The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-04-06
7 Pubiio n1,eaetInx ln Abbsville.


Pablo Meeting in Abbsville.
"A public meeting Of taxpayers Of
Abbeyille; ;Gounty-was held i9-the.ppblic
square At Grdgnwoody on tha 1sk OF
April. 1871. Both rhaysE werS Yell fsp-
resents9, and IinsN =; aAeb e SAaensa Of
tie wtopg gsaimpased ppenth ps9pleSand
the ruin about to befall Us.
| On motion, Mr. James Bailey was
called to the chair, anda ". K Blake,
Esq, requested to aot rs Secretary.
On taking gSahe chair, Mr.! Bailey said.
demonstrating andimpressiv manner;
he reiOiced that weTh had one right left
us, on which there had'been placed no
tax, or other restraint rs yet, he thought.
and that was the right to assemble
quietly and peaceably to protest against
corruption. fsthat right was restricted,
ewould demand, 1t least, the rightto
complain. His position as ta1-receiver
had brought under his observation many
instances Of extreme hardship. family,
dependent, in great measure, on the daily
been forced to sell her for triAing sum,
to pay the tax demanded Of them.
Others had been forced to soil Of their
scaniy supply OF provisions, thus depriv-
ing their children Of bread, to raise the
tax which is filohed from the public
Treasury. Many others are unable to
pay anything. and, in some instances,
the amount of tax to be levied exceeds
the value OF the entire property taxed.
Under such state of affairs, he wished
to know how long would We have need
OF tax-collector, or be able to pay o
tax? Who would be able to empty Ia
borefs or render aid to the poor? He
could see nothing to cheer us in the
future. Every interest was prostrated.
labor deprived OF employment, and q
fearful state Of confusion cngendered-
all Of which was tho result of official cor
ruption. he was native Carolinian-
expected to live here. and hoped not to
be enshrouded in such corruption as now
prevails, when he shall have ended his
career.
W. K. Blake. Esq, offered tho follow
ing resolution:
Resolood, That we endorse the pream-
BILE and resolutions OF the Charleston
Chamber Of Commerce, adopted on the
31at of March, 1871.
Captain J. T. Parks, in seconding the
above resolution, made an earnest and
effective appeal to the colored citizens.
he urged them to awaken to sense of
their duty. their responsibility aud dan
ger, in common with their white fellow-
citizens That they, we're responsible
for the maEa administration of the State
'governWens and impending ruinyg by
maintaihinE in Office dishonest and de-
algniug nah. They could comprehend
now, the meaning OF the earnest entreat-
les and almopitions given. them by
their native white friends, since they
were experiencing the bitter fruits Of
their Incredibly. He urged them, when
an nIoppoftnnity. is offered. to hurl from
office the public plunderer, and elect
mono but men Of, integrity. Above all,
he said, let the white men of the State
stand as unit, bound by the indissolu-
BILE ties OF q common interest and O com.
mon destiny, for veal or wo. Let there
be q calm resolve to maintain forever, by
all proper means, pure and honest go
vernment, just and equal laws. He e1-
tended. in the name of the people of
Abbeville County and of South Carolina,
an invitation to I'LL actual settlers from
the North. East or West, to como among
ua, with the full assurance of a cordial
reception.
The resolution was adopted unani-
mously. l aat
On motion Of Captain Parks,
Resolnel, That the proceedings of this
meeting he published in the Columbia
PHGNIx, and in the Press aud Banner.
w. X. BLAKE. Seoretarv