Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-31

ing the word Radical" 10 the title of the or.
ganzaton-some members otjecting, on the
ground that the term was not thoroughly un-
| derstood, and to insert it was impolitic.' This
was replied 10, with the assertion that as free
schools would socn be- established. parties
might become enlightened. 1t was asserted
by delegate from Anderson, that radical"
in his section Of country was understood to
mean Reputation. Another declared tina:
some of their political opponents would make
this powerful lever to work with, and that
the Perry marty would gain many accessions
to its ranks: he was disposed TO b,somewhat
conciliatory, so far as the mere adoption t I
the term was Concerned be was as radical
as any man, but he was not disposed to put
stick in the hands of another individual to
break his own head.
Another subject which elected considera-
bic discussion, was the apportioning Of lands,
the assertion having been made that immen e
bodies of unprcductive and idle lands were
an actual injury to any country the number
of acres of that class in this State being men
toned by delegate from Charleston he was
IN favor of taxation on the Swedish plan; if
land owners would not, or could not, culti-
va,e their lands, he thought heavy tax.
should be put on such lands, and thus force
the owner to dispose of a part of them, at
least-so that they could be divided up into
small farms, which, being properly cultivated,
would enhance the value of the rest. A
member who bad travelled extensively in this
| State asserted that such a law was unnecessa'
ry; he had found more planters and land
owners who were disposed to sell surplus
lands, than he had found purchasers; they
were willing to sell to colored men, foreigners,
or any ore else besides, it was subject be-
longing exclusively to o legislative body.
delegate from Fairfield said, that with equal
propriety resolution could be introduced. to
the effect that as large houses or palaces in
cities were useless, ana as LetsonS often occu
pied houses in which there were number OF
vacant rooms, they should bo compelled to
dispose Of them; tae principle was the same.
The following is the platform as it finally
passed:
l. That in order to make the labor OF all
our loyal fellow-ci,zcns more etfectual for
CARRYING out the provisions of Congress, for
the restoration Of Jaw ana order in cur State,
as wei! as lor the peace ana prosperity OF our
entire country, we, the people of South Car
DINA, do form ourselves into political Or
ganization, to be known as the Union Repub'
Iican party OF South Carolina.
.. That as Republican institutions cannot
be preserved, unless intelligence be generally
difnsed among all classes, we will favor
uniform system Of free schools and colleges,
which shall &C open to all,
8. That we will favor liberal system Of
public improvements, such as rail roads, Ca
nails and other works, and also such system
of awarding contracts for the same as WI!
give ali our fellow citizens an equal and fair
chance to share in them.
t. That Cd laese !apl mcnop2les tend ONLY
to make the rich richer and the poor poorer,
and are ruinous TO tie agricultural, CONNER
cial and social interess of the State. the Leg
islature should offer every practicable induce
lnent for the division aud sale of unoecupied
lands among the poorer classes, and as all
encouragement to Immigrants 10 settle IN our
State.
5. That the interests of the State demand
revision Of the entire code of laws and the
re organization Of the Courts.
/ 6. That it is Just and proper that taxes
should be al ualorem, and proportioned to the
property Of the citizens.
I. That. TIE ballot being the surcst safe
guard of the rights of the citizen, all cxecu
tive and legislative officers Of the State should
be elected BY the people therefore,
ResGlrs;L That, in our opinion purely
Republican Government is maintained only
by making Our rulers responsible directly to
the people by frequent elections--not by the
Legislature, but by TIE people themselves f;
I therefore,
Resolved, That the delegates we shall send
| to the Constitutional Convention about to be
| called By the Comm anding General, be in
structed to so frame cur new Constitution,
that the Governor and Council, Senators and
REPRESENTATIVES Of the State Legislature, and
all subordinate officers, except those of the
Judiciary Department, be chosen by the peo,
pie, to bold their respective Offices, not for
two years. but for one year. And that, in the
election o. President and Vice President Of
the United States, chosen every four years,
the electors, as they are now in every other
State in the Union, shall lie chosen by the
people directly, and not By the members Of
the Legislature.
8. That the poor and destitute, those aged
and infrm people, houseless and homeless,
and past labor, who have none to care for
them, should be provided for at the expense
Of the State; and that, in the reconstruction
of our Government, we will see TO it that
they ara not neglected and forgotten.
8. That the unhappy policy pursued by
Andrew johnson is, in its effects upon the
loyal people Of the South, unjust, oppressive
and intolera lie; and accordingly, however
ardentlv we desire 10 see our State once more
restored TO its proper position in the Union,
we would deplore restoration on any other
conditions than those prescribed by the for
,ieth Congress, to which We give our cordial
and entire sanction, believing the principles
enuncated by the Republican party, through
that Congress, to be Just and wise.
10. That the adverse discrimination towards
the agricultural labors Of the Southern States,
as manifested by the enormous ;aS on cotton,
is unjust and oppressive, and should be abro-
gated at the earliest practicable moment.
IL. That we sincerely csult in the fact that
as q nation, we are now absolutely nation
of freemen, and that, from the St. Lawrence
to the Rio Grandc ard from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, the sun no longer shines upon the
brow of slave.
u. That wise care for the public safety
sometimes renders il necessary that thos, who
haze sought resolutely to overthrow Govern
ment shoald not hastily be restored to the
privileges Of whiah they have deprived them
selves by their crime of tresson-certainly
not until they have shown evidence OF SIN
cere repentance, and disposition as energet
ically to Support as they have in times past
sought to destroy the Union; aud ll:.. =. we
consider Willingness on the part Of these men
to elevate to power the men who preserved
answering adherence to the Government, du.
ring the war, as the best test of sincerity in