The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-05-18

operate. Your committee are constrained tt
believe that larcenies and incendiarism prac
ticed by ignorant. deluded and bad men, sug
gested in many instances, and encouraged by
class much worse and more responsible. were
among the initial causes Of the first cases o.
violence. Afterwards, it appears there fol
lowed Instances of corporeal punishments. and
homiciGes perpetrated by unknown persons
upon citizens and even of few officials Of the
government, who seem TO havebecome obnoxi,
Gus to masY In the communities wherein they
lived, on account of supposed injustice, fraud
aud oppression These are. lameDrable truths,
vhich the ctnsmittee feel called on uneqGiVo-
eslly to deplosy and condemn.
Your Comnsysee believe that an efectual
remedy for thees evils will be found in good
government, the semoval of all dishonest, in
competent and aed men from office; and the
appointment thereto Of men, n9matter Of what
party, who are hcuest and competent, and who
feel the obligations which of6ciaS station should
impose; and who wi.i promptly and faithfully
execute the laws.
Mr.. Ghesnut, alsureported FROM the same
Commi9ee, as follows:
CoLLEcTySs OF TAXES.
The Executive Committee, to whom was re-
arred a resolution te'appoint committee Of
FIVE to confer with the Governor, asto the
postponensent ofthe collection of taxes, beg
leave to report that thsy have considered. the
same, and yecommenG 5hat the resolatiOn do
pass.
Also. The Executive. committee; to- whom
was referred resolutiou TO- report a plan. to
provide for the necessary expenses OF this
Convention, beg leave oreport that theF haze
| considered the. same,. and recommend. that
each delegate deposit with. the clerk the sum
{ of FIVE dollars fDrthat parpose:
POWERS oF THE. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Mr. Smart, from, the Executive Committee,
reported as follows:
The Executive Commatee to whom was re-
ferred the resolutions proading that the. Exc
eutive CommirRe, with the President of this
Convention. shall have it in charge to- protect
the. interest represented by this ConVentaon
during the interval Of adOurnment, to keepin
view the current Legislation. and to call the
Convention together at such time as they ahmk
proper, beg leave to,report, that they have had
the same unde. consideration, and recommend
It's adoption.
TAXATION AND REPRESENTATION
Mr.. Aldrch- from the Executive Committee.
reported as foss0WS.:
The Executive Committee, to whom was re-
ferred the grievances OF taxation without repre-
sentaton in the taxing body, and to- suggest a
remedy for the existing evil, beg leave to re.
port. that the present political and financial
condition of South Carolina is forcib@e and
melancholy illustration of the evils resulting
from taxation without representation The
judicial investigations lately had in the United
a.
controversy that astounding frauds were prac-
ticed in the late election, and demonstrate the
necessity of remedy. The theory Of the Con-
stitution is, that the people shall be fully and
fairly represented, and promise is made in that
instrument to protect minorities. Thus, in the
House Of Representatives, the whole body of
the people is represented, and the majority
rules. In the Senate, the States are repre-.
sented, and the smallest State has an equal
vote with the largest State. The one is intend
ed to be check on the other. While the war
lasted, passion took the place of reason, tho
States represented in the Senate set aside the
Constitution, forgot their sovereignty, and
blindly followed the lead of conquest. Since
the war, the States that struggled for what they
supposed was constitutional right, have not
been represented, their Senators have not been
natives, or, if natives, not representative men,
so that the check of the States. as represented
in the Senate, has been entirely lost. and, OF
course, all legislation has been partisan; Sec
tional and vindictive.
The same feature which characterized the
congressional legislation was incorporated into
our State government. The Parish system
which existed in our State Constitution before
the war, operated as CHECK upon the legisa.
ton of the majority. The new Constitution of
'65 and '6S abolished that conservative ele.
ment. Under the Constitution of 65 it is pos
sible no evil could have resulted, because in
telligence and property were equally repre-
sented, and all the voters belonged to the same
caste. Under the Constitution of '6S, how
ever, new element was brought into the
voting power-men of different race and
caste. uneducated slaves just emancipated. an
impressible people whose passions and preju.
dices could be easily excited, were suddenly
clothed with the elective franchise, and made
not only power but the controlling power Ill
the State
Considering our condition then, the result
was inevitable. The newly enfranchised were
not only jealous of their acquired liberty, but
suspicious of the feeling and intentions of their
late owners They were ignorant OF politlcal!
affairs, totally uninstructed in the SCIENCE OF
government, and naturally turned to the men
who had hocked here as birds OF prey, and who
are generally known as carpet baggers. 1t was
equally natural for the native, respectable and
intelligent white people, who had heretofore
controlled afairs,t to feel a supreme disgust: and
to hold themselves aloof from this mass OF lg
norance and vice. - ..
1t must also be remembered. that oil the
gentlemen in the State, of experience; ratr.ot'
ism and virtue were laboring under the politi-
cal disabilities of the reconstruction acts,
which prevented them from taking part in
legislative proceedings But time and its heal
ing influences has shown to the colored people
that n the white people have no disposition to
deprive them Of any of their rights, civil or
political, that have been conferred on them.
It has proved to the white people that the col.
ored citizens, generally feel nc enmity against
them; are not disposed to Cypress them, and
are willing, if not anxious, to avail themselves
of their learning, experience, virtue and pa
triotism. 1t has also proved to the adven,,
turers who may be included under the general