Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-04-03
.EAo Proposed Constitution,

Iho plllItDfy piBtriet Oh the CarolInas, pas a.
Jaurned. and the Constitution proposal by
It. for tho State Of Sontl, Carolina, has been
ordered to be submitted 10 the regstered vo-
ters for approval or disapproral, on the H.
Is. apl l6th days Of April next, and as we
understand it, ai the same time the vote IS to
be taken for or against the CONSTITUTIONS, and
upon the same ticket for certain officers. viz!
Governor. Lieut.. Governor, Adjutant and In-
spector General, Treasurer, Attorney General
Superintendent Of Education, i've members o
the House Of Representatives,, one Senator il
lhs State, aud o member Of Congress. Many
Of the people of Abbeville District are opposed
70 the ratification Of the Constitution, mud we
think Inc or ostion should bs organized We
do not under the operation of the Acts Of Con.
grees and the military orders expect TO obtain
a fair expansion Of the wishes and judgment
of the District Thul we know is impossible
Many good citizens disfranchised aud q
large class are cnfranchissd not only w,lon:
authority, but in direct opposition to the laws
Of the State. But regard the danger Of
the country SO imminent, nBd the matter 60
vitality important to our very existence that
we have resolved to do our duty and urge 9TH
ers 10 DO ii Without regard TO ccnseG uences or
ihe adverse ciIeu:nitaucos surrounding Us. We
which we have been pluced, and we will do
what We believe to be cur duty.
We think there are many valid objections to
20 the Constitu,ioe rroposed-many that wa
havo not tiE<c Tor inclination to cnumerate
We indicate among Others the following:
J. We Object to it because there is no neces-
city for it. Jhe State in 1865, conrormed 10
The new state Of affairs, by placing cmancipa-
tion in her CoDsttuton-making wise aud hu-
.nens provisions Cor the protection Of the
freedmen IN their persons and property, and
slectipg Representative -es to ti,e Congress Of
ppited States. The State is already re- con-
strusted(apq freqReat tampering with the fun
damental law is go dangerous as 10 be excused
only hy urgent necessity.
2. We Object to it because in the name Of
liberty it is forced upon US by the swerd-ua
der Pret,Iee Of our eelf-gGvernment, it is
prepared and imposed by mere adventures
and strangere. in ,nany cases not only lndifer-
ent TO our welfare, but actually inimical 10 it,
We object 10 it because the whole maclin-
Fry which produced it is illegal and revolution.
ary. 4he ACTS of Congress which initiated,
and the Convention WHICH produced it, are not
OSly ''outside of~the Constitution" but op-
prefsire, an,i-reruLlican and vepgeful Tie
Hsole proceeding. it is admitted. was adoptad
as punishment, because the State refused TO
pass the constitutional amendment disfrauchi-
sing her best eiltzens. The Constitution is not
she act Of hehlsle, hut Hle decree Of her op.
psesaeA
{. We Object 10 It because the purposs i
not TO reconstruct the State, far .a,at hos al.
ready been done at the time aud u the man.
ner indicated, Ivy Andre W johnson, President
of the United States, but TO make South Caro-.
lima an Rhy and supporter of the Radical par.
ty, with which the interest of party seem.
more important Than the interests OF couutry
which is struggling TO overthrow the Judicial
and Executive branches of the government
,Au6 whose motto seems TO be, rule or ruin
.Thaso'callsd delegates were mostly emmssa-
sies aud tools Of this party.
4. We Object 10 The instrument itself 4:
we rspudiate tho parent, We denounce the
progeny. It is patch work Of contradiction
let made by the delegates who endorsed it
but abstract~A from the constitutions of 9th
sr States having differeat conditions, habits oil
thought and circumstances from ourselves.
b. We object to IL because processing to be o
Constitution r is full of mere LEGISLATION Ito
sny nothing of the rdinances whieL were rss
sed3 indicating. that the deiagutes were oi the
opinion that wisdom would die With themselves
md :hat it was necessary TO settle beyond
change every Question under tile sun. Tic
Legislature Id forbidden to touch franchise bu,
dLis ordered 10 pass the constitutional amend
mcnt which The Stete 'a,ns already refused to
'"t'fy and ns 10 which even Ohio has With
drawn her ratification.
According TO the Constitution Of the U, tied
h'ates lie Legislature Of q State is TO DIRECT
low clcc tcrs Of Pre'ident shnll lie appointed.
ht-thn wise Convention Lac itself directed
,.hhd concerning courts, education. county ar
engagements aud olLcr matters it has entered
into details unscitcd 10 Fundamental INV md
likely TO embarrass a Legislature restrained
~ them, so as 10 prevent the chapaes w1icJ
''me and progress 1nust require. The division
"i The State into school districts and other
m'hute arrangements which have bee, found
20 nns~er well in New England, bu. after
oare1"i Consideration dave been rejected bv
legislatures in this Safe as unfit from the
o'Vef''y Of col! and inequality in its various
sections. have been incorporated into the fnn.
d%"entsl la'v by men who in referauoe to The
State are unknowing and unknown.
g. We Object TO il because it. il baasd r,on
the falsehood that white and bluck are n.
came. because it is cruel to tile blacks IN
throwing them into ,nsliriesa contact and cam
:setation with THE whites (which mu,t neoe,o-
::'J embroil both races and end in the ami.
h'iat'oE Of the weaker. Tie blacks here seem
faithful in their position and they aro ept;,lad
10 ss cared for aud protected. Under the
gu'ss Of eIevsting, tho operation Of tlis Con-
stH.aioa will tsRd To- destsey than. ,oye
u =. We object 70 i because It DESTROYS onr
admirable Judiciary, introducing . nesy sys.
t*m Which is.rspugnant TO our customs and
habits Of thought. The i've annual %: sious of
the Court Of Common Pleas sad General ses
,Siops viii entail IN enormous expense which
will make Us still poorer. justices Of III.
Peace having tie decision OF al oas... o,,;,
end criminal, under one hundred dollars Ara
being elected by the registered voters Of tbs
nsisbbqfhood. wilt eoyer Tie country country WIN
atiess'0n and Pett,foggers and throw tic e,sat
mass efths tp'faes. before ignerant, prsaia.
Na'sed .nd .lessiesse, log tsdaes. .s'i''' !.
".%s. We st5set 70 Il beearss Il dissspebisss -
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