The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-04-05

There Is no possible Hetno9et f5orH
ing an agency, while the prlueipl eouS
tinues the same-and ignofants aI3
prejudice will never select fpEit&bgeuH
the wise and the good,, Q1S QSubSs
result from this cause, and from neglect
of the great American aphcrisn, that
taxation without representation is tyran;
ny. Ip our present system o: State
Government, G those who pay the taxes
have no voice 10 the Government. This
investigation clearly points to the only
possible remedy, to Wit: A change in the
constituency which elects the Legisla-
ture. Let this be improved, and the
Improvement of the other follows Of
course. A more intelligent body of
voters, and one directly responsible to
pay the taxes which ara amposea by
their representatives. would speedily
provide remedy. Under their auspices,
an intelligent and virtuous Legislature
would again make its appearance, and
the laws Of the land and the public Of
fcers appointed to administer them,
would again commend public confidence,
and ensure the peace and tranquility OF
the State.
All this can be obtained BY simply
following the lead of that State which
our present rulers would regard as the
fountain ofpoliticsi wisdom, aud amend
ing our Constitution so as to conform
the qualifications of voters to that re-
ouired in Massachusetts,. Let lhe voters
be only such as can read and have paid.
some tax for the support Of the Govern.
ment, and the representatives will at
once change their character. Such a
qualification in the voters would dis
crimiuate only against ignorance, and
would place it in the power of every man
to take part in the Government, whats
ever may be his race or color.
The difficulty Of such an amendment
arises from the fact that it must find
sufficient favor with the existing authori-
ties to command two. thirds vote. The
difficulty is real; but is it not worth the
effort to overcome it? Without some
such change the State must inevitably
drift into anarchy or civil war. and
surely We already have had sufficient
experience Of the evils Of war to induce
every one to seek their avoidance. If
you, sir, would commence the movement
by an earnest appeal to the Legislature,
Immediately to submit the call Of a
Convention to the decision of the peo-
pie, it is not at all improbable that the
movement may succeed.
1t is true that it will take much time,
and that much agitation must ensue.
But let every man weigh against these
considerations the danger which must
attend any other course. Should. even,
the vivieuce which may be appreciated,
be suppressed BY military force, it Is not !
at all unlikely that as their only remain
Ing; resource the entire community will
refuse to pay their taxes; and then,
where will be the credit aud government
Of rhe State? Doubtless many bad men |
will agitate against such measure, and
will endeavor, as heretofore, to persuade
the ignorant colorcd people that the
whites will again reduce them to slavery.
But your EzcelleDcy will be fully able
to repel such attempts. You kDow as
we'll as I do, and can tell them SO, that
they owe their emancipation neither to
your party nor to mine, but alone to
God, the Supreme Disposer Of events.
You can show them President Lincoln's
proclamation Of September, 1862, in
which he undertook to recognize the
right Of the people Of the Southern
Safes to hold their slaves, ii ehey would
Rly down their arms before the ensuing
first of Jauuary. 1t was. therefore, from
the resoutcuess Of the South, aud not
from the generosity of the North, that
the slaves obtained their freedom. And
even DOW, that freedom is insured ouly
by the amendment ofthe Constitution
Of the United States, which was adopted
by the white men of South Carolina.
You would, therefore. be able efiectuaHy
10 remove this hiudrance to good feeling
from the minds of the colorcd people.
Then, again, you would be able to
assure them Of the kindly feeling With
which they have always beer regarded
By their former masters, before the
he,rtIess nlundercrs. who are now
making use of them, had ris!ed and
,ubittercd their feelings. These, aud
,,hcr topics which will readily occur to
;ou, will no doubt enable you to in
luence the action of the colorcd people.
An equal, perhaps greater difficulty,
will be TO restrain the ilnpatience Of the
shite people. Restless as they natural
y must be under the corrupt and heart
ess deSpotism which they see donineer-
ug over them, it will require the
trongest EFFORT Of patience to await :
emedy which will require so much time.
rne strongest motive which can be
,reseufed to them, for such parienec .
7ll be the earnest and sincere initiation
1 the amendment proposed. The FIRST
tap towards calling Convention is
ote of the Legislature, and uu that body
as adjourned, it will be necessary to
some action, before its next meet
,g, to satisfy the people OF the expedi- 7
ncy of waiting. Ii the leading members
the dominant party would come for
ard and pledge their support to the
,easure, aud urge the adoption Of the
.me, it would furnish such 60 assurance