Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-09-04
Southern Reconstruction. South
Carolina Legislature.

For tho first time in tho history of
u troo people, pauporism, ignorance
and vlco havo boon mado ruling pow
crs in tho State, and q government
which is presumed to roprcsont tho
property, Intelligence and virtuo of
tho country is characterized by tho
absence of ovory clement which could
mako it oithor decent or respectable,
or enable it to fulfil a single purpose
OF its establishment. Southern Ro.
construction is worse than revolution
itself, involving not merely change
OF rulers, but an uphoaval of tho
foundations Of society, u dissolution
OF Its clements, an inversion Of its
established order, violation of its
iaws-rcPudiating ovcry lesson of
sage experience and outragins every
dictate OF our common nature. Wo
have been accustomed to look upon
the Legislative body, as tho reflection
OF whatever is exalted in talent, vir-
tue and public character, and as rep
rcsenting all the varied Interests
which government is designed to fos-
ter and protect. But this has boon
all changed. Virtue has become vice
and evil, good, and those high Offices
which wero once tho rewards Of hon.
ored merit and distinguished public
service, arc now tho prey of needy
adventurous and faithlcss rcnccadcs.
until offlco itself has become a bye
word Of rcproach, badge of shame,
MS it is tho prico Of dishonor. What
shall we say Of Legislative body,
which representing neither tho prop
crty, intelligence, nor rospoctability
OF tho country, but composed Of tin
Grant carpetbaggcrs, rccrcant scala
wags, and ncwly enfranchiscd slaves,
without tho intelligence to discern,
or any motive to protect tho true in.
tcrcsts of tho State, arc now prcsum-
ing to make laws for tho government
OF this once great and uoblc common
wealth-who without property thom-
selves are prcsuming TO tax your
property and my property, to sustain
government which dishonors tbo
namo and impairs the credit, and i'm.
poverishes the resources Of tho
State.
Tho proceedings of tho so.callcl
South Carolina Legislature are such
as might woll bo supposed to cmanat,
from body, which is in itself ono Of
Tho hrst fruits Of nnivcEsal suffrage
extended to tho nowly onfranchiscd
slaVes-which elcctod by thoso who
wero the ignorant dupcs of tho art
ini and designing, represents the Gu.
pldlty OF the alion, and tho rapacitv
OF tho renegade who having no hon.
or to save and no character 10 lose, arc
carrying out their own selfish purpo.
ses without compunction and without
shame. Tho proceedings have been
characterized throughout by :, ovcry
species Of grossness and indolicacy---
by a violation Of parliamentary law
and docorum-and by an amount of
folly and corruption, which wo SUP.
pose nevor before disgraced logisla-
tive body-shamolossly practiscd and
unblushingly avowed- Bribery has
boen tho potent lover bywhich Office
has been attained and Legislative nc
tion secured, and tho success Of moas.
nres have boon mado to depond. not
upon; their fitness to advance the in
terests Of tho State, hut apon tho
means at their command to buy up
tho patronage of individual numbers
After two months session, what
great measure of public utility hns
been inaugurated7 On the contrary,
weeks have beon spent in, tho creation
of offices, and in caueauses to fill
shem--in ehorte to build~dp a party,
and to fiji the pockets offits noedy
followers. Incendiary debates have
been held, exciting the, antipathies
and kindhng the animosities of race,
and measure has been attempted to
be hurried through, which wolIid nro.
woke endless sntagonims and COLI.
sions. Chartered rights an vested
interests are to be sacrificed IL IN tho
20 Of the State Bank, sesgrccdy