The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-07-26

! lptopriety resolution could be intro
duced, to the effect that as. large
houses or palaces in cities were use-
less, and as persons often occupied
houses IN which there were number
of vacant rooms, they should be COM
PEELED to dispose of them; the prin-
ciple was the same. s <N 'i y
| PnATFoRAI. Ssys, &,
The following is the platform MS it
finally passed:
1. That in order TO make the labor
of all our loyal fellow-citizens more
effectual for carrying out the provi-
sions of Congress. for the restoration
of law and order in our State, as we'll
as for the peace and prosperity of
our entire country, we, the people. of
South Carolina, do form ourselves
into political organization, to be
known as the Union Republican
party of South Carolina.
2. That as republican institutions
cannot be preserved, unless intelli-
gence be generally diffused among all
classes, we will favor n uniform sys-
tenn of free schools and colleges,
which shall be open to all.
3. That we will favor q liberal sys-
tenn Of public improvements, such as
railroads, canals and other works,
and also such system of awarding
contracts for the same as will give all
our fell0w-citizens an equal and fair
chance to share in them.
4. That as large land monopolies
tend only to make the rich richer and
the poor poorer, and are ruinous to
the agricultural, commercial and
social interests of the State, the Lc-
gislature should offer every practical
BILE inducement for the division and
sale of unoccupied lands among the
poorer classes, and as an encourage
ment to immigrants to 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 dd udlorem, and pro-
portioned to the property of the
citizens
Z. That the ballot being the surest
safeguard of the rights of the citizen,
all executive and legislative officers of
the State should be elected by the
people; therefore,
ResOlrei, That, in our opinion, n
purely republican government is
maintained only by making our rulers
responsible directly to the people by
frequent elections-not by the Legis-
lature, but by the people themselves;
therefore,
Resolred, That the delegates we
shall send to the constitutional Con-
vention about to be called by the
Commanding General, be instructed
TO so frame our new Constitution,
that the Governor and Council, Sc
nators and Representatives of the
State Legislature, and all subordinate
officers, except those of the Judiciary
Department, be chosen by the people,
to hold their respective offices, not
for two years, but for one year. And
that, in the election of 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 be chosen by the
people directly, and not by the mem
bers of the Legislature.
8. That the poor and destitute,
those aged and infirm people, house
less and homeless, and past labor,
who have none to care for them,
should be provided for ut the expense
of the State; aud that, in the recon
struction of our Government, we
will see to it that they are not ne
elected and forgotten.
g.. That the unhappy policy pur-
sued by Andrew. johnson is, in it's
effects upon the loyal people of the
South, unjust, oppressive and intole-
rable; aud accordingly, however
ardently we desire to see our State
once more restored to its proper po-
sition in the Union, we would deplore
restoration on any other conditions
than those prescribed by the fortieth
Congress, to which we give our COR
dial and entire sanction, believing
the principles enunciated by the Re-
publican party, through that Con-
gress, to be just and wise.
10. That the adverse discrimina-
tion towards the agricultural laborers
OF the Southern States, as manifested
by the enormous tax on cotton. is
unjust and oppressive, and should be
abrogated mt the earliest practicable
moment.
IL. That we sincerely exult in the
fact that, rs n nation, we are now
absolutely nation of freemen, and