The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-05-17


can reasonably hope to attain.
\ Your committee are aware Of the
fact that this measure Of cleoto raj re.
form, If it shall DO promptly realized
by us, must come from the domi-
nant party Of tho State. Whcth.
CIR it will come or not, we cannot de-
eide. In either event, the minority
in South Carolina put forth their
claims in this behalf. 1t is their
right. Should il be denied, the res.
possibility must rest upon those who
use thus the power that the present
gives. Should it.bo rendered, it win
doubtless produce the f,uits o. jus ice
and widen the circle of peace This
much We IN. y add Since it is the nature
of "ajotitiesto to vh .ugc, ft may be we'll
Tor tho dominant party to conside +
whether the a'op in t p.'opor tional
representation may rot Tor thrm be
the best policy for tic future, al we'll
ns the h,she t wisdoS for the prescnt
Rc>pcrtfullr submitted,
j. p. THOMAS, TO, Cummit'cc.
The report Of the Executive Com
mittce Oh the subject Of taxation
without Representation was submit
ted and is as follows,
The Executive Committee, to
whom we're referred the grievances of
taxation without representation in
the taxing body, and ~ suggest a
remedy for the existing evils, beg
leave to rcport that the present po-
litical and fin n,nci.l condition of South
Carolina is forciblc and melancholy
illustration Of the evils resulting from
taxation without representation. The
judicial inves,iSa ious lately had in
the United States Court for this D;sa
trict prove, beyond ,ontr,vc sy, that
astounding frauds were l.ractlcrd in
the last election, aud demonstrated
the necessity of II remedy.
The theory of the Constitution Is
that the people shall be fully and
fairly represented, and provision is
made in that instrument to protcc.
mnoritics. Thus, in the House Of
Representatives, the majority ru'cs.
In the Senate, the States arc rcprc.
scented, and the smallest has on equal
vote with the largcrt State. The
one is intended to bo a check on the
other. While the war lasted, pas ion
took the place Of reason the States
represented in the Senate set aside
the Constitution. forgot their sovcign.
ty and blinlly followed the load of
conquest. Sincc the war, the States
that struggled Tor what they snppos>
ed was constitutional right have not
been represented, their Senators are
not natives, Or, if natives, are not
rcpl csrntativc men. 50 that the check
IF the States, as represented in the
Senate, has been entirely lost and, of
course, all legislation has been parti-
s,n,sc ctioual aud vindictivc.
The same fe.tu which characterize
ed the Cohg,o sional Legislation was
incorporated in our State government.
The Parish system, which existed in
our State Cons tuition before the war,
pc,atcl as y cheek npoo all lrgi>la.
tion of the mere majority. The neit
Constitutions of 'G5 and 'GS abolished
that conserv tive element. Under
the Constitution Of 'G5, it is possible
no evil would have resulted because
Intelligence and property were equal.
Is represented and all the voters be
longed to the semc caste. Under the
Constitution Of 'GS, however, a new
element was brought into the voting
power: Men of different race and
caste, uncducatcd slaves Just smanei.
patcd, an imnrcs,ihle people, whose
passions and prrjudiccs could he east
ly excited, were suddenly clothed
with The elective franchise aud made
not only power, but the controlling
power in the ;Htuc.
Considering our condition, then,
the re>nit was inevitable. The newly
cntranchiscd were not only i~aluus If
their acquired liberty, but suspicious
of the feeling ard intentions of their
late owners. They were ignorant Of
,.lif;on1 ,fT,;r. 4