The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-20
Correspondence OF the y. Y. Tribune.l


The Taxpayers Convention, which adjourn
ed today after session OF four days. has
afforded me an opportunity to learn the views
OF representative white men from all parts OF
the State. ! have talked with ''up. country
men, and "low-country men, With ex-sena-
tors and governors, with judges, legislators,
eX.Conitderute generals, colonies and captains,
with lawyers. merchants, editors and planters.
and find them so generally in accord upon
the three or four leading questions that affect
lhe interests OF South Carolina. that after gath
ering their separate opinions have found 1t
toleraby easy 10 arrive at the general senti-
ment Of the educated and property. owning
classes. The unanimity Of opinion that pre-
vailed in the convention was remarkable, con-
sGering the fact that most OF the delegates
were men Of strong, independent mind-old
political leaders. and generals who Won favor
in the wkr-who came together for the first
time in many years; ard not less remarkable
was the caimness and dignity that marked Inc
proceedings, differing widely IRON that rash
enthusiasm which we III the North are apt 10
believe are characteristics of The pcope of
South Carolina. The leading questions upon
which find such u harmony OF sentiment re-
fer to negro suffrage, the validity and fnalliy
OF the reconstruction acts and Norfnern lnml-
grafton The opinions expressed on these
questions may be epitomized as follows: l:
There Is no longer any hope mat tne WORK OF
reconstruction will be destroyed or the consti-
lu,ional amendments declared void by the ac-
cesslon OF the Democratic party 10 power or
by any other means. These amendments are
believed to be finalties, and, by acting IN
obedience TO them, il is believed that remedies
can be found for the evils which nave tnnS lar
attended their operation 2. All feeling OF
active hostility to the Government of the
United States, or hope CT release from It's all,
thority, is rapidly dying out. 3. Universal
suffrage is recognized and acqnlesced In, anc
there is no expectation or desire tu deprive
the negro of The ballot at any Time IN the
future. 4. immigration OF Northern farmers
and mechanics with small capital, and Oh
manufacturers and other business men with
larger means, TO develop The resources OF The
country, is earnestly desired, and would .be
heartily welcomed.
can best show the vieGs expressed upon
he above points by giving Sketch OF lew
among many conversations have had, anu
select them as giving the average opinions
prevalent among the members Of The conven-
lion. a gentleman, who for twenty years was
q member OF the Legislature, said TO me In the
course Of long conversation: There are
two things that want particularly TO impress
upon you The first is that our people medl-
tate no hostility to the General Government.
was sS.ne remote prospect In the future OF
recovering the lost cause, would cherish That
hone: but no one believes there is the slightest
ground for such a hope. Such notions are |
abandoned az foolish dreams. We were LOO
terribly whipped to ever think of tghtluS
again. You've no idea how completely we
we're conquered. We mean TO be good
citizens. anu to live peaceably and respect
the government. 1t isn't t!ne that We are
slill rebels at heart There isn't more law.
abiding people in the world than the people OF
South Carolina, and this Is proved by the
faof4bat. for two years they tolerated luis
c& sYet and oppressive State Government, car,
He'd on by men who are strangers 10 us, anu
who have no ouject but TO grow rich at our eX-
py1se. The other thing that want to assure
You off, he continued, ''is that any Northern
man who comes re for the purpose OF max
ing his home among us will be cordially wei |
coined" "But this state OF feeling mas GER
tainly not existed long" said. mo, not long, |
but it does exist now, and the Change Is ow-
nS tc ihs General conviction among our peo |
ple that their material interests will be ad-
varced by Northern immigration, as well as oY
the extinction of The bitterness oil the WAL
For the first two years alter the war 10 inab
from the North. who was gentleman, "ouiu
stay here and endure the scorn heaped upon
respect for the lien who did then come ana re-
main here. They were not gentlemen, or tney
Wollid not have submitted 10 be treated ike
dors for the sake OF their bread and meal
They were mean-spirited, dShonoraole lel-
lows. But tell you that has all changed now.
Northern people who come here VIII oe met IN
the kjndest spirit: ''But how is it about social
intercourse? Are not the ladies' here still indls-
criminately hostile to all persons who come
from the North" 'sYes. they are; the TACT IS,
our women are uncomfortable and unreaSon-
able onthis question. They disregard conSid-
erations of interest; but they only ihink that
the Northern people killed their fathers, hus- |
o;,l hrnf Tbie lnlmOSltV VIII wear |
off before long; but, for the present, would
advise folks who want to settle here TO bring |
iheir.own society with them-lhat Is. come ID |
littIS colonies OF few families. They VIII
find no trouble with the men, VINO VIII treat
them with kindness aud po!ltenesS; out tne
women will not invite them 70 thelr houses Ss,. VI
associate with them must admit tniS. Dui,
Wien say all Northern men will be welcomed,
! mn t make an exception Of those who come |
for Inc purpose of getting office, 10 the eXclll-
sion of the native citizens: they would slill De
unwelcomc."
! asked an ex-United States senator 7 he
believed the negroes would ever be deprived
of The franchise. Nobody expects ltat now,"
he replied. .''We accept universal suffrage as
a part of The fundamental law of the country.
which we believe will never be changed
But would you change 1t II you could g ln-
CURED. mo. 1t is always DANGEROUS 10 at
tempt to deprive any people ol ri2ats they nave
u.
sult in violence and social aLarchy Inc
nerroes would iorcibly resist an e1ort TO take
the ballot from them, aud They W1Gld use
matches. if no other weapons, and would
waste the country with fire. If we had the
our hands to-day TO DO IT we would
not interfere with the negroes right TO vote.
All we want is 10 guard against the evils that
come from universal suffrage by providing
some protection Tor property, so 1t shall not oe
outrageous taxation. All eA-
Confederate brgadier-geueral. talking on tne
same subject. said: Il doa'J believe IN
universal suffrage without some check, ana
IN explain why Government is estaolsaed
TO protect three things-llie, liberty and prop
erty. Now, the poor. mans interest IN Inc
. government is only that it shall protect ms
life ana liberty; and If poor men are in lne
majority il comes about that properly sets no
as III South Carolina at present,
and government thus fails in one OF its most
important functions. Intelligent people are
beTinnnp to see this and are hunting for
remedies. We think we have found a remedy
that will lit the case, and that is cumulative
yolinp ff members OF the Legislature, giving
The property-hollers at least one-third ol inc
represcntatIv.s; and when we get ,or!y-oau
men of character and influence IN the Holse
and q dozen in the Senate. we Will nave no
fear of corrupt legislation. Bat, while dont
al Tie.