The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-18
Tho Conventions.

Tho Convention.
MEssRs. EDITORS: Regarding it as
foregone conclusion that a conven-
tion of the people of this State will
soon be called, to frame new Con-
stitution for the future guidance and
government of the entire population,
and as oil our hopes of happiness and
prosperity as people are dependent,
in great measure, upon the delibe-
rations and actions of that conven-
ton, it is q matter of the most vital
concern that the proclivities of all
persons aspiring to seat in that
important assemblage should be clear
ly made known to the voters of the
State. A matter of no, less magni-
tude than theFadoption of q new Con-
stitution, 'smore in accordance with
republican principles" is the debt
question: matter which ought to
command the most serious attention
of the State Convention. During
the four sessions of the Legislature
held since the close of the war, more
time was spent and moro parliament
ary eloquence exhausted upon this
than upon any other matter-except,
perhaps, the "Code"-that came Re-
fore the General Assembly for consi-
deration. And yet little or nothing
was accomplished. A majority of the
Legislature favored relief in some
shape; but, though they stood up
manfully defending the cause of that
large but unfortunate class of our
fellow-citizens known as debtors,
every measure adopted was thwarted
by the decision of the Court of
Errors. And yet, but for the untir-
ing exertions of the relief party
repudiationists, rs they were styled
by the opposition-and for the sub
sequent humane order of General
Sickles, ruin and desolation would
long since have been the lot of many
a family once happy and surrounded
by the comforts, if not the luxuries,
of life. This question must now be
decided, and decided by the people
c y ssrppassan tas an99oEIanatG G dsabt2s
remnant of his property that has
been left to him by the fortunes of
war, and If he and his children, and
his children's children, are to be re-
duced to system of vassalage in
comparably worse than slavery, and
II feudal aristocracy is to spring mp
IN the name of republic, let the
people say 80 in the forthcoming cleo
tions for members to the State Con-
vention; or if, on the other hand,
they prefer healthy independence,
and future bright with hopes of
happiness, peace and prosperity, let
them see to it in. due season, that the
approaching convention make it q
part of the organic law of the State,
that certain number of acres of
land, including the Homestead, /"
around which cluster ten thousand of
the most hallowed recollechons-to-
gether with the household furniture.
the working tools of the artisan, and
the horse and farming Implements of
the farmer-shall necer be liable to
levy and sale for any debt whatever.
This, L know, smacks of repudia-
ton; but the body polite, like the
body corporate, can sometimes only
be saved from impending destruction
by the heroic plan of treatment; and
repudiation, hideous though it be, is
preferable to serfdom.
These views, I am aware, will shock
the sensibilities of many q creditor
who is longing" for his "pound of
| fleSh;" but if he will bnt reflect nnon
the imminent peril of driving an
unfortunate but proud and spirited
peopIc to despair, he will, perhaps,
agree with me, that it were better not
to add the fatal feather which breaks
the camel's back.
What, then, is our duty and our
policy? Clearly, I think, to vote
'for convention" and to send such
men there rs will do somet1inq to
relieve the country from the oppres-
sive and intolerable incubus that is
existing upon it, If this opportu-
nifty is suffered to pass by unim-
proved, all your regrets will be un-
availing, when the strong arm of the
law makes you q "homeless and
houseless wanderer," "breasting the
peltings of the pitiless storm of ad-
yersity," without one friend to cling
to in your distress. Make your
choice between the two.
vOX POPULI.