referred th;
various propositions for a Constitu
tional amendment, which have beer
presented in the Senate, met Satur
clay morning. After a careful consi
deration of the different amendments
it was voted to report that presentee
by Mr. Grimes, of Iowa, with sonn
slight verbal alterations. It is be
lieved that this will receive the requi
site two-thirds vote in the Senate ant
in the House."
Secretary McCulloch has writ
ten a letter to several leading Re
publican Congressmen, in whicl
he says he feels much anxietj
about the political situation, an<
very much desires that somethiu)
shall be done to restore harmony bc
tween the Government and the peo
pie of the Southern States. He think
that one step in that direction wonk
result from a full and free conference
between loading Northern men am
leading Southern men now in th
city. He suggests that the person ti
whom his note is addressed invite ;
call from Governor Parsons, amonj
others.
Large numbers of cotton-grower
from the Southern States are arrivinj
here, for the purpose of conferrinj
with the Secretary of the Treasur
relative to a legal adjustment of thei
matters growing out of the un lawf a
seizure, detention, and, in many in
stances, loss, of their crops, by th
interference of Treasury Agents an
military men, whose conduct in mau
cases is not sustained by law, reguln
tious or precedent. Their seven
cases receive due and prompt atter
tion at the hands of the Secretan
and wherever injustice has been prac
ticed, reparation is mr.de.
-
The Confederate dead at and aronn
Franklin, Tennessee, are being r<
motetL^^g|i^beautifnl lot near tl)
: .V^TT. mm Mr. John MeGavoc
for ?Hbn^M' he adorne
witlr^^^^^^-i^Breens. "^fljtf
1
Local Itor?LE;.
CASH.-Om- tom?n fur subscription, ad?
vertising and job work aro cash. Wo hope
j all parties will bear this in mind.
j THE WEEKLY GLEANEI:.-Thc reguluj
I publication of this paper will be post pom .1
j J. lew weeks. Persons desirous of sui..
I scribing, will please forward the money :ii
I unce. Terms $4 u year.
THE BURNING or COLUMBIA. An inter,
estillar account of the "Sack and Destruc?
tion of the ('itv of Columbia. S. C.," has
just been issued, in pamphlet tomi, from
the Phoenix steam power press. Orders
can be lilied to any extent.
Mr. J. K. Hays, agent for the Sotvtliwr?'
States for the sale of steel engravings ,,r
Gen. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson, is
now in this city. Having soon the engrav?
ings, we can with truth pronounce them
excellent. A per cent, of the sales, he in?
forms us, is to contribute to the uss^tanee
j of Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Jackson. (L>]1 to?
day, aa he leaves to-morrow. C:?Eti the
store of M. L. Kinard. pT""
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. -Attention s call?
ed to the following advertisements,wliich
are published this morning for tie first
time:
Lost-Apply to Clarkson ,t Talley
Levin Si Peixotto-Matting and fiats.
Fisher &, Lowrance -Flour.
Rooms to rent--Apply on premise*.
Kenneth & Gibson-Bolting Clot!.
\
A tendertete-a-teto loses half its charms,
if thc sweet words of either party *ro not
mated with a fragrant breath. Sozidont is
the only article that will assure his de?
sideratum by keeping the teeth Backless,
the gums healthy, thc whole mouth pure
and undefiled. It literally embalms the
dental substance, preserving it fron decay,
through life. Use it daily. Will .ind it a
pleasure. t
GREELEY'S LAST WABBLE.-As a
single illustration of the amended
thought which is now pervading all
classes of the people at the pre?
time, inducing them to revise orj
nions adopted under the prompting
of revenge, mistaken for the instigt^
tions of patriotism, we cite the signi?
ficant, fact that the New York Tribune,
within the last two or three weeks,
has formerly renounced the policy of
confiscation, to which it once looked
as a thunder-bolt of war. In his cele?
brated "Prayer of twenty millions,"
addressed to the President, Mr.
Greeley wrote:
"We think you are strangely and |
disastrously remiss in the discharge *
of your official and imperative duty
with regard to the emancipating pro- . ^
visions of the new confiscation act. "
"We complain that the confiscation
act which you approved is habitually
disregarded by your generals, and
that no wprd or rebuke for them from
you has yet reached the public ear."
"We require of you, as the first ser?
vant of the republic, charged, espe?
cially and pre-eminently with this
duty, that you execute the laws. |
Most emphatic
that such laws l?Thave
enacted, which, therefore, may fairly*
be presumed to embody the present
will and to be dictated by the present
needs of the republic, shall be carried
into full effect, and that you shall
publicly and decisively instruct youri
subordinate? that such laws exist ; that '
they are binding on all functionaries
and citizens, and that they are to be
obeyed to the letter."
This "demand" we thought mis?
placed and inapplicable at the time,
but every reader will perceive the
higher and wiser aspirations under
which the Tribune now writes, when
it holds the following language:
"The zanies in the loyal States,
who talk as though a broad empire
Avould be subjected to military execu?
tion, supply the venomous, desperate
traitors in Dixie with the very ali?
ment they need; and we deeply regret
that one of tho resolves of the late
Baltimore Convention seems calcu?
lated to give them a lift. Gem Fre?
mont did a wise, generous, manly act,
in stamping, instead of standing,
the wholesale confiscation plank oj
the Cievelanil platform, thereby
ing to smooth the path to peace
[National Intelligencer.
RETICENT AND SENSIBLE.-^Col. A.
M. Paxton having been invited,
amongst others, to address a mass
meeting of the people at Vicksburg
to endorse President Johnson's veto
of the Freedmen's Bureau bill, and
general policy, declines. He says:
"By law, the President and the
people of the North settle our status,
and any action on our part, in my
opinion, would weaken instead of
strengthen the President. Our duty
to ourselves and our neighbors re?
quires that we, strictly abiding by the
law and terms of our paroles, devote
our time and talent to reviving and
restoring all the interests of our be?
loved country, agricultural, mechani?
cal, educational, religions mid social.
In the restoration of these, our entire
physical and mental resources may be
used to their utmost capacity, and
tho less the Southern people think,
act or talk, about political affairs,
thc sooner will the order suspending
the writ of habeos corpus be revoked,
our members be admitted to seats in
Congress, and a full restoration take
place of all our rights as States in
the Union. I must, therefore, de?
cline attending or taking any part in
the proposed meeting."
Mr. Seward's reply to the French
despa^ph of February 9, states that
(ates will remain neutral