The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-05-24
1nfliefnef improvement of the 5tas ao gonntrr
GREENvlLlB SOUTH CAROLINA, 1871.

a delightful timei Beware, I cay
gentlemen, we might become so
contaminated as to learn TO swear
and chew tobaccoi -
FOR THE aREENvlrLE ENrERpnIsr.
dREENviLLE. s., c., May Is, 1871.
Nessrs. Edstors-Knowiny the
ceep interest felt by many citizens
of this County in the proceedings
of the Taxpayers Convention.
held in Columbia last week, /
ask place in your paper to give
q condensed account of some of
the acts and resolutions Of that
body.
The Convention assembled i'm
Columbia on the 9th instant, and
was organized by the election Of
w. d. Porter President; nj. @.
Butler, @. w. Dudley, d. IL.
Chamberlain and G. Cannon Vice.
Presidents w. NJ. Connors and
MyrOn Fox Secretaries.
The President, on taking the
Chair, made a short, but excellent,
conservative, eloquent address,
styling the Convention an Assem-.
blago "f Taxpayers, met for the
, purpose of saving. il possible. the
citizens from ruin and the State
from bankruptcy, advising the del
egates. in the name of the people
who had been greatly wronged,
SD to act as to command the res
pect and sympathy Of the whole
country.
After a lengthy address by
Richard Lathers, presenting a
number of suggestions for the ac-
tim of the convention. advising
conference with Coy. Scott, also
advising o change in the election
laws; so that respectable minori.
tics might have representation in
assemblies where counties are en-.
titled to more than one repersen.
tative,
Perhaps, a little explanation
w"nld not be a miss right here
For instance, u county which has
one thousand voters, is entitled to
three Representatives.; six hundred
are Democrats and tour hundred
Republicans each voter is enti.
tied To three votes under the pres.
cnt law. but must cast them for
separate persons, consequently, at
present tho atbree Democrats
"ould get six hundred each, and
the Republicans four hundred
each but under tho cumulative
system, as it is called, each man is
entitled to three votes rs now, but
can cast slien all for one man if
hs choose, by which means minor
tiles, well organized, can secure a
proportionatc representation. l
zee nothing unfair nor unjust in
this; however, if any change be
mad, it will have to be done by
tho Legislature, and think 1t
very doubtful whether the present
Legielatnre will make a change in
the election laws or up., ,l.4nal,
prominent men of the Republican
party at present iaYor it,
Govenor Sc"tt and several 9th.
er prominent ei'izens, were inYit.
cd to seats in council.
Resolutions were adopted ap.
pointing severa! committees, one Of
eleven, of which NJ. G. Butler
was Chairman, to inquire into the
finances of the State, recommend
ing the abcli,hing Of The many
useless County and State offices,
and curtaili"g the salaries of the
rest proportiunate tn the labor
bestowed and the time; also to
examine into the condition of tue
Blue Ridge Railroad Bonds.
A resolution was offered by Ell.
lison keitt, pr posing to the Pres.
idcnt of the United States to take
charge Of this State, which was
tabled.
| An executive committee of fif
teen was appointed, to which
three mare wore afterwards nd
ded-James Chesnnt, Chairman
A committee on election laws wa:
also raised-M. w. CAREY, Chair
man. Several other mmittee;
were appointed. and various rcso
lations were offered, all tending +,
q thorough investigation of the
financial affairs of the State, III,
conduct Of State officials, &C.,
with q view to ascertain, if possi-
bic, the true Indebtedness and
standing of the State, and bring
TO light the acts and doings OF The
STATE officials. whether they be
good or evil. / will not presume
to pass upon them nnw, but as
some of the co.nmitices have
nrade partial reports, which a.