The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1868-07-30
negro GOvernaile ents.

York on Thursday last, said:
81 will only state few facts, for il is a
thing upon which | dare not speak. In
the legislature of South Carolina, compos-
cd Of l56 members,-of that legislature
from whose halls used to go as high intel
lect as ever came to the halls Of congress
OF those 156 members. there are nearly
if not quite, now, 100 negroes. Kisses
and cries of shame." From these ne
groes, ard ali Of that legislature, the whole
taxes that they are liable to pay amount to
500 T'Oh, OH! and laughs. OF that,
about $500 has been paid by one Of the
conservative mem oerS and of the S20O
that is to be paid by negroes and carpet
baggers, half of it is under execution.
Applause and laughter.1 Well, that leg
islature, composed in that way, has the
right to impose levy of tax on South
Carolina to the amount Of $40 100000
daughter Now, gentlemen, if that
state of things goes on, what will be the
result? Why you know it means that in
few years from this time there will not
be white man, woman or child in the
state Of South Carolina. Cries of
shame n l only mention that as one Of
the southern states. 1t is true that it is
perhaps in a worse condition than most of
the others, but they are all afflicted by
that fearful calamity that is hanging over
US, and we can have no relief unless the
democratic party will come out and pledge
itself that we shall have fair election ;
that the white people Of the south shall
vote"
Wade Hampton was rebel, and skill
ful and daring soldier in the confederate
armies. but lie is man whose veracity
and honor never have been challenged.
His statement discloses a condition of af
fairs that ought to make every member Of
the ruling party hang his head in shame
What would an intelligent European, who
had made our political system study
and comes to this country iavorably im-
pressed with our institutions and what he
knew of our workings, think should he
visit South Carolina anu witness the oper-
ations of the Legislature Hampton &C.
scrihcs =? Many members Of it have not
enough Of intelligence to write their
names. Not cne-haf of lie members can
understand the rules OF the body. Two
thirds Of them are negroes,-stolid, iSno-
rant, filthy, and vioinns-
The rotton Jacobin rump had three
purposes in view in enacting the recon-
struction ingamy: The first was to per-
petuate its own power The second was
to rropitiatc the extreme men OF the par
ty,-disciples Of Sumner aud Phillips
who constantly rant about human brother
hood and equality. The thing was to
wreak a mean and cowardly vengeance on
the confederate leaders.
These were the motives. and tic only
ones, that controlled or Influenced the au-
thors of the in!amy iu concocting their
scheme for the subjection OF the white
men Of the south TO negro rule. Nothing
more exalted than this entered into the
minds of the men who plotted the infamy
and are responsible for its enforcement
The proof ofth is found in the fact that,
while congress is eager to remove political
| disabilities from all coDfederatcs who Join
the Jacobin party, that body will not re-
move sch disabilities from men who act
with the democratic party. The most bit
ter and persistent rebel has but to pro-
claim himself Jacobin, and lie is admit
ted a; once to political life and honors
but men like Alexander H. Stephens,
and Herschel " johnson, and Governors
Sharkey aud Marvin, who were true un-
ion ncn and fought secession until the
confederate movement obtained complete
control of the south, are kept under ban
by our "loyal congress-" 1t ia not dispu-
ted that they are men Of singular ability
and of unimpeachable honor, yet they are
excluded from all civil office, while such
iuen as BrOwnlow, and Rice, and Huuni-
cutt, and creatures even more despicable,
are welcomed to leadership and gubernato-
rial and senatorial seats.
The negroes have majority in South
Carolina; and it is not, therefore surpri-
sing that its Legislature should be COM
pounded of such contemplate material as
now controls it. In states, however,
where the whites have large majorties,
the reconstruction infamy has d'sfran-
chised so many Of them as to give the ne
gro party the ascendency. That party has
carried the southern states tlrOug n this
scoundrelsm The intent of congress was
to place every southern state as complete
Ia, undor rporo coOtrol as South Carolina