The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-01-21

Hence, it is of the utmost Importance
that the largest intelligence possible
shall be communicated to that GLASS.
Men Of intelligence have many more
opportunities, through their reading
and observation, OF learning, and
approaching the moral law and its
requirements. Profound ignorance
almost universally couples with it
crime and vice. Hence, the educa-
tion Of the black population-and, I
am sorry to say, of many of the white
population Of the State should COM
mand the earnest attention of this
body.
In providing for it, L beg to guard
you against attempting to levy taxes
exclusively upon property. There is
no taxation, which is go universal,
just and equitable, as that upon, the
person or poll, for educational ,pur-
poses, since all are interested in
having an intelligent and virtuous
population.
| Sixth. With reference to the con.
duct of the State, I have only to say
to.yon thet the traas:i-y ;s cs:p..T.
The tax bill adopted by the last LIE.
gislature has failed, by $4,000 to
produce the amount of taxes con-
templated. We have, therefore, been
compelled to rely upon what are
known as the ''bills receivable" is
sued by authority of the Legislature,
to pay all officers and claims against
the State. The great depreciation of
property, and the general impoyer-
lshment of the State, has reduced the
amount Of taxes anticipated by the
Legislature very materially, and con-
sequently the financial condition of
the South is greatly embarrassed.
But 1T is very important that you
should, lin your deliberations, by
ordinance or otherwise, declare-and
nothing can more commend your
body to the confidence of the people
of the State, who represented its
wealth-that all of the obligations of
the State, all the bonds of the State
created prior to the war, and all the
obligations of the State since the war.
shall be fully and faithfully redeemed.
An ordinance announcing the valid
ity of the obligations of the State.
passed by you, will at once rapidly
ana largely appreciate the value Of
the bonds, now held at such low
figures. The great discount upon
the State bonds in the markets, here
and elsewhere, grows out of q want
| OF confidence in the will and deter
mination of the new Government to
redeem them. This you should set
at rest. And while you may with
propriety repudiate all obligations
contracted by the State for war pur.
poses, the credit of the State for
other obligations should not be tar
nlshed, either by reputation or u
semblance of reputation.
In framing your Constitution, 1
cannot too earnestly commend to
your favorable consideration the i'm
portance of removing the disability
from all of the white population of
this State. When you look to the
judiciary, I am very sure you can
have no reasonable ground of COM
plaint against their fairness or i'm
partiality. Under the Constitutional
Amendment, most, or nearly all, are
excluded from continuing in their
position. Have you in the State
members of the bar who are compe-
tent to discharge these high and i'm
portant trusts with the ability or even
the satisfaction to yourselves of those
who would be required to retire from
the public service, unless you make q
modification retaining them in their
present position? Is there any rea.
sonable ground of complaint against
your Appeal Court, the Judges of
your Criminal Court, or your Chan
cellors? While, under the Constitu-
ton, you may vacate these offices
and subject all of the parties to the
ordeal of On election before the
Legislature, will it not be emincntly
wise and prudent for you to place the
Judiciary in position where, if the
Legislature elected under your Con-
stitution think it expedient, they may
re-elect such of the Judges and Chan
cellors as, in their Judgment, are
worthy to be continued in these DO
sitions.
This brings me to soy that in South
Carolina, at least, there is no reason
why any man, white or colored,
should be excluded from the privi-
lege OF voting or holding Office. You
are aware that the disfranchisement
In the Reconstruction Acts of Con-
gress, excludes the intelligence and
wealth of the State. In one of the
Districts of the State, I know that the
colored people waited upon certain