The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-07-14

and its friends? Within the observation OF
almost every one, poor tracts OF land nave
been bought at immense prices, and so lar rs
this committee have been able to learn, with
no eve to the benefit of those whom this scheme
was professedly intended to provide with land
and homes
With the partial exposures already made,
the administration party, consisting Largely OF
individuals holding four or five paying offices
each, acknowledges that reform is needed, but
insists that thcy must carry on the reform J;
that this acolf must be the nursing mother of
our lamb. If their repentance is sincere, they
should pray to be delivered from temptation,
not to be forced to hold watch and ward over
the tempting Treasury.
Let us see how the increased receipts OF the
Treasury have been, and are to be expended; !;
Salaries 1867, $4,000; 1870, Sl67 500. Con-
tingent funds, 1867, S25000; 1870, S34, 3O0.
Legislative expenses, 1867, $4,000; 1870,
Sl44, 100. Educational and military, 1867,
5000; 1870, S125000 extraordinary eXpen-
ses, $4,000.
These are few items from official sources,
indicating the suferings of our people, the
faithlessness of the Just stewards, who have
gained control and disposition of the affairs OF
the State. But this is not all-in many OF
the Counties, the County offices and County
funds are held by individuals irresponsible and
notoriously corrupt, and disposed of for the
same illegitimate purposes. Add to this, that
large monopolics are passed the Legislature
through the medium OF open and notorious
bribery; that franchises are seldom obtained
but bv private purchase or for corrupt and
fraudulent ends that the commoncst acts OF
Justice, requiring legislation, must pay their
passage; that votes of members OF the Legls-
iature are bought and sold as merchandise;
that public officers prostitute their positions
and even the legislation of the State to the
purposes of stock-jobbing and speculation
that so stupcndous fraud is perpetrated as
that whereby the Land Commission aided by
the Advisory Board, of which the Governor OF
the State is the official head, acquired $780,
of the public money in single transaction;
and, above all, that the administration OF the
State has not dragged to light and to punish.
mcnt even one of their infamous band, and
saw where. in all the catalogue of iniquity
which disgraces the history of fallen humanity,
can be found Il parallel to this picture, family
but faithfully dclincatcd? This Is the carnival
of vice and corruption flowing from that Pande-
monium OF ruin and disgrace into which the
antagonism of races has converted the Govern
mcnt of South Carolina. The question for you
to decide is: Shall these things continue so to
be? Is no effort to be made to rescue from
utter ruin the vast materials of wealth and
prosperity vet remaining, which require only
good government TO make You great and
happy people? Will you continue to be the
slaves, the hcwcrs of wood and drawers OF wa
ter of this abominuble faction of plundcrcrS
who arc sustained by your divisions? If not,
how then will you achieve your emancipation
|. is evident that one of two things must be
done Either, first, universal suffrage must be
abolishcd or second, the absolute and sharp
antagonism of the races must be so Tar reno
ycd us to enable the good people OF both to
combine for the purposes OF good government
Let us examine these alternatives in their or
der First: Shall we undertake to abolish
universal suffrage? Where is the hope of sue
cess? The principle of universal suffrage con-
stitutes the basis of Democratic Rcpubicanism
throughout the world. 1t is the cornerstone
of all existing governments Ill the Southern
States. The American Democracy in 1865
warrcd not against the principle, but contend
ed only for the right of the States to control
it. The strongest Democratic States OF the
Union have incorporated it into their practice
and their laws. The American people, in the
last Presidential election, by large mGorltles,
pledged themselves to maintain 1t IN the South
The fifteenth amendment, prohibiting Its
abridgcmcnt by the United States or any of
the States, has assumed the form of law and is
sustained and enforced by the General Govern
mcnt, with all its power, by the enactment OF
the strongest legal sanctions. The Executive,
the Judiciary, and the people OF the country,
arc well known to be in harmony with the
measure. No party has raised the standard of
revolution or appeal Where, then, shall the
crusade against principle thus fortified, be-
gin? Let him who will, undertake the task,
we push the argument to his own conclusion,
and meet him there
Assume that the technical exceptions to the
fifteenth amendment should be sustained; that
the Supreme Court Of the United States should
declare the Reconstruction Acts unconstitution-
al and void that the next President and the
Congress to be elected with him, representing
any majority possible of the American people,
would undertake TO re-organze these States and
TO wrest the suffrage from the colored race does
any man doubt that the whole country would
then blaze with the fires of 81 civil war, herce,
bitter. bloody and protracted? What, i'll that
case. would be our condition? Imagination
shrnks from the conception; reason recols
from its contemplation, and Mortified humanity
reyots from the spcctaclc-a delugc of blood
succeeded by an unbrOken reign OF ruin and
dcsoation. We cannot tell what may be the
PURPOSES of the Ruler Of the universe concern
| ing this question, but as far as the light OF hu-
man reason may guide us, it seems evident that
the world is to pass under the rule oil the pe0-
plc in some form of Democratic government.
That idea has been terminating to its develop
mcnt for at least three centuries, and its march
is still onward Should reaction ever set in
towards other forms of progress, it will lc when
this generation and its vexatious temporary and
accidental local issues shall have passed away.
Let no man deceive himself The thought of
revolutionzing public sentiment on this sub
icct by moral forces. is the bndest and most
impotcnt fatuity. That of eradicatlng it from
our system by force of arms, won! be more
ness Either movement would begin without
hope and terminate in despair. Its advocates
would be trampcd out under the heel of popu-
lar progress, but no more arrest its march than