The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-05-16

those who now possess itpto others; at is
inesitable Tie holders of taxable property
in South iGarolina cannot To- day, md viii not
hereafter, be able totpay tho taxes imposed
upon them. sls ;s,t5 E.,ssis
" Many of you nfe able Itos form some
.ensannhle, conjecture ns to- thet number
Of paupors who viii assert their claims upon
the charity and sympathy of tho State. Il on
have already had some experiences with re-
ference 10 ono lracc, and am persuaded you
will not have the slightest difficulty in making
you calculations Not even a negro father
son or husband, is required to contribute a.
dollar towards the support of tho pnupers;o of
his raco." Z sist i.;s ~ q
lie next addresses himself moro especially
to tho colorcd man, and remarks: /. ia !
s"F there be any colorcd man who intends
to be industrious, frugal ind moral--to elevate
himself and f,mily Ito that man desire to say
one word Lot him acquire real estate and
iearn tofrcad and write, SO TINT he may be-
placed in the category of itha,whitc man who
owns taxable property, and; nm not totally!
successful and critical examination Of the new
Constitution, ho will be unable to retain his
property three years. Il will be taken from
him by those of his; own race who are idle,i
thriftlcss. and do not mean to work. Hence:
it is that call upon all respectable colored
mon, who entertain hopes of future prosperity,
to dcnouncc that Constitutions and Join his
natural, ancient and true friends in opposing
its ratification" t 81 G $50. .E5s
Next, after exposing the deceptive features
IN the Constitution proposed ON the subject of
the homestead claim, and the annulihgi of all
debts of which slavery were the consideration,
and after:isome comments upon the dangerous
organization of the judicial power of tile State,
lie concludes thus ~ y.ssssss 3ssi.s sts.s Z S
lsss itptiou N itlI such
IenQrpiifies in IT will hot
a1d more i;stat 10 tho biaa
eolofel nlnls sss suirsd
Ilias repl efcst
EE3opati tIis
), T ri allow ia,, 30 sasiaasd II silss,
who would make him believe that it Is is; J
interest to oppose the reople who have ircnredd
4 and nurturcd him through life So cumbrols
! and complicated is the inachinerg of tina,
Constitution, consisting, as it docs of the most
, minute details, and SO burdcnsonle will be tile
, government which it inauguratcs thut you vii
, be crushed by it. You cannot bear it. Aswel
might tho heavy. harness of the mailed warrior
, be put upon the lines of an infant ns for these
; burdens to be imposed upon the impoverished
: people Of South Carolina. None but people
: rich and highly educated can live under that
! Constitution. Try it if you will, but tel
! you gentlemen, that autagonism viii be ex
5 cited between the two races, and conflict may
t DC the result. Under it peace and harmon,
: arc utterly impossible in South Carolina"
we have thus suggested to your honorable
body some of the prominent objections to you,
: adoption of this Constitution. We waive al
argument upon tue subject Of its validity. 1,
sa Constitution ae Jacto, and that Is tn,
ground upon which we approach your honora
BILE body in the spirit of earnest remonstrance
That Constitution was tho work of Northorr
adventurcrs, Southern reuegradcs and ignorant
negroes. Not one per centum. of tho white
population of the State approves it, and no,
two per ccntum. of tho negroes who voted fol
> its adoption know any more than u dog, horse
} or cat, what his net of voting implied. That
Constitution enfranchiscs every malo negro
over the ago Of twenty-ono, and disfranchises
many of the purest and best white men of the
State. The negroes being in large .numcri
; cal majority, us compared with tho whites, the
effect is that the new Constitution establishes
in this State negro supremacy, with all its
, train of countless evils. A superior race--a
portion, Senators and Representatives, of the
J same proud race to which it is your pride tc
bclong--is put under the rule of an inferior
race-thc abject slaves of yesterday, the flush
ed freedmen of to-day And think you that
there can be any just, lasting reconstruction
Oh this basis The Committee respectfully
reply, i'll behalf of their white fellow-citizcns,
that this cannot be. We do not mean 70
threaten resistance by arms. But the white
people Of our State will never quietly submit
to negro rule. We may have to pass under
the yoke you have authorized, but by moral
agencies, by political organization, by every
~p.t \. p 80. IN. \ -,