The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-04-01


ed with the fiscal matters OF the State, but I
trust enough to prove the propriety of investi-
eating the exact state of our finances, and ex-
posing If possible the guilty parties, and at any
rate preventing them in future from pledging
the property of the people to enrich themselves
by public plunder. loud and prolonged
cheering.l ..-sa ~
The Hon. Geo. A. Trenholm then seconded
the resolutions in the following words:
REMARKS OF Mr.. TRENHOLM
Mr., Cha;rnan-I rise to second the resolu-
tlons proposed by my friend, Mr.. Lathers, and
I ask the indulgence Of the meeting in giving
the reasons that induce me to support them.
II ia one of the evils of our condition that even
signs of suffering and cries of despair are
converted into expressions Of political diseon
tent. In this not only Is a great, Injustice
done to our people, but a great imposition
practiced upon the country. do not believe
that It is of the deliberate purpose OF the
American people, of whom we are flesh OF
their flesh and bone of their bone, that we
should suffer the evils we endure. On the
contrary. 1 am sure of their sympathy and
support, in every manly, open and straight
forward effort we make for our relief. Such,
think. is the one embraced in these resolu-
| tions. Reviewing our circumstances with calm
ness. and In spirit Of candor, aver, without
fear of contradiction, that there Is no hostility
to the goyerament-no motives OF opposition
either to the laws or the policy Of Congress
mingled with the feelings of dlsquietude that
aeitate the State. There are no political agl-
tators exciting the people to discomfort In re-
spect of any questions connected with the
Federal Government Our troubles are local;
they arise out OF the administration of our own
affairs. It is one of the results Of our new
constitution unfortunate, but tinevitable-that
the legislative power OF the State has passed
into the hands of men unprepared by education
and experience in public affairs 70 make the
laws and manage the finances Of the
State. Pressed on all sides by designing men,
who are intent upon enriching themselves,
exposed to the temptations incident to the
possession of power, the acts passed by them
from time to time, under such influences, have
contributed to bring the State to the verge OF
bankruptcy, and have augmented the taxes to
a sum which the income of the people is in
adequate to defray. These are the causes OF
the existing disquietude. As long as capital
lists continue to supply money in exchange
for or upon the hypothecation ofthe bonds Of
the State, no limit can be perceived to the
debt for which the property Of Its citizens
shall be pledged. Neither Is there any
security felt against the .ruin in which
taxes 80 enormous as the present must
inevitably result. In such circumstances
the simple remedy with every free people
ia to change their representatives; but In
our case. as is well understood by the whole
country, this change il; at present impossible
They who make the laws and levy the taxes
have no property and pay no taxes; those who
possess property and pay taxes have no repre-
sentatlon; and this condition Of things admits
of no Immediate change. In these painful and
trying circumstances, the suffering people Of
the State are driven to despair. They dreao
the approach Of the tax collector, to whose de-
mands their poverty denies the compliance
that no merciful rulers would enforce. Thefl
alarm and agitation is fully justified, and merit
the sympathy Of wise and good men In oil
parts of our common country. That sympathy
they are sure to receive. have well estab
lished confidence In the justice and magnanim
ity of the American people. am persuaded
that they will sustain US in the attitude we
propose to assume; that all further credit wal
be refused to those whose wasteful adminis
tratIon threatens the ruin Of the State.
believe, too, that they will sustain Ut
In the effort to relieve ourselves from the
enormous taxes that threaten our property
with conhscation. [Applause.] 1t may vel
be doubted if the entire gross annual income
of the people from all sources amounts to $40,
0o0, 600 OF this sum, what is expended In the
| payment of wages contributes nothing to the
public resources from the remainder. The
monstrous proportion OF 100000 is: de
manded for nxes In single years., ,0oo, ,o0'
for the current year, and 100000, by antici
patton, for the year 1872. Every vlrtuous ane
patriotic man in the country, of every party
| upon a calm consideration of the unhapp!
condition Of our suffering people, will adni
the magnitude of our grievances, and Tie pa
tience and moderation Of our conduct. It Il
to them, to our countrymen, that we appeal to
sympathy and support In the effort to save
| ourselves from ruin. I have no fears Of thu
results of this appeal, and l give my heart!
support to the resolutions. prolonged ap
plause.]
The chairman put the question and tht
resolutions were unanimously adopted, the an
nouncement Of the fact being received Will
loud cheering.
REMARKS OF Mr.. BRUINS.
Robert Bruins, ESQ.,, then said
Gentlemen of the Board Of Trade-I have
the following resolution to offer, and do sc
at this Il me because, regarding the remarks o
Colonel Lathers and the accompanying resolu
tions in the light of an address not only to the
people of America but of Europe, did not de
sire to bewilder them with any scheme for oui
proper representation in the convention which
Ia to be held in Columbia. 1t is evident that +
we depend upon an election of delegates tc
the convention, In the respective counties oi
the State, we may not be able to secure as our
representatives those gentlemen who would
probably be selected by the Chamber Of Com
merce OF by this body to represent the com,
mercial Interests OF our community.
io f0l1OUa.