The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-07

cruel to the blacks, in thrusting them
into a political contact and competi-
ton with the whites. The blacks
have been faithful in their position,
and they are entitled to be cared for
and protected. Under the guise of
elevatine, the operations of the Con-
stitution will certainly destroy them.
z. We object to it, because it de-
stroys our admirable judiciary-in-
Producing new system, which is
repugnant to our customs and habits
of thought. The five annual sessions
of the Courts of Common Pleas and
General Sessions will entail an enor-
nous expense, which will make us
still poorer. Justices of the peace,
having the decision of all cases, civil
and criminal, under 500, and being
elected by the registered votes of the
neighborhood, will cover the County
with ligitation and pettifoggers, and
throw the great mass of business be-
fore ignorant, prejudiced and cleo
tioneering judges.
8. We object to it, because it dis
franchises large number of our best
citizens. However unjust, we could
always understand why Congress
should disfranchise for what they
regarded rebellion against tho Go
vernment they represented. But it
is incomprehensible how South Caro-
lima can disfranchise her own citizens
for obeying her own orders and main
tanning her own laws. No citizen of
hers has committed treason against
her, but those who disobeyed her
laws, and are now engaged in over
throwing her institutions and de-
grading her best citizens.
9. We object to it, because this
disfranchisement is kept up by the
mean whites, not for the good of the
State, but to enable themselves to
get and hold all the offices. They
advise against negroes holding office,
and keep up the Acknowledgement of
the worthy whites, that they may
rule over men their superiors in all
things, except, perhaps, in the mo-
dern political virtue of "easy con-
SCIENCE" sometimes called loyalty.
10. We object to it, because of the
stupendous school arrangcment-re-
quiring m enormous taxation, which
is to be borne mainly by one class
for the benefit of another, and which
must be fruitful source Of injustice
and peculant corruption. We object
to compulsory schooling, rs contrary
to the genius and spirit of republican
institutions, and never accomplishing
the purpose intended.
II. We object to it, because it con-
tains a snare and a deceit in reference
to what is called "relief." The provi-
sion to secure homestead exemption
is not made retrospective, and will
apply only to future lebiS;: whilst the
great want of the times is some
arrangement by which poor debtors
can be relieved from past debts
debts contracted under different cir
cumstances, when the parties ounetl
slaUes, and which are now crushing
tho energies of our people. What
has been done will be unequal, un-
just and dclusive.
We object, because, by numerous
officers, many courts and expensive
machinery, the attempt is made to
assimilato this small State, with m
empty treasury and exhausted re-
sources, to largo and prosperous
commonwealths; property, and pro-
perty only, is made subject to taxes,
which must be enormous, and the
hope of improvement is cut off by
the subjection of those who have
property to the rule of those who
have none. What safety is there,
where one class imposes the taxes,
State and County, and another class
pays them?
For these and many other reasons,
wo object to the ratification of the
proposed Constitution. We would
rather still live under military 60
vernment, than to have it established
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