The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-05-16

i'll South Carolina cannot to-day, and will not
hereafter, bo able to pay the taxes imposed
upon them. ia sf4 .rr.s.,.ss. ,'t g.5.f., q
"Many of you are able to form some
reasonable conjecture as to tho number
of paupers who will assert their claims upon
the charity and sympathy of the State. You
have already had some experience with re-
ference to ono race, and am persuaded you
will not have the slightest difficulty in making
you calculations. Not even negro father,
son or husband, is required to contribute a
dollar towards the support of tho paupers of
his raco." s4 t
He next addresses himself moro especially
TO the coorcd man, and remarks:
eff there be any colorcd man who intends
to be Industrious frugal and moral-to elevate
himself and family-to that man desire to say
one word: Let him acquire real estate aud
lcarn to read and write, SO that he may be
placed in the category of the,whitc man who
owns taxable property, and: il am not totally
mistaken in the opinion have derived from
successful and critical examination of the new
Constitution, hc will be unable to retain his
property three years It will be taken from
him by those of his own race wlho arc idle
thriitlcss, and do not mean to work. Hence
it is that | call upon all respectable colorcd
men, who entertain hopes of future prosperity
to dcnouncc that Constitution and Join his
natural ancient and true friends in npposiny
its ratification"
Next, after exposing the deceptive features
thc [ nm int Il c
the homestead claim, and the annuling Of all
debts of which slavery were the consideration.
and after some comments upnn the dangerous
organization Of the judicial power of the State.
lie concludes thus: = ,ass
aInsmys aSment, gonst titution with such
enormities in it will 10 bot races,
md more fatal to the black tost ia iiite:
The eolorcd nan who has einired psplsrty
has: really more interest in hats
yS,opstitptieas fspm bccotgp tlic
,hn = allow fsi'scif 10 to DO 'deludcd by those
who would make him believe that it is his
interest to oppose the people who have reared
and nurturcd him through life. So cu,nbrois
and complicated is the machinery of that
Constitution, consisting as it drcs of the most
minute details, and SD bnrdcnsomc will be the
government which it inauguratcs, that you will
be crushed by it. You cannot bear it. AS well
might the heavy harness of the mailed warrior
be put upon the lines Of an infant as for these
burdens to be Imposed upon the impoverished
people of South Carolina. None but people
rich and highly educated can live under that
Constitution. Try it if you will, but tell
you, gentlemen, thu. antagonism will be ex.
cited between the two raccs, and conflict may
be the result. Under it peace and harmony
are utterly impossible in South Carolina"
We have thus suggested to your honorable
body some OF the prominent objections to your
adoption of this Constitution We waive ali
argument upon the subject Of its validity II
IS Constitution dc Jdcto, and that is the
ground upon which we approach your honora
BILE body i'll the spirit Of earnest romonstrance
That Constitution was the work of Northorn
adventures, Southern renegradcs and ignorant
negroes. Not one per ccntum. of tho white
population of the State approves it, and not
two per centum. of the negroes who voted 70,
its adoption know any more than u dog, horse
or cat, what his act of voting implied. That
Constitution cnfranchiscs every male negro
over the age of twcnty-one, and DISTINGUISHES
many Of the purcst and best white men of tho
State. The negroes being i'll large numcri.
cal majority, as compared with the whites, the
effect is that the new Constitution establishes
in this State negro supremacy, with all its
train of countless evils. 4 superior mcc-a
portion, Senators and Representatives, of the
same proud race TO which it is your pride to
bclong--is put under the rule of an inferior
race-thc abjcct slaves of yesterday, the flush
ed freedmen of to-day. And think you that
there can be any just, lastirg reconstruction
OH this basis? The Committees uspcctfully
reply, i'll behalf Of their white fellow citizens,
that this cannot be. We do not mean To
threaten resistance by arms. But the white
people Of our State will never quietly submit
to negro rule We may have to pass under
the yoke you have authorized, but by moral
agencies, by political organization, by every
peaceful means left us We will keep up this
contest until we have rcgaincd the heritage of
political control handed down to us by an
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