Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-12-08
MINORITY REPRESENTATIONS.

MINORITY REPRESENTATION.
The subject of minority representation en-
gagged the earnest attention of the Tax pay
ers' Convention" and they presented many
cogcnt reasons for its immediate adoption into
tho el.4tive system of this State. In accor.
dance 18th my promise to them, present
this important matter for your gravest consid.
Grafton.
| recognize the principle of minority repre-
scntation rs both wise and just. 1t secures
to e'several party divisions in the State
direct and proportional representation in its
administration. 1t thus institutes a check
balance against that injudcous or oppressive
exercise of power that is too apt to ensuc where
its undivided possession is held by large
party majority. The advantages of the sys
tenn have been recently excmpli6ed in prac-
ticc at elections in England and in the States
of Pennsylvania and illinois. In those
States, however, citizens divide into parties
upon questions merely affecting the State or
National policies, and they seek only by lc
gitimatc means to elevate to power the expo
nents of their views. There no mans party
aliiliation furnishes any just presumption
against his loyalty to his country, and no cti
zen who is loyal is, for that cause, subjected
to the hazards of murder, exile and the lash,
or the certainty Of public and social proscrip-
ton.
Here, on tho contrary, the minority orc or
ganized upon basis which practically calls
in question the very principles and the funda-
mental law upon which the State and Nation
al Governments reposc.
The end sought by the proposed system
could long since have been practically accom-
plshed, but for ,l'c bitter spirit Of intolerance
cngendered aud tostcred 10y party leaders of
the opposition among their followers.
| l have been at all times ready, as is we'll
known, 10 co operate with all moderate men,
without regard to party affiliations, in secur-
ing the election to public Office of those only
who were worthy and well qualified. My
own course in this regard has not only been
illustrated by the Executive appointments,
hut by the personal aid that | have invaria
bly, extended to elevate to public position those
native whites who,. although classcd at the
time with the opposition, were gentlemen of
character and Intelligence, and fair and tenn
pcrate in their political views. In proof of
this instance, with great qualification, Chief
Justice Moses, and Circuit j Judges j. j.. Orr,
Green, Melton, Graham and Furmcr-thc
last an a0 interim Executive appointment
to whose elevation to the bench gave my
cordial support. These gentlemen we're all
trusted and honorcd under the ancient reyimc
and viii! compare fav ,rabc, in point of per
sonal character and capacity, with any citizen
Of the State
| submit, however, for your deliberate con-
siIcration, whether the men who are now dc.
manding the establishment by law Of the sys
tenn of minority representation are entitled to
this act of magnanimity at your hands 1t is
for you to determine whether the line of poll.
cy pursued by them, before and since the ad
journment Of the Tax payers Convention,
tends to commend the speedy adoption by
you of an elective system, which must largely
increase the number of those in the General
Assembly who are hostile to our system of
free government
THE KU.KLUX.
The existing Intervention Of the military
power of the United States for the suppress
sion of "domestio violence" il. the State, dc.
mands that | sheuld review the causes that
have made that Intervention necessary. |
perform this duty with deep sense of hu
initiation rs an American citizen, and with
profound regret as the Chief Magistrate OF
South Carolina. 1t had long been the boast
of our political system, founded as it is upon
the expressed will of the people, that the
peaceful agencies Of the law were alone suf-
ficicnt for the protection of life and property
When, therefore, it becomes necessary for the
civil authorities to invoke the aid of the mil
itary, for the protection of the citizen in the
exercise of his vested rights, it is dcclara
ton to the world that, within the limits o
the State, crime triumphs over law Iha,
such is the fact is justly due to no act of the
present State Government 1t has assailcc
: no private right, and committed no public
!. wrong, and always remembering that it was
established to advance the interests of the
: whole people, it onnnot, with justice. be
; charged with ever having waptonly injured ,
: citizen either in his person or estate.
The members Of the Constitutional Con
yention Of 1868, with remarkable unanimty
excluded from the new constitution over,
!. proscrptive feature and by its provisions NJ
citizen was DISTINGUISHED, and every class o
persons and property was guaranteed the cqua
protection of the laws. The administratio,
J. elected under that constitution endeavoret
+, faithfully to reflect tho generous spirit of it
trainers. lmpcled by my own personal sen
timcnts, no less than what deemed wis
}, public policy, saw in tho mon who had re
belled against the National Government onl,
8 the citizens of my country, who, if they hat
J. done much wrong, had also as consequence
u endured much suffering, and sought to wi,
y them back to better feeling, that all classe
of our citizens might dwell together as breth
}. rem, under tho shelter of common mansion