The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-05-20
The South Carolina Constitution.

The South Carolina Constitution.
Colonel J. ?. Thomas, J. G. Gibbs, Esq,
and Colonel L.. J. ChiIds, representing the
State Central Executive Committee of the
Democratic party of South Carolina, have
been here to present to Congress re-
monstrance on the part of the white peo-
pie of South Carolina against the const-
tuition lately adopted by the South Caro-
lima Reconstruction Convention. On
Friday, the 9Th of May, the committee
appeared before the Reconstruction Com
mittce of the House. Mr.. Stevens re-
ceived them with courtesy. Colonel J..
P. Thomas, the chairman of the commit
tee, and representing the State Central
Executive Committee of the Democratic
party of his State, addressed the commit
tee. Colonel Thomas remarked that in
analyzing the proposed constitution for
South Carolina, there were two objections
that stood out in bold reief-unQuahhed
negro suffrage and the taxation power.
He then went on to say that unlimited
negro suffrage meant negro rule, and that
would prove disastrous to the black peo-
pie. The whites could, and would, soon
resume their just influence. But unlim-
tied suffrage would make the blacks az
rogant and the whites bitter. The conse-
quence would be antagonism of races, in
which the negro, as the weaker tribe,
would 60 to the wall. This was the ar
rangement of God, and no human decree
could avert the logical result. Further
more, under negro rule no capital would
flow South. and that was what was need
ed above all things at the South. Under
negro rule there could be no material
prosperity, no security for property. The
negro needs the nerve necessary to good
government, and rs to the powers Of taxa
ton conferred in the negro constitution.
they were fearful and outrageous. The
constitution establishes taxation without
representation in its most offensive form.
Those who have no property are to tax
those who own all the property.
Our torefathcrs, said Colonel Thomas,
fought against that principle, and would
the Reconstruction Committee now en-
SHRINE the odous principle in constitu-
ton for South Carolina-an ancient Com
monwealth, and one Of the old thirteen !?
On this point Colonel T. further argued
how. this taxation under tho negro con-
stitution would injure both races. AS
soon MS the black man should acquire
property, he became liable to this unrc-
strained system of taxation, just like the
whites. Colonel L. stated that under the
negro constitution S2,000.000 might be
raised in the way of taxes, $1,000, 900 of
which was to 90 to educational purposes,
and vet those educational advantages
would be enjoyed by blacks alone, as white
children could not be expected to attend
mixed schools, such as the negro consti-
tntion establishes.
In conclusion, Col Thomas stated to
the committee that he felt it his duty to
say to them in all candor. but deep earn
cstness. that whilst the whites are, most
of them, prepared to conccde to the ne
gro all that lie may be entitled to, yet the
white race will never-nO, never-quletly
Weld to negro rulo. The blood that
warmed'alike his own veins and those of
the committee before him flowed faster at
that thought. You may make us pass
under that yoke, said Colonel T., but by
every means God and you have left us
under the Constitution and laws, we will
resist the yoke of an inferior race. By
peaceful means, by political efforts, by
material agencies we will carry on this
contest until we regain the political con-
troll which belongs TO the purer thought
and magic of mind everywhere, ever since
the world began.
"Nor,o said Colonel T., "can you have
prosperity South under your reconstruc-
ton scheme. But give the South fair
showing; restore her to the Union on a
fair and just basis, and again will our
people return with willing hearts to the
Union of old; and the same energy, the
same valor, the same self-sacriice that
they gave to the lost cause will they give
now to the Union, provided you meet
them in spirit of just magnanimity, and
accord to them the rights and the show
ing to which they are entitled"
We may remark that when Colonel
Thomas exhibited the extent to which the
negroes might carry their taxation of the
whites, Mr.. Stevens suggested to him that
it might be well to let those ouly who had
property vote on the question ofproperty
taxation. Colonel IT. replied that ho saw
much wisdom in the suggestion, and hoped
that the committee would so amend the
proposed constitution for South Carolina
National Intelligcnccr.
A CHILD CARRIED AWAY BY AN EAGLE
Tho Quincy Nllinois) Herald says