Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-03-23
The Conference at Columbia on the
Up.cuuntry Troubles.
rFrom tho Colum bia Union:l

rTOu lue SpiUulol1
Upon iaviation of his Excellency the Gov
ernor several Of the prominent citizens of
the Stare assembled at the capital, on Monday
event g 10 cnnsnt upon the present disturb
e1 ndiii m Of aff,ir> in the upp-, pcr'ion of
the Safe. Among 'h"s- present were Colo.
Simeon F ir. of Newherrv; General Nc
G wan. OF Abbrville; Mr. Hemphill, Of
Chester; Gercral Kershaw. nf Camden; Gen.
eral Easev, of Gieenvill"; Colonel Wallace,
Colonel Cnnnnr of Spa"tanburo Messrs
Sim"ns, ~ RI" Courier P ,pe. S.ihels and
Ez.'l, Of Columbia and several others.
The conference was Sree ard PLEASANT and
tn present condition of affairs was freelv
discussed. The principal ohi ct Of the con-
fer.nce was TO arrive at the cause of the
eS's'ine troubles ard if possible. suggest a
m dr. We were present. aDd listened to
III" nv"rs,t'ons thr,ngh ~. and confess to
BIZ aer aahlv surprised at the general tone
ns ~, m"n.;-r
Tho r;,ci,al canse of the trouble, as
ur.nd hv nearr all of these gentlemen. was
rhe orrar:z ,tinn and arming Of nne class or
race { c iz,ns as against the other. 1t was
arguol, with considerable forca, by every
@ g,n'lamau who spoke unon the subject, that
placing arms in the hands of the colored men
gave f-"hng o. insecurity 10 the whites.
and caused feveriSh feeling of alarm to
percade every community. Whether this
feeling VS. we'll grounded or otherwise, made
no d'ff renee 10 the fact that such a feeling
actually existed. and so long as that feeling
existed there was imminent danger of a COLI
sion npoa I'll" slightest pro,ocation. 1t was
fu ther urte1 and not without some show
Of reasoa-'hat the arming of the colored
militia ra> regarded by the whites. as dan
gerou' t. p. 20 md go'.d order; and, whereas.
befhre such arlning was DONE men could go
to bed in peace ad security, without fear II
moleratinn. nnw they were compelled to go
armed themselves as a measure of sell
protection. The debate upon this subject
was long and exhaustive but the conclusion
re ,cied b" all was. that the arming of the
colered militia was at least an unwise meas
ure.
Another fruitful source of complaint, aud
one which we have regarded as lying at the
very root If th" whole matter, was the prot'
gate aud irresponsible manner in which the
Legislature performed its work during the
last session.
1t will be recollected that we repeatedly
warned the Legislature that the people were
watching its operations, and that dissatisfied
constituents would hold derelict members to
an account for their stewardship. But one
point in all the argument struck US with more
force than all others, and that was that the
present system WAS one OF Taxation withou
representation" This !act cannot be denied,
that practically, the Legislature is body
that represents but very small portion OF
material wealth Of the STATE.
Many. OF the gel iemen admitted that the
per centum of taxation was not exhorbitant
but the assessments were outt ttsgeously dispro
portionat. and uijust, and that taxes were, IL
many instances, ten times as high as they
ought TO be. This arises from the incompeten-
cy OF the assessors, few of whom actually
know anything about the value Of property
and many more being governed more by
persona sp tie than by d. sire to do justice.
Tut l. no donb true TO agreat extent
T1ese were the two prlncipa' points dis
cassed. although others WIRE incidentall
menrioned We arc highly gralified with th'
manly and dignif.d p siIin, taken by Gen
era MEG ivan aud Colonel FAIR, and. while
we have no particular OH cilons to offer tt
the remarks uf any Que of the gentlemen
present, we regard the s,and taken by tn,
Two gentlemen named as pre- emlnently JUS
aad dignifel.
The meeting had no political significance
whatever, f.r politics were not meuti'ned. ex
c-pi incidentally, during the "nt'rc confer
esce. That lhe meeting will result in good,
there is every reason to believe, as these
< nte.nen can rci urn to their homes impress
cd 81 he beliet that the Governor really
desires T. protect The interests of oil classes
ci'ctz ms, Irrespective # party lines.
Tnat there are certain abuses in the Legs
lature witch mus, be corrected there is n"
one foolish enough 10 deny and, 50 long as
these abuses exist there will always be a
fruitful Cause for complaint. Most of the
gentlemen who took part in the conference
returned to their homes yesterday.