The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, July 19, 1866, Image 2
COLUMBIA.
Thursday Morning, July 19, 1886.
.Mew Kin?! of Political Kngln^.
Some scribbler for the New York
Times, who has beeu loafing around
Hollywood and Oakwood Cemeteries,
near Richmond, and perhaps wit- |
neased the c?r?monie.-? of decorating
the graves of the deceased soldiers,
writes to that paper that these 'Vie
morial associations" are "potent po?
litical engines" among thc Southern
people, and that "these memoral
days have become painfully fre?
quent,"
The country is in danger, to a mo?
ral certainty, from the plottings of
the women of the South! These me?
morial gatherings, according to these
sleuth-hounds of the radical press,
are mere sham-they are political,
and perhaps treason, meetings in fe?
minine disguise, for, according to
this writer, at every one of these
meetings, "recruits" are gathered to
the democratic banner.
lu the name of all that is truthful,
virtuous and patriotic, why are these
mendacious absurdities written and
printed? What object, what motive
can prompt to such a development of
native malignity of heart, as to pro- j
duce such lying statements as the !
letter containing the above sentences j
embraces? Having overwhelmed the
armies of tho South, and the South
having recognized and accepted her
defeat in the knightliest sense of the
word, would these panderers to ma?
lignant fanaticism turn upon the
women with the only weapon they
have ever had the courage to han?
dle-the pen of the slanderer-and
insult them? The bravo men from
the North, the true soldiers from that
section, who fought under and for the
flag of .the Union, we have no doubt,
read these effusions of hired peuny
a-livers with supreme disgust.
The women of the South have not
now, nor ever had, anything to do
with politics, and this, the writer of
the above must know as well any?
body. During the struggle for inde?
pendence, they were true-true to the
now "lost cause"-but never did they
mingle in party politics. But why
seek to defend, where no defence is
necessary?-to defend the noble and
the pure from the perr of a scribbler,
who, not one in a thousand of his
own set would believe. Let him
drivel ou in his depravity; he is ljot |
worth the pen and ink spent on him. 1
But besides this fellow, who would
make our noble women democratic
recruiting officers or drivers of dan?
gerous "political engines," there are
other manifestations that the solemn
and loving ceremonies of showing
our love and respect for the gallant
dead, are distateful to som-., parties,
who ought to know full well that
neither treason nor disaffection
skulks in these mournful demonstra?
tions. Political haranguers may de?
claim about them even in the hairs of
Congress, as they havo done-the
paid letter-writers for radical journals
may smell treason among the flowers
and garlands strewed over and around
the graves of the lost loved ones, and
the mischief-makers among us, who
may even unite in the ceremonies they
denounce as treasonable, may fawn?
ingly sound the alarm; but the noble,
the true and the brave throughout
the land know anti feel that these
beautiful tributes to the memory of
the dead spring alone from pure affec?
tion, and are the innocent but heart?
felt evidences of an appreciation of
the noble deeds of those who fell iu
u cause they considered just. The
whole country may rest assured, and
be comforted by the assurance, that
neither treason nor party politics have
anything to do with these memorial
associations; both are dead ut the
Sou til- the one couldn't raise its head
if it would, and wouldn't if it could;
the other the people are sick of.
CHARTJKSTON MOVING.-The Sena?
tors ?nd Representatives of Charles?
ton District have called a public meet?
ing, to be held on Saturday, for the
purpose of appointing delegates to a
State Convention tobe held in Co
I uml lia.
-??-???-*
FATAL ACCIDENT.-Mr. Charles P.
Sider, a highly respectable citizen of
Goose Creek Parish, while engaged
cleaning a pistol that was loaded,
accidentally shot himself, and shortly
afterwards died from the effects of
tho wound.
A young man waa eaten by sharks
while bathing in Mobile Bay.
Military Interference.
Our telegraphic columns, yester?
day morning, furnished us with some
gratifying news, und thnt was tlie re?
ply of Secretary Stanton to General
Thomas, applying, at the instigation
of Governor Brownlow, for military
aid to enable tho radical Governor to
"manage" the "refractory" conserva?
tive inembersof the Tennessee Legis?
lature. The reply of the Secretary,
that it. is not the duty of the United
States forces to interfere in anyway
between the political authorities of
tbe State, is a significant indication
of the returning supremacy of civil
law in the Southern States.
But the application itself shows the
animus of the radical element every?
where. Brownlow would have had
every member of the Legislature of
his State, who refused to co-operate
in his schemes, carried to the State
Capitol under the guardianship of
tho bayonet, und there, wo presume,
force them to vote as his own had in?
stincts would dictate. Tn the most
despotic Government, there never
was a more hideous attempt to crush
ont the liberty of tho people and the
people's representatives, than this
made by Brownlow. To make men
vote against their consciences, and
their sense of duty to their constitu?
ents aud their country, by the agency
of military force, is a little ahead of
any act of tyranny yet attempted by
th? revolutionary party who now seels
to rule or destroy tho liberties of thc
people.
We are thankful that there uro men
enough iu Tennessee who have had
the courage to resist, in a proper and
peaceful manner, this attempted en?
croachment upon the rights and liber
ties of tho people, and that the Go
vernment has so wisely withheld its
sanction from the perpetration of tin
contemplated outrage. Secretary
Stanton forcibly states the truth
"the administration of the law am
the preservation of the peace belong
properly to the State authorities."
A not Uer Trick Kznoxt-tl.
The Committee on Printing hui
been ordered by the House of Rep
resentatives to have a certain nuuibe
of the majority and minority report
of the Reconstruction Committee
printed and bound together; bu
when the work came out, it was dis
covered that the majority report alon
had been printed and put up.
One of the members-Mr. LL
Blond-had the matter overhauled
and the Chairman of thc Printin,
Committee explained that thc minor:
ty report hud not been handed i
until ten or eleven days after th
majority report had been in the hand
of the printer. He could not, hov
ever, make Mr. LeBlond believe th
story, who pronounced the omissio
as on electioneering trick, as the in
nority report was a complete refuti
tion of that made by tho majori I >
As it is now, 100,000 extra copies i
both reports are to be printed an
bound together. What :t model si
of legislators tho people have at tl
national capitol!
-
MORE USURPATION,-The New Yoi
Herald calls attention to another a
of usurpation, or usurping act, whit
may have escaped thc notice of tl
general reader. 11, says :
"The bill to regulate the time an
manner for holding elections f<
Senators in Congress has been puss,
by the Senate, by a large majorit
This bill requires that the man ii
of electing Senators to the Slate L
gislutures shall be openly by a ri,
poer vote, not by ballot, ns lins be<
usual in most of the States. By tl
adoption of this measure, it will 1
impossible for conservative Repnh
cans and Union Democrats, withe
showing their hands, ti* coalesce f
the purpose of sending a person
liberal views to the United Stat
Senate. No conservative Republic;
can throw off the yoke of tyrant
without having the linger of radii
despotism pointed at him, his poli
cal aspirations crushed, aud even 1
social relations marred and nude
mined. In this way, the radicals <
peet to avoid any such hitches
carrying out their extr?me plans
occurred in the last Senatorial eh
tions in tho Legislatures of New J<
sey and Connecticut. They inte
to hold the hush over their conseil
tions partisans, and, adopting t
course of Thad. Stevens in the Hon
whip them into subjection. Here,
endeavoring to secure the Senate
perpetua, vre may see another altem
on thc part of tho radicals to gn
supreme power and to retain it w
.that degree of pertinacity for whi
past arbitrary legislation hus rend
ed them so notorious. What is t
next part in the revolutionary a
usurping programme of tho radical;
It is said the Cunada Confedera t i
scheme is about t*> collapse.
Secirvtnrjr Seward'? latter.
It would appeaf that Senator Doo?
little, as Chairman of the Executive
Union Club, addressed all tho mem?
bers of the Cabinet, asking their
views of Hie Philadelphia Conven?
tion. Wt) published, on yesterday,
tho priucipal portion of the response
of Secretary Welles, and we now sub?
join that of the Secretary of State.
Although, like Mr. Welles, he is in
favor of the Convention and its pur?
poses, his reasons for thi-s position
lack the force and power of the reply
of tho former. The one advocates
the proposed meeting to save the two
sections of tho country from "per?
manent alienation;" the other as a
mcaus by which to "induce Con?
gress" to act-that is, to admit the
Southern States to Congress.
Mr, Soward hus certainly known
the animus of the dominant faction
long enough to kuow that no induce?
ment, save that of absolute control,
voluntarily conferred upon its lead?
ers, could induce them to ?ulmil
the Southern Senators ami Repre?
sentatives to Congress. If nil the
able and powerful arguments that tin
President luis brought forward, in
his various messages nil based, too.
upon tl?e Constitution-hus thus f:u
failed to "induce" thc desired action,
no body of men could be couvened
no, not even if tho spirits of the de?
parted patriots and fathers of thc
country were to unite in the appeal -
cnn induce Thud. Stevens ami his sa
traps to forego their settled purpose
either to rule or ruin.
And as to "petitioning" these mei
for redress, or for the restoration <>
thc constitutional rights of the South
ern people, tim proceedure would lu
an idle show of subserviency. Tin
only sure way to check them um
"induce" them, is to turn them, nee!
and heel, ont of office nt thc up
preaching elections. They are no>
pretty well frightened, but they have
nevertheless, thrown down the gaunt
let of war os a party, and the onl
safety is i ti an effectuai defeat of thci
and their schemes. Mr. Sowar
writes:
DEPARTMENT OV STATK,
WASHINGTON, D. C., July ll, 18GG.
Sm: Excuse me for expressing sui
prise that you ask me whether
approve nf the cull of a proposed Ni
tional Uuiou Convention nt Philadel
phis.
After more than liv?.! years of 'dish
cation by civil war, I regard a rest<
ration of the unity of the country :
its most immediate as well ns its mo
vital interest. That, restoration wi
be complete when loyal men ure u<
niitted as representatives of the loy:
people of the eleven States so lon
unrepresented in Congress. Not hin
but this can complete it. Nothin
more remains to bo done, and in
thing moro is necessary. Every day
delny is attended by multiplying un
increasing inconveniences, emba
rassments und dangers nt home un
abroad. Congress possesses the p?w<
exclusively; Congress, after a sessic
of .sown months, still omits to exe
eise that power. "What can be doi
to induce Congress to act?" This
the question of the day. Whatev
i . done must be in accordance wi!
the Constitution and laws. It is
perfect accordance with the Constiti
lion and laws that the people of tl
United States shall assemble, by del
gates, in convention, and that, win
so assembled, they shall address Co
gress by respectful petition and 1
monstrance, and that the people
their several States, Districts ai
Territories shall approve, sanctii
and unite in such respectful rep?
sentations to Congress. No one par
could do this effectually, or ev
seems willing to do it alone; no lot
or popular organization could do
effectually, lt is the interest of .
parties alike; of all the States, and
all sections a national interest; t
interest ol' the whole people.
The Convention, indeed, may u
succeed in inducing Congress to ai
but if they fail, the attempt can ma
matters no worse. It will be a law!
and patriotic attempt made in t
right direction an effort to be 1
membered with pride and satisfacti
whether it succeed or fail. The o
gi nal union of tho States was brou g
about by movements of the sai
character. The citizen who objei
to tho Convention is bound to pi
pose a better plau of proceeding
effect the desire;! end. No oth
plan is offered, or even thought
Those who should oppose it woi
seem to me to manifest, at best, i
concern, if not opposition, to all
construction, restoration and rec(
ciliation between the alienated mas
of the American people. To adi
that the Convention would fail, woi
bc to admit that the people of t
United States arti deficient in eitl
thu wisdom or thc virtue necessary
continue tho existence of tho I
public. 1 believe no such thing,
grout political writer says that (
\ eminent is a secular religion, :i
that the people of every country
divided into two (dusses, each mn
taminga distinct political faith. 'I
one class always fears the very wc
Unit cnn possibly happen, and
other hopes under every circum?
stances the very best that can in any
event happen.
Without accepting thia thing as
absolutely true, I think all men do
generally act from a motive to guard
against public danger, or tdse from a
positive desire to do good. Both
classes may, therefore, favor the
present attempt to reston; the unity
of the nation.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
WM. H. SEWARD.
HON. J. R. DOOLITTLE, Chairman
Executive Committee.
'l'ho I*<opl, \.,.co,.<I.
Although wo expected much from
the call for a National Union Conven?
tion, we were not. sanguine enough
to witness such a general uprising of
tho people, in all sections, as this
simple, patriotic call has awakened
among all parlies, save the radicals,
throughout the land.
This approaching assemblage of
Union men has carried consternation
into the camp of tho destructives,
and, as each succeeding day bears to
the Jacobin conclave, at Washington,
the overwhelming evidences ?d' the
j determination of the masses of tho
people, they arc getting beside them?
selves, und are fairly at their wits'
end. The whole drift of public sen?
timent, as evinced by the press of
the whole country, is setting towards
Philadelphia, and allai.' looking to
the* work to be done there as the
meaus of saving the country.
The mere announcement of this
meeting having evoked such a spon?
taneous expression ol' public favor,
what must be the effect of its action,
if that action is conformable to the
principles und objocts std forth in the
call? lt will be the sweeping away of
radicalism from its present position
of power, and thc restoration of peace
and harmony to tho country.
But one of the great, benefits we
look for from this Convention is, that
the conservative men from both of
the se<dions lately at strife, will come
together in friendly contact for u
common purpose-the restoration of
peace to our distracted country, tho
staying of sectional animosity, which
for thirty years has kept us to a great
extent a divided people, and to crush
out that fiendish agitation which, ge?
nerated iu New England, grew pow?
erful enough to get hold of one of the
departments ?d' the Government, and
which they can only retain by a con?
tinuance of that agitation. All causes
of sectional strife are at an end.
There never was a time in the history
of the country when such a magnifi?
cent opportunity has presented itself
for the complete eradication of every
?.anse ?d' sectional discord than the
present momeut offers, and no more
potent agency to accomplish this end
than the proposed National Conven?
tion.
Our political future, if the people
are now true to themselves, may never
show on its record any issues array?
ing one section against the other.
The thinking men of the whole coun?
try have but recently witnessed its
baleful effects, and the extremity to
which it has brought us as a people,
and, although minor issues may here?
after divide them into parties, yet
each party, in its own way, may work
for ?he common weal. Embittered
sectional feeling can now be wiped
out forever, and that man. North or
South. i? an enemy to the public
good, who would seek to foster it ut
the hazard of future strife.
It was rumored in Washington last 1
Saturday, that ?1 proclamation from L
the President, announcing the resto- j
ration of Texas to th-' Union, and h
declaring, in unequivocal terms, thc,1
abolition ol' martial law in the South, j
may bu looked for in a dav or two. ! ?
The correspondent of the New ?
York Hcnililwrites: ''Statementshave j '
been going freely lo thu press in re- j
gard to the intentions und plans of!'
the President in the tature, many of|'
which are wholly unauthorized and j *
most entirely wrong. I am authorized 6
to say that the President has no iu- 1
tention whatever of being present ut .
the Philadelphia Convention. Ile 1
does openly and undeniably sympa- 1
thi/e with that Convention, and will
exert all his influence to make it a 1
success." 1
1
At the public celebration ol the 11
Fourth in New Orleans, Mayor Mon- 1
roe, in introducing the render of the (
Declaration of [ndependence, took t
occasion b> tay, that "he differed c
from one expression of opinion in 1
that document, to the effect that all t
tuen wen; created equal. The nigger , j
c.nil.l not be considered thc equal of t
a white man; and as the writer of 1
the declaration, Mr. Jefferson, was als
slaveholder, it flood to reason that ll
he never could have meant to include I I
tia; nigger in that assertion." I i
THoae Midnight Cont lav ? s.
The National Intelligencer, in its
issue of Saturday last, very properly
calls the attention of the American
people to tho frequent secret midnight
conclaves now being held in the Na?
tional Capitol by Thad. Stevens and
his followers. As the Intelligencer
says, it is thc inauguration of u now
era in ?mr history, and it calls on the
American people to remember that
these uro not the meetings of persons
without authority, about whose move?
ments the publie are in no way con?
cerned, but it is the dominant party
of both houses of Congress - it in the
Senate anal House in secret conclave -il
is thc legislative power of forty mil?
lions of people in concealed delibe?
ration. The Intelligencer conclude*
by asking:
"What does it mean? If it is legi?
timate business they arc after, why is
not that business transacted -with
open doors, in tho light of day, anc
umler tho eyes of the American peo
pie? It looks us if it was something
they were ashamed of, or feared tc
have known. Have they so lost eon
tulenco in the intelligence of the peo
pie that they fear to trust that peoph
with a knowledge of public affairs'
Do they fear thal their power is giv?
ing way, and that the ground i:
crumbling beneath them, and sonn
secret scheme must be concocted t<
arrest tin? disastrous turn events ari
taking? Or do their purposes g(
beyond this? do they meditate a nev
violation of the Constitution to sc
cure their hohl on power? Do thc,
forgo a mysterious thunderbolt t<
hurl nt thc breast . >f the noble patric
in the Executive ('bair, whohasstoo
as unyielding as destiny in oppositio
to their wicked and insensate pin
poses? Are they preparing them
selves for one last desperate onslaugl
upon the Executive, power? Do the
meditate confiscations and proscrij
tions, or impeachments? Their att
tilde is calculated to alarm the pnbli
confidence. Some think they med
tate a coup (Vetal, but we acipiit thei
of this folly. Certain it is they tl
not nightly assemble like couspir:
tors in the Capitol with closed door
to gaze at each other's faces, or t
indulge in the luxury of pub!
speaking. No; they mean bnsines
as they slip np with stealthy step - 1
night to the Capitol.
"W?! have not learned whethe
like Guy Fawkes, they move wit
their dark lanterns. But wheth
they do or not, we protest again
their longer profaning the sucre
Capitol with their midnight coi
daves. ' '
ADMISSION OF AN AMERICAN TO TI
ENGLISH BAH.-It has already be<
mentioned that the Hon. ,] udah
Benjamin, who was tho late Cooled
rate Secretary of State, has been a
mitted to the English bar us a "bi
rister. " Mr. Benjamin was, f
many years, a distinguished la wy
(it New Orleans, with an extensi
practice in the United States S
promo Court. The Picayune, spen
Lng of a letter leeched from him
his relatives in New ( Irleans, j
mark;- :
He was called to the bar by t
benchers of Lincoln's run, Londt
and ns a special favor, dispensed fri
thc several long terms of reading a
study which are prescribed, and w:
very rare exceptions demanded of
candidates for the wig and go
under the ancient rules of tho con
i)f (treat Britain. Mr. Ben j ami
position at the bar is that of a ban
ter. His duties relate only to t
conduct and argument of suits whi
ire placed in his hands Ly attorne
lie only knows such clients as ?
l>rought tt) him by attorneys,
ian receive no business directly fr
suitors or claimants, but it must
.onie to him through attorneys,
.annot even hold an interview w
dienta except in the presence of 1
it torn ey s. The latter got np
.ases, make up the. briefs and prep
'he testimony, and then hand
i>rief over to the barrister whom ti
nay select, accompanying the sn
dways with a suitable retainer.
;hat the barrister can do when
died to directly by parties hav
iilits, is to refer them to an attorn
-? *
EXTRAORDINARY DECLINE IN Wm
The Chicago Irihnne, .July 12, sa;
"Within the past twenty ?
lours the wheat market in this t
las experienced a most extraordin
leoline of t weuty-t wo cents to twci
leven cents per bushel. ( >n Ti
lay, No. 1 regular spring w heat
sold at Si.88 to erl.HO. and yester
t fell as low as ?l.GO-closing <
md nominal at $1.65.
"This decline in prices is the res
?holly of excessive speculation,
irominent operator some time si
mrchased the entire stock of wli
md 200,000 or 300,000 bus!
tosidos for future delivery. In Ol
sompletoly to 'corner' th? sellers
idoptcd tho somewhat novel e:
lient of selling cargoes 'free
>oard' to shippers at ten conti
hirteen cents below the ina
nice for lots in store, in this
ho stock was reduced quite mate
jr, and thc sellers were forced
ettie at the buyers' own price. '
teing accomplished, he threw
lalanco of his wheat upon
narkot. and broke it down."
Ciooal Xtems.
Nsw FIBM.-Wc call attention to tho
advertisement of Messrs. H. T. McCaugh
rin Si Co., who have just opened a commis?
sion house and family grocery store, on
Maiu street, where they propone to keep
an assortment of needful suppli?e.
FCJJEBAL OF A SoLDIF.K.- lt will I?! Hean,
from u notice in another column, that the
remains of our late gallant young towns?
man, Samuel Levin, will arrive in Colum?
bia this afternoon, lie waa ono of the
earliest volunteers, a youth of fine pro?
mise, who laid down lbs life at Sharps -
burg for the cause he had espoused.
TUE BuitNiNu o* COLUMBIA.-Au inter
estine account, ot the "Sack and Destruc?
tion of the City of Columbia, ti. C.," luftr
just been issued, in pamphlet form, from
the Pluettix power press. Orders tilled to
any < xtent. Single copies 50 ecu tn.
NKW AI >VESTIsmiEKTS. -Attention is call?
ed to the following advertisements, which
ate published this morning for tho first
time:
S. T. McCaughrin A Co.- New Store.
I. O. O. F_Tribute of Respect.
Shiver & Bookham Trunks, &c.
From Washington.
It is settled by the radical caucus
that Congress shall adjourn on the
i 23d inst., to-morrow week. No
? mensures have been adopted, thongh
several schemes have been suggested,
for depriving the President of his
powers of removal and appointment,
though it is expected, on all sides,
that immediately after the adjourn?
ment a sweeping reform in public
office will be commenced. The
scheine for restraining the President
by law was ingenious, but failed, like
the plan which the rats had for bell?
ing the cat. Who is to bell the cat in
this case? It would require a two
thirds vote of each House, and that
cannot be obtained. The President
has two Cabinet nominations to make,
and before the end of the week will
probably have two more. Besides
this, he has a number of very impor?
tant nominations of civil and diplo?
matic officers to send to the Senate.
It is, therefore, a question for con?
sideration whether he will call the
Senate to meet at 12 M., on the 23d,
j to consider these nominations. If
; he calls the Senate in special session
for that purpose, that body may hold
on nominally lill the- next regular
?session, and thus prevent tho Presi
' dent from making any appointments.
The President may call the Senate,
and throw upon them the responsibi?
lity of obstructing the wheels of the
Government by rejecting all nomina?
tions, or he may decline to call them
and proceed to make vacancies and
lill them.
Congress has made, at the close of
the session, a joint committee on re?
trenchment. The committee will
have to pursue the subject during the
recess, and will report at the next
session, after the fall elections are
over. Meanwhile, the idea will be
held ont that the radicals are, os a
party, in favor of economy and re?
trenchment. No one supposes that
the committee will have power to
stop any of the great leaks of the
Treasury-the seven millions for the
i'reedmen's Bureau, ?fcc. There was
once a great Whig retrenchment com?
mittee, that ended in picking up the
wafers scattered under members'
seats. Another ono was previously
got up by the Jackson men, and it
proposed nothing but the stoppage
of the salary of a draughtsman,
which was soon after restored. This
radical retrenchment committee will
probably propose an equally efficient
plan of economy.
The reason given by Gov. Holden
for not signing the call for a Conven?
tion of Southern loyalists is, that he
does not desire to connect himself
with any entangling alliances.
The elaborate report of the Com?
mittee on Foreign Affairs on the sub?
ject of Mexico is nearly completed,
and will be presented to the House
early this week. It strongly sustains
the Monroe doctrine, which has a
large majority in that body, many of
whom are desirous of measures more
effective than a mere declaration of
principle.-Cor. Ballimore Sun.
TUE RINDERPEST IN GKEAT BRITAIN.
- -The following official statement has
been made by the British Privy
Council:
"The cattle plague has now com?
pleted the fifty-second week of Hs
prevalence, and during the year
nearly a quarter of a million (248,965)
of attacks have been officially report?
ed, SO,">97 cattle are stated to have
been killed, 124,187 to have died.
32,989 to have recovered, aud in 11,
192 cases the results have not been
specified. In addition to the forego?
ing, 51,343 cattle exposed to risk
have been slaughtered while free from
disease.
"In the aggregate,, more than 50
(50.5) in every 1,000 of the ordinary
stock of cattle in Great Britain have
been attacked, and to every 1,000
attucks, whose results have been re?
ported, nearly 900 (SOI 3) animals
perished.
"The epidemic has also extended
to a considerable number of sheep,
and since the commencement 4,463
art? officially reported to have been
attacked; of these, 4,002 died or
were killed, and 401 recovered or
were unaccounted for."
The wife of Maj. Gen. Jeff. C.
Davis fell overboard from the Louis?
ville mail, boat lately and narrowly es?
caped drowing. The General sprang
in and saved her.