Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-10-28
Let Us Have Peace.

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that the press Of the State will drop the weap
ons Of crimination and rccrimination, and turn
its attention to the promoting of good feeling,
aud stimulating the people to new efforts in
industry and enterprise, as tho surest path.
woy to general prosperity. The Radicals
have won, "not by tho leaders of tho party,
but by the broad and just principles of Re-
publcanism. We are not sure the radicals
have triumphed. We believe Scott is re. cleo.
ted, but there is fair prospect for the clcc-
tion of Butler and majority of the House
Of Representatives by the Reformcrs At
any ratio the Reform minority will be SO large
that, with few conservative radicals, wo
hope to secure more prudence and economy
in future legislation. Nor is tho victory, if
won by the radicals, a triumph Of broad and
just principles. 1t is the victory Of the igno.
rant and non taxpaying otter over the intelli-
gepce and property Of the country. 1t is the
reversal of every idea Of good government,
aud finds no parallel except in the declining
days of corrupt republics. That intelligence
and virtue are the main pillars of free govern
ment, and that the majority of tho radical
party pretend to neither ono of these, all
must admit. How then is that Republican,
which possesses not the Wisdom to discern
the true interests of the community, nor the
virtue to strive to pursue that interest, is yet
unrestrained by property or other motive in
the exercise of power.
The number of the Radioa majority 10 the
State is far less than tho number of those
who have never paid one cent towards the
expenses of the government, not even their
poll tax, than the number who are ignorant
of the character interests and object of the
government, and who have been controlled by
appeals to their several appctites and missions
One of our citizens, riding home from Wal.
halla on thc evening Of the election, held this
conversation with au old negro For whom
did you vote? Negro.-I voted for Gincral
Grant. Ctizcn.-Who else did you vote for
Negro.-I only voted one ticket for Gineral
Grant. Several others were asked similar
questions, and they did not know for whom
they voted, nor whether the ticket was in
blue or black ink but remembered it had a
'purty" bird at the top Such are the voters
who have given radical triumph. With all
this we accept the proposition of the Rcpub.
Acan, to promote peace, as wise aud proper
Good order and good feeling are the greatest
stimulants to energy and industry
Confusion distracts every avocation and
prevents the influx of labor and capital It
decreases the value of property and the plant
ing and harvesting interests. We do think,
however, that quietus to the present excite
mcnt will be best attained, if the ruling pow.
crs will remember that there is large minor.
ity in the State, whose interests should not
be forgotten. That Governor ScoTT, if cleo
ted, should be controlled in his appointments
by proper regard for qualification in his
appointees; that undoubtcd bonds should be
required by law of all officers who handle the
State or county funds that the people should
have their constitutional right of elect 'ng JUS
tees of the peace in the various counties that
the existing laws should be so modified in
the matter of suits and fees in the courts Of
the State, as to be less oppressive to all class.
es; that three -fourths of the present salaried
offices should be abolished, and that system
of retrenonment and rigid economy should be
adopted. Then the people, seeing the gov
ernment careful Of their interests, would give
it fair, if not cheerful support.
Taxes In Virginia-Why Don't the Ne
groes PONY Up2"
The Norfork (Virginia) Jou,nal publishes
what it terms "A Sad Exhibit" showing tina
in Prince Edward county twelve hundred ne.
groes have been returned by the Sheriff as de
linqucnts for tho payment of their taxes in
other words, two thirds of the African race
contribute nothing to the support of the ex.
penses of the State and county in which they
live It is inferred from this that the same
is the fact in most of the other counties in
Virginia, if not in all. The Journal, from
which we quote, remarks -
Few Of the negroes own land or any pro-
perty assessed for taxation, the only taxes
which they are required to pay being tho poll
tax. and we sec that they cannot pay this, or
will not. In 1858 the negroes paid but forty
thousand dollars into the State Treasury, or
about ten cents head, and we very much
doubt if they pay larger average now, if SO
great sum. EH.
The question now arises, Are the enfrun.
chised negroes in Virginia required to pay a
higher tax under the State laws than the