The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-14
of the Constitution under review, we

Eous, uuyoASpuaole, my, outrageous.
! To this point, we would direct the
special attention of the Recqpstruc-
tion Committee, who are to pass upon
these grave matters. Under the work
ings OF the new Constitution, it will
result that those aOto hare no property
are to impose td:eeS upon those toho hold
al lie property. The legislator, in
laying taxes upon others, is usually
restrained by the consideration that
the tax imposed will fall alike upon
his own property, and that of his
neighbor; and this is powerful ele-
lment in keeping one from arbitrary
excesses. But here no such restrain
ing principle would operate; no such
conservative influence moderate the
delicate power Of taxation. The non
tax payer. may lay almost any bur
den upon the tax-paying and nro-
perty-holding. The power exists,
and the probability is that the power
will be abused. The consequence is,
that we may have under the new
Constitution, taxation to the death of
all enterprise, of all prosperity, Of all
the States material interests-taxa-
ton even to confscation. But fur
ther-the whites or property-holders
being virtually unrepresented in tie
State Legislature, there will be, and
that, too, in its most oppressive form,
taxation ,Dithom representation. Upon
this point-upon this great wrong
our forefathers went into the Revolu-
tion of 1776, and yet it is proposed
to enthrone this odious principle even
In the Constitution for South Carroll
ma! South Carolina, one of the cold
Thirteen" that fought the battiefor
human rights in the infancy of this
Republic.
But your Chairman asks me how it
would answer to insert in the new
Constitution provision to the effect
that the non-tax-payers. be debarred
from voting on questions Of taxation
on property. 1 answer, that were
that practicable, and could it be car
ried out, it would relieve the Con-
stitution somewhat of its exception
able features, and I hope your COM
mittee may revise it in this, as we'll
as in other respects. In addition,
| now, to what has been said on this
subject of taxation, let us say, Mr..
Chairman, that it is estimated that,
under the taxing provision of the
new Constitution for our State, the
sum of two millions of dollars may
be raised annually in the way of
taxes; and yet, in the palmiest days
of South Carolina, the State, it was
thought, could not we'll bear n tux of
moro than three hundred and fifty or
four hundred thousand dollars per
annum. OF this large sum, except
ing the small amount to be realized
from the poll tax on the negroes, and
excepting the smaller sum to be de-
rived from the property held by that
class, all will come from the whites
of the State. Further-of this
1000, 900 alluded to, it is estimated
that nearly one million of dollars
would be devoted to the educational
fund. Now, observe that nearly oil
of this sum will be derived from the
whites, and yet the educational ad-
vantages will accrue to the blacks
alone. And for this reason-the
public schools established by the
Constitution. although open to both
races, In view of the tastes and senti-
ment of the whites, will be enjoyed
only by the blacks. Thus the whites
will be taxed, and most heavily
| taxed, for the education of the blacks
alone. We are anxious to provide
for the education of all classes of our
people, and we desire to elevate the
colored people placed in our midst
by Providence. But we denounce
the. system proposed, and protest
against this enormity being foisted
upon us. Nor is it only to educate
all Africa in our midst that we are
taxed, but we are to be mnlcted for
the establishment of State Reform
Schools; and each District is forced
to provide for the aged, infirm and
unfortunate-relieving the children
of these parties of their proper re-
sponsibility, and throwing the bur-
den upon the public, or which is the
same thing, upon the whites. Can
you conceive, gentlemen of the COM
mittee, of q system of taxation moro
ruinous and oppressive than this;
and think you that such an imposi-
tion will be tomely borne?
In rejecting upon tho result that
flow from unqualified negro suffrage
and white disfranchisoment, and
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