The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-19

For the Union
Is tn. Government Of south Carolina Practical OH
Eaichy1
Mr.. EDITOR beg leave 10 solicit the use OF column
10 your paper 10 offer some comments on subject that
has recently attracted good deal of public attention
aude the question propnunded at the head OF this
tce Ii has formed theme OF discussion between two
distinguished gentlemen in The newspapers. and has
been introduced topic OF angry debate in the Senate
Of the United States IL has no, yet been exhausted,
in FACT hardly touched in the true point have no in
ienon to enter the lists The champion antagonist OF
any Of the bellgeren parties But as South Carolina IS
assuming conspicuous attitude and aspiring TO be the
great teacher OF duty and OF patriotism To the other south
States, II is proper 10 examine briefly her CLAIMS TO
this dgnihed station, and see how far the example she
has presented in the formation of her government
entities her 10 our confidence and corporation
Notwithstanding the pert and dogu.ac assertions OF
Senator Rhe,t. aud the of his colleague,
venture 10 declare, and will prove. that the constitution
OF South Carolina has created legislative body the
most ingenious ogarchicaI puncipes-under the opera
lion Of which decided minority OF the white of the
State, possessing the principal wealth, can rule in de
ance OF the rest THIS may seem 10 be bold assump
ton, but shall be justified in II If make it good. Let
US first inquire by rhom and in trhdf manner the mem
beers OF the legislature OF South Carolina are elected We
will afterwards consider the extent OF their powers.
Although Senator Butler asserts that the Palmetto State
has made fewer alterations IN its constitution Than most
Of the other States, find that she has been not little
expert IN the arts Of Constitution tinkering. Omng the
constitution prepared by the celebrated John Locke, pro-
vding for LORDS protectors" "landgraves," "casiqnes
"paa,ne coarts" "baTonles, seignoirs." nc, which
seems TO have been only partially IN oce South Caro-
na BY her constitution adopted the Goth OF March,
l776 afterwards substituted by that OF 10th March, l77s,
which, in lis turn, superseded by that OF 81 June,
$780, constantly required large property qualifications Tor
al voters, or the payment OF high tax and SUI larger
amounts OF property for those who were elgb TO the
legislature and The office OF governor. Among the seven
teen amendments to this latter constitution there are two
which deserve especial notice The hrs OF these The
following. ratified The 18th OF December, 1s0S The
house OF representatives shall consist oil one hundred and
twenty four members, to be apportoned among the
several election districts OF the State according 10 the
number OF white Inhabitants contained and the amount
Of all taxes raised by the Legislature, whether drec, or
indirect, of whatever species pad ~ each, &c &c
&c And representatives shall be assigned 10 the dill
ieren, districts in the aforementioned proportion,
by act OF the legislature &c, &c In assigning
representatives TO the several districts Of this State the
legislature shall allow representative Tor every sixty
second part OF the whole number OF the white Inhabitants
~ the Sale and representative also Tor every sixty
second part OF the whole taxes raised by the legislature
of the State The legislature shall further allow rep
the white inhabitants Of the State, and of the sixty
second part OF the raised by the legislature OF the
State, ichen added together form unit II is further
provided tia, "the Senate shall be composed of one
member from each election district, now established,
excep, two, and Of II will be subject TO the same
iuIe and Influences the house OF representatives
Nov. let us mark this era OF ls0S, when this vita
change made in the fundamental law OF South Cat
DINA, and the character OF this change Here ~ two
fold basis adopted to apporion and elect representatives
half the basis OF the number Of white inhabitants
hu9 lc OVfI nay on Hiif " PoPtify, tnt hb'hR
IN eject the amount OF taxes paid This fact fully ex
plains the nature and object Of the amendment OF the 18th
Decembef 1910, two years after wards, pompousy pa
faded IN the Senate and vehemently extolled Here
Is Let what II really amounts to;
Every Tree white man Of the aye Of II years, pau
pefs and ssoDed officers and private soldiers 81
The amy United States excepted, being citizen
THIS State and having resided therein two previous
TO the day election. and who hath freehold Of y acre,
OF land a town lot which he has been legally seised
and possessed least six months before said election
not having such freehold lot hath been resident
10 The election district in which he oilers to give his vote
~ months before said election shall have g At to vote
or member members serve in either branch oil the
legislature TOR the election district IN wh'ca he bods such
property or 10 20 resident .#Ho'#E#
Prior 10 the ADOPTION OF this last amendment, prop
efy qualifications or the payment OF high tax, was re-
CARED Of all voters in South Carolina The effect ol
nus amendment simply 10 confer upon resident c''i'
kens the right 10 vote Their own district Whatever
may be their property qualifications The amendment OF
lsVs had already secured 10 the OF wealth ibe CON
ps'e ascendency II had eecually given them the cleo.
uon OF one-haif of all the members with the additional
Chance OF controlling the election Of many OF the bal
sbce and will show how Each election district is
'oed by adding together The fractions ot white in1ap
"sis, and taxes pad, 10 TORN un that ~, dstrlc'
which pays tive. sixths OF ssy.second part OF me
axes talsed The State, and haa one-sst, OF sky
SECOND pat OF The white inhabitants OF The State, Is en,i
Vel TO me,urer for when sou add the two fractions 10
tther they form "sutr On The other hand, DIS
ct IN tie highlands where the Land Is thin, and the
Nhle Inhabitants poor, may pay ones slh OF sixty
eeohd pdn OF The axes, and possess hve-sx'bs 81
,h3 second Iau Of the hardy bold While Inhabitants
estnous hood OF the ilng0.nots aud Cavaliers aud
WI only be entitled 10 member, Tor the two frae
"op' ADDED tgrbet form but " onu Thus - u