The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-04-01
colonelLathers then addressed the meeting

Colonel.Lathers then addressed the meeung
as follows:
REHARKs OF COLONEL LATHERs.
Mfr. President-The grave subject we are
called on to consider tonight, is one which
has no sectional or partisan aspect.
Weare here as merchants and business men
from all sections of our common country. and
holding all shadesot political opinions, to con.
template the lmminency of the bankruptcy Of
the State and the ruin of ourselves and our
fellow-citizens OF ali shades Of opinion and col.
OF, and all varieties of occupation.
| The rich are not above the evil consequences
of the burden of State credit by fraud and cor
ruption, and the poor cannot escape the grind
ing effects of that form of taxation which viz
tualiy confscates their property, discouragea
their Industry, and dooms them to saVish
poverty hitherto unknown to our country.
The fathers of this glorious Union seeded
from the parent country when Great Britain
was at the very acme. of national power, be-
| cause taxation without representation was
attempted to be enforced in the Colonies, even
| In the mildest form Of imports known to the
British Empire. -
Yet, with this glorious example before us,
| which is the heritage of every American, and
In the face of this dangerous invasion of the
| essential rights of individual treemen, andde-
structive of the first principles OF QUIZ national
constitution, the people of this State were dis
posed, in spirit Of profound acquiescence to
the national will, to submit to the degrading
conditions of the reconstruction policy, which
disfranchised the intelligence and honesty OF
the State, and forced upon the community a
horde of corrupt white adventurers and igno.
rant negroes to discharge the delicate duties
OF egslatlng for, and ruling over, a free and In
telligent people, without their consent and in
| violation OF the plainest principles of Repubi-
can government. Yet, hoping for a speedy
| return of that sense Of justlce,f not of libe-
| rality and fraternal interest, which a common
| race and common heritage were well cafcu-
lated to produce; encouraged by the conserva-
tive elements developing themselves among
the Intelligent portion of our celored fellow,
citizens, and the sympathy and Intelligent co
operation of citizens of other States who have
located among us, and whose influence and
enterprise were alike favorable 10 the develop
ment of the State and the happiness and ele'
walton of orr people, ne are suddenly con-
frouted with series OF corrupt legislative
] acts, entailing taxation which no industry can
survive, and with 30 reckless use of the pub
lie credit as to seriously threaten the State with
bankruptcy. Therefore, as merchants and
business men, repres.i .iting In part the bnst
nessfnterest OF the State, we have deemed 1t
our .dnty to call public attention to the practi-
cal effect Of the:present administration of the
affairs Of the State, hoping that, by timely
and judicious movement In the Interest OF the
public creditors and the taxpayers, OF the
State, the high credit previously enjoyed by
our citizens may be restored, and the taxes
reduced within the measure of the ability of
the people to pay, without starvation or the
practical conlscation Of their property.
We meet, therefore, under the auspices Of
the lst Section of the 1st Amendment Of the
Constitution Of the United States, which per-
mlta and guarantees the right of citizens to
assemble and petition for redress Of griev-
ances. The authors OF that glorious charter
of public Ii berty seemed to contemplate Just
such case as ours, when the rights of citi-
zens should be SO 'disregarded by local authoEi-
ty as to leave only the right to discuss their
grievances, and to. invoke public sympathy in
their BEHALF,
The occasiou6l disturbances in some OF the
counties of the State are to be deplor-
ed and discouraged by every Conservative
and law-abiding citizen, yet we cannot dis
g,lIse from ourselves that these violations of
the public peace are the consequence of q
generous but .,unwise effort to suppress the
frand and oppression OF corrupt local rulers
by parties who not only accept the Union and
desire to obey legitimate authority OF Federal
powers, but would be glad to receive that pro-
lection from it, in favor OF the white man,
which now only appears to be extended to
the negro. e..
Ha set Of adventurers, corrupt and ignorant
as those now ruling this State, should attempt
to displace the citizens OF one of the New Eng
land States from their legitimate rights Of self.
government at home, am confident that a
mass meeting OF the old Puritans would be
called, Old Hundred would be sung, and the
carpet-baggers would find speedy exit from
that State the only escape from an early grave.
1t Is easy to counsel patience and orderly con-
duct on the part of those who are far from
the insults and oppression OF on ignorant and
irresponsible faction, fastening themselves on
the vitals of the people and consuming their
substance, under the forms of law; but it is
more wise and phllanthroplc to aid in,ridding
the community OF such an evil; and no gene
rous man can resist the impulse OF applause
when Justice is meted out to such parties, even
If done rather irregularly.
i. pirate, many years ago, on the Mexican
coast, pursued merchantmen. and the cap
tain armed his passengers and crew to resist
the robber. A Quaker on board retu sed tc
arm himself on the plea that he was man OF
peace, and must avoid VIOLENCE. With undls-
guised disgust, the ships company repaired to
the side Of the ship to resist the robbers, leav-
ing the Quaker coolly contemplating the
scene.
The first man to reach the ships deck was
the captain of the robbers, a bold and daring
fellow, who led the assaulting crew.
The Quaker Immediately confronted im'
and, seizing the surprised robber by the neck
and heels, hurled him into the sea, calmly re-
marking, "Fris,d, thou hast no business here.
Thou earnest for a dishonest purpose" Zap
H.