The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-25

/ eny member on the door 30 devoid OF reason
| to suppose that by further impoyerlshlng even
thase-the rebels-it would result In any good
to the peopleP Thousands OF farmers In the
State own from one to three hundred acres OF
land. They constituteda o class who were loyal
TO the government, who had been forced at the
point or the bsyonet into the rebellion, or
| driven into the mountains and swamps to es-
cape CONSUMPTION; and was it proposed to pun
| ish these men and their families by sellng
their little property TO their richer nelgh6ors
| or to the speculator, and turning them admit
mon the world, For one, he was opposed to it.
It could not be contradicted that If the pro-
posed sales took place, o vast amount OF pro-
| perty would be sacrificed. single pcldent
would illustrate, One Of the secretaries OF the
convention, uuder this forced system had sold
brick residence which, IN ordinary tlmes,
would have brought $4,000. 1t was knocked
down by the auctioneer for the paltry sum OF
| $3.50. POSTPONE these sales for time, and
what harm could be done? Admitting that
the failure to pay debt was violation OF con-
tract the convention did notpropose to further
| violate contracts by o reputation. The slmPle
and only purpose was, in mercy, to stay tne
execution of the law for such period as would
enable either the debtor or the legislature to
provide more substantial and permanent
means Of relief. -
There was already in South Carolina scores
of speculators heartless and wealthy, having
no interest in the community, none In the SOIL,
none in the welfare Of the State.A SeH-aggran-
dizement was their only motive, and TO grasp
ut and secure these lands at an enormous
sacrifice is their only purpose. Once IN pos,
session of the property they would retain 1t
until the day Of judgment, or until the poor
freedmen chose to yield TO their e1horbitant
demands Was this protection of the people
was It justice.,.was it wise Legislation Z, a.
Doubtless the time would come when the
large landho}der, oppressed by debts, would
weld TO necessity, and when individuals had
means to buy, would sell their possessions at
reasonable rates, but the speculation never.
In due time. the legislature itself, by system
of taxation, might induce the sale ofsuch vast
tracts as were uncultivated. This measure
proposed nothing OF the sort. IL Only re-
quests General Candy, in the exercise OF his
discretionary power, as o merciful man, to do
that which had been done Of his predecessors,
and for time afford measures OF rehef that
would be appreciated by the people.
F. L. Cardoza Icolored), of Charleston, an
swered wildly. First, he didn't like the pcr-
sonal illusions of the preceding speaker, to
the mercenary motives Of members; and
secondly, he didn't believe 10 his argument.
BE doubted the legality Of any legislation. The
request to General Candy carried with 1t
moral influence. It showed what the conyen-
ton would itself do, had it the power. stay
law was unquestionably unconstitutional, and
IL WAS un1uSI W ILe ClSuVoi, "hooo A'6A'S 0S
manded protection. =,
What rights had debtors more than credit
ora /? and what was the nature Of their trans
actions? They were based upon the sale Oh
slaves. Nine-tenths Of the property now seek
inr to be protected by stay law has become
involved by reason Of dealings in flesh and
blood, and he hoped both classes would suffer.
he wanted to put himself out of the way of
helping either. They supported the treasury
and maintained the war by which his race were
to be held in bondage. Slaves were sold for this
purpose as well as other species Of property.
Now let them Day forit. Lot them suffer for 1t.
They cast the die. Let them accept the re-
suits.
Another reason for the postponement of the
question, even for ten centuries, WIS this :
One of the greatest bulwarks Of slavery was
the Internal plantation system, which permit
ted man to hold ten, twenty, fifty, yea, eighty
Thousand acres, and as long as 1t existed,
though their freedom might be upheld by the
bayonet, it would be of no avail. The strength
OF the North consisted in its small farms, and
the strength of the South would only begin to
show when every freedman possessed his own
land. He did not believe in confscation, but
If men of wealth sold their property to main
tain the war, let them take the consequences.
Slavery being destroyed, let the plantation go
with it. They would never have freedom until
the old system OF agriculture Is dead. Even
The SUCCESS Of education depends upon it's des-
truction. Recently one hundred coloIed men
purchased six hundred acres for $4,000, which
before the war cost $50, 600. These were hap
DIV results, aid he desired to see more OF them.
Providence smiled upon bis race not only du-
ring the war, but recently it has given unmis-
takeable signs Of disapprobation by blasting
the cotton crop by means Of oaterpllars, and
compelled men to plant food and cereals. In
doing 30 they would cut the State up into
small farms and thus encourage the poor OF
both classes. CThe very reverend and plous
speaker did not add here that nearly two mil
lions of his people are starving. in consequence
of this disappearing frown OF Providence, or
that, according TO experience it occurs every
twenty-one years.]
Two wear ago this class who are clamoring
for relief declared that not O Niger or white
man should ever own rod of their land. Now
they we're pushed and willing to sell. Tell me,
their meanness. Now is the timel AS Gen.
Grant said when he had Lee at Petersburg, so
say I-sNow is the time to strike" and in
doing so We will strike fjr peace and prosperi-
ty, and the truest peace and prosperity Of the
country.
T. J. Robertson (white), of Richland, opp6s.
ed the resolution. The gentleman who first
addressed the convention made insinuations
to which he took exceptions. He had the
credit Of being rich man-it was 70 fault OF
his that he was not. But he never sold a man
out in his life. He had aided more men in
South Carolina, white and black, than any man
in the State to the extent of his means: He
had borrowed money at two and q half per
cent per month and loaned it at seven per
cent. per annum, and now he could not get it
back. He had kept more men out of the war
than any man in his district, and they would
stand by him ne haa oos neen ~ ,hsuitea h ed ana
determined, as he would not insult human
being without provocation, to resent any such
injury to himself.
His objection to stay laws was that they un-
settled business and drove away capital. The
best of securities in South Carolina are worth
only fifty cents on the dollar. Why, there was
no protection to investments. Money would
not flow nither when equal securities could be
found elsewhere unendangered by the threat
OF reputation or stay in the execution of the
law.
In reply to these arguments, W. G. Whippor,
Ul IL