The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-11-05
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interess, can be proposed to the people
of the State. None of such import
| ancs and interest has ever been pre-
sented to the people, !at any time In
the history OF the country. Well
may it be asked, what relief can be
| given or afforded by the Convention,
which is about to be elected by the
people ? Let all the people ponder
the weight Of the question. rs
I was member of the Convention
of the State, in September, 1866,
and advocated before the people of
Newberry District this proposition
that the indebtedness of the people
should be so graduated in proportion
to the losses sustained by the war and
the freedom of the slaves, that the
indebtedness of the county should
be reduced in proportion as the
value of the property of the country
had been diminished. 1 thought
that the Convention, coming directly
from the people. had the power &c
i do this, or something like it; or at
least, do that which would cause the
calamities and disasters Of the war to
be shared by all classes equally, or
rateably, SO far rs this could be done.
I think this would be doing justice.
The credit of the country was based
on the value of the property in it. A
large part of that property-and that,
too, the most available and most valu-
able in the South, not only in this
State-consisted of slaves; their
emancipation has deprived the people
of large amount Of property-all
their lands have deprecated very
much in value. Bank stocks and all
other stocks have also deprecated in
value; and it is manifest, that if the
country, with its lands and every
thing else, were put up to be sold
in the shoriff's hammer, all would
not near bring what would pny off
the Indebtedness of the country.
Anything SO plain as this, needs no
argument to illustrate tit is $50
plain, that way-faring man, though
q fool, need not err" in this respect.
In this state of things, the great bulk
of the people would be turned out of
doors, and few money holders
would become the owners of the
lands. Can any man, who has the
common feelings of humanity, look
upon the scenes of distress and misery
that would thus be produced, and
have no feelings of compassion? Per-
haps he who could see nothing but
| gold, could with Indifference behold
such scene! None other could, I
| know.
I do not know who will compose
the members of the Convention; but
whoever they are, they will have
grave and responsible duties to per-
form. They need not suppose they
can hastily, and without mature de-
liberation, meet and frame n Con-
stitution, without being held to n
strict accountability for the work they
do, and the manner in which it is
done.
Something must be done for the
relief Of tho country and the people
who dwell in it. To overburden
them with taxation, and to lay any
heavy tax on industry, is wrong.
Lands should not be heavily taxed.
because that is making our common
mother pay because we draw our
nourishment from her bosom. Wise
statesmen never tax lands high; the
taxes on lands should always be low
and this is true of all taxation.
And if the Convention can or will do
nothing else, they should be careful
to secure to every family q home
stead, sufficient for the support of
the family, which conld never be
sold under execution. This should be
the fundamental law of the land
the Constitution.
We are aware that reputation is
spoken of in some quarters, and the
Convention may adopt some measure
of that sort. The principle of repu
diation is acknowledged by oil Go
vernments, though it is called by
another name. He who avails him
self of the benefit of the bankrupt
law, gets clear of all his debts, except
those which are excepted from the
operation of the law; and, when dis
charged rs bankrupt, he is dis
charged from his debts, except as
provided in the Act of Congress.
This, then, is reputation, according
to law, and the debts from the pay
ment of which he is discharged can