The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-13

ballots.
ith. That the par and mileage Of members Of the
1,s gIs,ature be reduced to the limits prevailing
previous 10 the adoption OF the resent co1stitu.
tion; and the duration OF tne sessions VI mat
body be made to conform 10 l!ie aosoiuse neces
stiles for legislation.
Believing that the principles above professed
really ac uate the great majority OF tne peolle,
1t is The purpose OF this convention to attain tas
measures, as may appear necessary hereafter, by
such ueacc[ul aud legitimate means as conlpo:t
with the Jluty or good citizenship, anu nos other
VIOLATION OF LAW.
The executive committee to whom was referred
the resolution OF Mr.. D. II. Chamberlain, OF Rich.
land County, directing the SAID comm.ttee 10
inquire into the alleged violence now prevailing
in theseveral counties oil the stare; anu 10 report
upon a nlan for the execution OF the laws against
such violence, and the better protection OF ali
our citizens In their lives and property through
ont the SIa.en ask leave to report tnat Shey nave
considered the subject win sne se deDeraon is
regret, that violence has prevailed to greater or
lesser extent In several counties. But they Ieel
bound to say with much Satisfaction that, IN by
far the larger number o tne cUhM.es oi Tue Ssa.e'
red, Bal gorernmrnt, corruption IN high places,
set the example OF moral decadence and disre.
gard or law, which was TOO ressiily followed oy
those upOn whom the laws are intended TO ope-
raie Your committee are constrained TO b:ieye
that arcenies and incendiarlsln, practlced by 1g
norant deluded and bad men, suggested III
many instances and enGoulageo s os cass s5D Muc
tial causes Of the first cases OF violence AFTER
wards 1t appears, there followed instances OF cor,
poreal punShments, and homlctdes perpeti ated
by unknown persons upon cltizeas, and even OF
few ofilciaIs Of the government who seem TO have
become obnoxious 10 many Ii the communities
wherein they lived, on account OF supposeh ihJls
tlce, fraud and oppression. These are lamentaole
truths Which the Committee leel cailed on une'
ft,,,vD " fly RI
Your committee believe that an e1ectual reme-
dy for these evils Will oeionna IN good govern.
nent, the removal OF al! dishonest, incompetent
and bad men from office, and the appointment
thereto of men, no matter Of what party, who are
honest and competent, and VINO ieel the ob!iga.
rioDs Which ofllctal station SHOULD impose, and
whU will promptly anu falthiu!iy execute the
laws.
POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The executive commi; tee TO whom was referred
the resoiution proYiling that the executive ron-
mi! tee, with the president OF THIS convention.
shall have 1t In charge TO protect the interest rep
resented BY this convention during the ln'erval
OF aljournlhent TO Keep IN view the current iegls,
lalion and to call the convention together at such
time as they think proper, beg leave TO report
that they have had the same under conside ration,
aud recommend It's adoption
TAXATION AND REPRESENTATION.
The executive committee. to whom was re-
ferred the grievances Of taxation without repre-
remedy for the existing evil beg leave 10 report
that The present political and financial condition
OF south Carolina Is forceable and melancholy
illustration Of the evils resulting from la&a,loh
tious lately had In the United States Court Tor
This district prove beyond controversy that as
founding frauds were practlced 10 Inc latc elec-
ton, and demonstrate the necessity OF remedy:
Tne theory OF the constitution ia that the people
shall be fully aud fnirly represented, and promise
Is made m That instrument TO protect nln0rltles
Thus, In the House OF Representatives, lhe whole
body OF the people E r.presSnteSu, ana @ oe
scnted. and the smallest State has an equal vote
with the largest State The one lslhtenaea 10 oe
a check on lhe other. While the war lasted pas
son touk the place OF reason, tie states repre-
sented In the Senate set aside the constitution.
forSot cir sovereignty, and bllndly followed the
lead or conquest. Since eie war. the STATES tnat
struggled for what they supposed was consttu.
tional right have not been represented, theN
senators have not been natives, Or n ratlye5, not
representative men; so that tile check OF the
States as represented in the Senate, has been en-
tirely lost and OF course all legislation mas oeen
partisan sectional and vlndtctive.
The same feature which characterized the con
cressiunal legislation was Incorporated into, our
State Government. The parish system which
existed in our state ngt[e .ny nI se
majority. The new constitution uf lS65 and 1865
abolished that conservative element. Cnd'r ths
constitution OF 1855 it Is possl'le lfo evil couo
were equally represented, and all the VOiers oe-
lonpna to the same caste. Uuder the constitution
Uf 1883, however, new element was drought lnto
the voting poWer-Ipen OF different race ana
caste, uneducatel slaves Just emancipated, an
impressible people whose passions AMI pre)udices
coull be easily excited, were suddenly clothed
with the. elective franchise, and made not only
power, buLthe controlling power III the state.
Considering our condition then, the result was
inevitable. Tie newly enfranchised were not only
Jealous Of their acquired liberty, but suspicious OF
the feeling and Intentions OF their late owners.
They were Ignorant Of politlcal analrs, soGaiy un
instructed IN the science Of government, anu
naturally turned 10 the men Wno had nockeu
here ss birds Of prey, and who are generaly
known as carpet-baggers. 1t was equally natural
for the naive respectable and lntelllgent "nlte
ueoole. who had heretofore controlled affairs, to
feel a supreme disgust, aud to hold themselves
aloof from this mass Of ignorance and vice.
It must also be remembered that al the gen.
tlemen in the State, OF experience, patriotism
and virtue were laboring under the ppl!iicli dis.
abilities OF the RECONSTRUCTION acts, which pre-
vented them from taking part IN leg siallFe pro-
ceedings. But time anu its meaning lnnueIGes
has sh wn to the coIorei people that tile white
people have no disposition to deprive them OF
any OF their rights civil or political, that have
been conferred on them II mas proved 10 Tue
white people that the colored cltizens, generaiy,
feel no enmity against them; are not disposed 10
oppress them; and are Willing, /! not ANXIOUS 10
avail themselves Of their learning, experience
virtue and patriotism. 1t has also proved 10 the
adventures who may be Inc ndeo under Inc gen
white aud coloced, that theryes OF inc native col
ored people are open TO th ir seldshhess ana ra
pacily~ Having arrived at this conclusion, tne
nuesIoi Is, how can we avail ourselves ol us
bower Of tins native element and get rid or the
bad Influence which has heretofore controlled II,
using the colored people as mere voting
chatIels 10 plumber and ruin TINS uevotei
stale? They need ana desire the virtue, inte.
lgencc and experience Of the native whie
people The white people cannot maintain
ibe ,nc!ent virtue, digllty and honor Of this Old
State unless the native colOred people viii CO.
operate with them. The corruption OF the state
Government is tUrious; tribes are openly uiler-
e,l to and received by senators and representa-
tives; high officials are engaged IN specuiatlng 10
the STOCKS and bonds Of the state All tGc.e
In tie capitol, and there hus mot Deen tile ntst
prosecution commenced TO prevent lhem ln q
word, the ancient honor OF the proud o!d State,
is lust aud gUue. Every white man snd every
coloreu mun who is a native South Car0lnlan
must derlore this dissracelul anu Illuminating
condition. ..,.,,-,
Your committee believe that the public mind is
r;pe 10 meet this evil, save this disgrace, and
therefore propose the following resolution: That
we recommend 10 the Legislature the passage of
an election law, by which The 10000 taXpnying
voters will have proporiunae represent lion
In the Legislature OF the State Win the W, OUU
voters who ray no taxes; proporti0n so )ust
reasonable aud conscientious, cannot fail To re.
commend itself layorauly to every rlght-nlnued
citizen.
TIE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD FRAUD.
The executive committee, to whom was referred
the resolution 10 require and report upon Whag
terms and for what consideration the making anu
execution OF the Blue Ridge Railroad Company