Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-05-08

The State Central Executive Comm itt cc. has
presented To Congress arcsi,cc,f f,.l remons, rance
on trhalf Of tho wlite people of the State.
against the New Constitution, which il to be
submitted tot body for ratification. Tho
paper presents very iorcibly and conclusiveIy
the prominent objections to the Constitution
in mild and conei'ia,ory language. 1t cmLo..
les the very excellent letter of Governor Per-
ry which VIC rubisi, on our first rngc. in whicl,
Ire shows thn, The Constitution i, injurious TO
the interests Of tho white man, and incorsis
| Tent with the peace nml! prosperity Of the
state; and also tl:o cCiu:ncnts Of Mr. Burt,
| which prove that i! is TO less detrimental to
the interests Of the black race. con tli.
point, the Committee ask leave to invite at,en-
t'on to th1 comments of the Hon. A. Brrt
one Ct the "tlest laSyers Of the State, and a
man Fl the pi:;Ac.t character, and of well
known political conservatism. The following
is hia lan:;".gc the sui jet of the :ro visiona
OF the nsw Constitution, which confer tie POW.
er Of taxa,ion:'
can analysis Of tho provisions of the new
! Constitution, which confer the power of taxn
ton, have not doubt, will assure any candid
mind that no people on this continent. CON en-.
dure the burdens which it imposes. The prin.
c'rln W .iic rcrva;cs TINT entire Instrument is
thai all;tnxnti"n except for n single purpose.
, s,h he i'nIn'cd u;un real estate and upon the
income from tic sale Of merchandise. II csi-
mating the inequality Of taxat"n, we Gannot
omit the fact OF the great diversity between
the two races which i;:hahrt lie State. At
| this moment the taxable property Ia held by
one race, nu,' under that Constitution the ru
li,icnl power is vested c:;cl,.svc!y in the other
! Not only are the ordinary appropriations for
| the ri:i srrv .u Of The state Imposed upon tho
, pr"rrr,y held 10y the smaller number, but the
other rage. AS race. is NJ the present moment
! entirely exempt from any tu:.atI"n. except for
| the sHl,o:, o: public schools. very lnrge
: nuhv: of the race which own the taxable
! property acknowledgements vote, and
, cunn"t even hold the humh;cs: Office created
by that Constitution: Will. nH others. withou,
reference to property. L. educational qualicn
. ti"n. to PAST citizenship. or any other Gualiii-
ca'icn. are allowed to vote. Need say that
this ia n condition Of things which the world
never before witnessed! Your ancestors pro-
cai;nc! Il sentiment which has thrilled through
cNIy American heart, reached 10 distant coun-
tries, and been incorporated into their ccnstitu-
tinns and Laws. 1t Is this, that taxation with
out representation istyranny. Now, not only
is large cinss "f ptcperty holders in South
Carolina Disqualified to vote Or hold Office. but
those who may vote or hold office are not re.
Grired 10 have any property qualification or
To knew II letter Of the alphabet, many Of
them will not know. say that n more arrant
aud infnmoue apaliation Of class was never
designed by ANY county on the face Of the
| earth.
'Now, what must be tho consequences
Property under forms of law, in tho guisc of
taxation, will be transferred from the bands of
those who rossess il TO others. 1t is inev-
l;nl?c. The holders Of taxable properly in
Sp;:t;, Carolina cannot tn.'lny, md will not
hereafter, be ablc to pay the taxes imposed up
on them.
"Manv Of you are able to firm rome reason.
able conf lecture us 10 tho number of paupers
tho will assert their claims upon the charity
and sympathy Of the State. Iof have Glrem-
dy had come experience with reference to one
rncr, and am persuaded yol will not have the
slightest difficulty in making your calculations.
Iuirel to contribute dollar towards the sup.
port o: tie r;arers Of his race"
lie next addresses himself ninre especially To
the colorel man, and remarks:
III there he any colored man who intends to
be Industrious. frugal md moral-to elevate
himself nn'i family-:o that man desire TO
sry one word: Let him acquire real cstn,e and
learn to read and write, that he may be
placed in the category Of the white man who
OWNS taxable property, and if nm not totally
mistaken in the opinion l have derived from
successful aud critical examination Of the new
Constitution. he will be unable to retain his
property three years. It will be taken from
him Ivy those Of his own race who are idle.
thriiLrss, ard do not mean 10 work. lIs.cs il
is tla, call upon a!l respectable coloreL men,
| VIII" entertain 'hopos of future prosperity. TO
denounce that Constitution and Join his nntu-
ra' ancient and true ttisrda in orr'siug its
! rnti;ication." -
Next. after exposing the deceptive features
| III the Constitution proposed on the subject Of
the honest oaI claim, and The annnlling of all
dehlR Of which slavery were the onsiLcra,i"n,
! aud afrr some coian:rnis upon the dangerous
organization Of the Judicial power Of the
| State. he concludes thus:
"ln my Judgment, Constitution with such
! ennrini!ics in i: will prove fatal to both races
and more fatal to the black than to the white.
Tie cOlored man who has acquired property
las really more interest in preventing that
Constitution from becoming tho Fundamental
! law Of the State thnn yoH have, and trust lac
| will not allow himself to lc deirdpl hv those
who would make {n believe TINT il is his in
, terest 10 oppose the people who have reared
! nmI nur;nrcI him through l,fe. So cumbrous
and. comriicatcl is the machinery of That Con.
| stii.tiou. consisting. rs it does. of The most
| minute details. and so bu'dcnsonc will lie the
Cover nrnent w,,isl it inaulurates, TINT you will
| be crushed by it. You cannot bear 1t. As
we'll might the heavy harness Of The mailed
warrior be put upon the limbs Of an inf flnt, as
Cor these Lurden2 10 La imposed uron the i'm
povcrshed people Of South Carolina. None
but people rich nnh highly edncntcd can live
under that Constitution. Fry it if you will.
but tell yon. gentlemen. That nntns"nism will
be txc,cd between the two races, aud conflict
rnny be the result. Under it Esace sn5 har.
mony arc utterly impossible in South Caro-
| linn"
! Tho Address asserts that the white people Of
the State viii never quietly submit to negro
rule, but will use every Legitimate means to
regain their lost heritage. Itprolfers full jus
tice I" the black man, and on the snbjDci Of
qualified outrage. nssnln.s the ground taken b,
the late Colmniha "A Convention.
1t is not to ho supposed TINT the Rcmon-
strance will have the least effect upon Con-
grrss. but iia influence will he felt before that