Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-03-24
A Question.

The Union, commenting on the frequent
outrages committed OH the citizens of South
Carolina, iu the interior counties, asks,
"Where arc the Congressional committees of
'tbirtcen' and 'G,tccnH aud where are the
liberties Of the citizens of the United Stntcs7''
Had there been no Congressional COMMITTEES,
the latter question need never to have been
asked. 1t is the interference of Congress
with the sovereign rights of the States, usur-
ping powers not lcgitimatcly theirs, which
has destroyed these very missing liberties, Sc
that there is no longer freedom under the
State or Federal government. Congression-
al committees oanuot restore peace and order
and liberty, nor can the introduction Of Uni
ted States troops. They can only serve to
nfamc the sore, though giving apparent case
for time. Their very employment illus
tratcs our loss of liberty. Tho question OF
where arc our liberties, is well answered in
tho late speech Of Mr.. Blair in Congress,
on the resolution of tho Legislature of Iudi.
ana Withdrawing tho ratification by that
State of the Fiftccnth amendment In re-.
viewing the history Of the reconstruction
Acts, he shows how Congress, step by step,
had usurpod the powers of tktnStatc govern
ments how the rights Of th,g :tizens to re.
lief, by appeals to tho courts,'1 Had been cut
off; how negro suffrage had been, by force in
the South, and by fraud and open violation
of the expressed will of n large majority Of
the people Of the North, been fixed on the
States how carpet bag governments had
been established in the Southern States to
foed upon aud plunder the honest citizens
and tax payers of that section and how now,
in government purporting to be republic,
the party l.: power find it necessary for their
continuance in power, to patrol, with armed
troops, every ballot-box in the United States
These facts are tho more apparent to us, who
have experienced the bitter fruits of these
usurpations. Here we have taxation with
out representation, ignorance corruption and
roguery exercising authority over Intelligence
and integrity. All ideas of correct govern
mcnt are reversed An ignorant, nou TAX
paying majority rule the intelligcnt property
holding minority, feeding upon their sub
stance. Lawlessness aud confusion, the nee
essary sequence Of this abnormal condition
exist. While we dcpore this state of things,
VIC feel sure that the only remedy is gen
cral ",rm, and return to Legitimate govern
mcnt, where property and intelligence shall
have voice. We all recognize. as fixed
f'ct, the Fifteenth amendment, but all dcplorc
further Congressional interference with the
States. Where are the liberties of the peo
pic? Look to the last Legislature of South
Carolina and find an answer in the ignorance
corruption aud cxtravagance Of that body.
Look at the army of useless officials flooding
the country, the heavy taxes, the large
amount of property advert ;isc dis taxes With
in the past year, and find an answer. And
in viewing these evils, let those who advo
Gated the last election cxult in the fruits Of
their victory. We condemn the disorders
prevalent in the State, but We condemn no
less that state Of things, wh'yh have given
them birth and nourshmcnt.