Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-05-28
sent to these halls, as soon as he leaves the peni

tentiary. ' '"'' a
On behalf of the Democratic State Central Com
mittee of South Carolina, laid before this House
a remonstrance against this Constitution, which
was referred to the Reconstruction Committee, and
by permission Of our Chairman, (Mr: Stevens,)
Col. Thomas, of South Carolina, advocated the
views and principles therein set forth, with mod
esty and ability that seemed to impress even our
distinguished Chairman. have that paper here.
wish had time to read it to the House. have
not I can only make few extracts from it, and
urge the members on both sides, if they want to
understand the true state of feeling in South Car
olina, and the evils this Constitution would bring
upon that people, to read and ponder well on the
facts therein contained. After stating many other
grave questions the Committee add
!. "We have thus suggested to your honorable
body some of the prominent objections to yonr
adoption Of this Constitution. We waive all argu.
ment upon the subject Of its validity. It's Con-
stitution de facto, and that is the ground upon
which we approach your honorable body in the
spirit of earnest remonstrance. That Constitution
was the work of Northern adventures, Southern
renegades, and ignorant negroes. Not one per
cent of the white population Of the State approves
it, and not two per cent. of the negroes who voted
for its adoption understand what his act of voting
implied. That Constitution enfranchises every
male negro over the age of twenty-one, and dis
franchises many Of the purest and, best white men
of the State. The negro being in large numeri-
cal majority as compared with the whites, the ef-
feet is that the new Constitution establishes in this
State negro supremacy, with all its train Of count
less evils. A superior race portion, Senators
and Representatives, of the same proud race to-
which it is your pride to belong-is put under the
rule of an inferior race the abect slaves of yester
day, the flushed freedmen of to-day. And think
you that there can be any just lasting reeonstruc
ton on this basis2 The committee respectfully re-
ply in behalf Of their white felow-citizens, that
this cannot be. We do not mean to threaten re-
sistance by arms But the white people of our
State will never quietly submit to negro rule. We
have to pass under the yoke you have authorized,
but by moral agencies by political organization by
every peaceful means left u.s. we will keep up this
contest until we have regaincd the heritage Of po-
tical control handed down to US by an honored an
cestry This is duty we owe to the land that is
of which you and we are alike emembers- proud
Caucasian race, whose sovereignty on earth God
has ordained, and they themselves have illustrated
on the most brilliant pages ofthe worlds history.
Mr.. Speaker, no man can read the remonstrance
from which these extracts are taken, and lay his
hand on his heart and say that he honestly believes
he is doing justice to his country and his rage, by
forcing such Constitution on that people. !
.. =. ,. >t--->~->---
STATISTICS OF FLORIDA.
The Florida Reniinsular publishes the following
letter in answer: to particular inquiries, which q
gentleman, in Alabama, had directed to the post
master at Manatee, Fla:
.... MANATEE, SOUTH Fla.
r. G. IT., AnJa7n, Ala.: ..s
Your letter addressed to the postmaster of this
village is duly to hand. .....
The locality is very healthy, and has never been
sicky; but the people are delicate, mostly COM
planning of their heads land they have just cause
of complaint) and the emptiness Of their pockets
and stomachs We are fifteen miles from Egmont
lighthouse, and directly on the Manatee River,
when we are not in it, which happens whenever
there is high tide, which empties into Tampa
Bay, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico The
inhabitants are subject to all the fashionable dis
cases, but rarely ever have them all at once, not
being able to afford luxuries. We keep on hand
the yellow, bilious, putrid typhoid, typhus, bro
ken-bone, intermittent, rheumatic and greenbaek
feyer-the last named generally fatal to old per-
sons.
The water is good to sail upon and to catch fish
out Of but the only creature that can drink it with
out whiskcy and sugar, and with impunity, is the
alligator We drink anything that is given us;
but when we are obliged to use water, we prefer
rain water, which We don't catch in cisterns, but
gourds, barrels, and puddles. We have only one
spring here and that is on Peter Shorters OK cart
We have very little real land here, but plenty Of
sand and Gates field and Pelots watermelon
patch The products are saw-palmetto, wild hogs
and fleas.
The country is timbercd in the usual manner,
with trees; they are of great size; two trees usu-
ay make one begun. The more one plants
upon an acre, the less it will produce ut least a.
bove ground.
The largest game we have is "seven up" or
'sold sledge," and now and then poker and
"brag''-vcry little brag here, however.
We have two kinds.of society-Christians and
heathens; very little of the former. We have
only one church in the town, and that is pine, l
believe but I will let you know positively in my
next. ...
The political people are mostly black and white.
We have no radicals and unless we get one soon,
Judging from appearances, there will be none to
snare from the North, the late elections having
used up their stock
Our school teacher is very good man. He
never beats his wife or children, and, / believe,
clothes and feeds them. This is hearsay, however.
We have but one school, but there is plenty Of
room for more.
We have only nelawyer. His ability to charge
is good, but his practice hardly pays.
We have population here, and if many more
people come, or are born here it will Increase
For conscience sake, it may be divided into classes,
male and female nearly forgot another large
class they wear trowsers, but are called "od wo-
men,"
There are many blacks here, principally Bill
Hunter and his charming wife. Mrs. Hunter
conduct as maiden, wife and mother has been most
exemplary but I am sorry l cannot speak sol
highly of MIR. Hunter, for he charges one dollar
and fftv cents per day for his work, whereas Pri-
mus Gates, our other colored brother, only gets
ten dollars per month. ......... -.
There are printed newspapers in the town; but
tbev are printed before they get here from Tampa
Our roarkets are yery pood-When we reach