The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-16
The Conference at Columbia on the Up
Country Troubles.

Upon Invitation of his Excellency the GOV
ernor, several of the. prominent citizens of
the State assembled at the capital, on MONDAY
evening, to consult upon the present disturbed
condition of affairs In the upper portion of the
State Among those present were Colonel
Simeon Fair, of Newberry; General McGoWan,
of Abbeville; Mr.. Hemphill. OF Chester; Cen
eral Kershaw, of Camden; General Easley, OF
Greenville; Colonel Wallace, Colonel Connor,
of SpartanbuTg; Messrs. Simons, OF the coaT-
zsr.: Pope. Seibels and Ezell, of Columbia, ana
several others. The conference was free and
pleasant, and tire present condition of affairs
was freely discussed. The principal object OF
the conference was to arrive at the cause of
the existing troubles, aud, if possible, suggest
remedy. We were present, and listened to
the conversations, throughout and confess TO
being agreeably surprised at the general tone
OF the meeting.
The principal cause of the trouble, as urged
by nearly all Of these gentlemen, was the Or
ganlzation and arming of one class or race OF
citizens as against the other. 1t was argued,
with considerable force, by every gentleman
whospoke upon the subject, that placing arms
In tue hands ofthe colored men gave feeling
of insecurity to the whites, and caused few
erish feeling of alarm to pervade every COM
munlty. Whether this feeling was well ground
ed or otherwise, made no difference 10 the tact
that such feeling actually existed and SO
long as that feeling existed there was imml-
nent danger of a collision upon the slightest
provoeation. 1t was further urged-and not
without some show of reason-that the armfng
of the colorsd militia was regarded by the
whites as dangerous to peace and good order;
and, whereas, before such arming was done,
men could 60 to bed In peace and security,
without fear of molestation, now they were
compelled to 60 armed themselves as mea:
sure Of self protection. The debate upon this
subject was long and exhaustive, but the con-
clusoH reached by all was, that the arming.
Of the eolored militia was at least an unwise
measure.
Another fruitful. source of complaint, and
one which we have regarded as lying at the
very root of the whole matter, was the profit
gate and irresponsible manner In which the
Legislature performed Its work duriag the last
session.
1t will be rscollected that we repeatedly
warned the Legislature that the people were
watching its operations, and that dissatisfied
constituents would bold derellct members to
an account for their stewardship. But one
point in all the argument struck US with more
force than all others, and that was that the
present system was one of taxation without
representation" This fact cannotbe denied,
that, practically the Legislature is body that
represents but very small portion of the
material wealth Of the State.
Many OF the gentlemen admitted that the
uer centum of taxation was not exhorbttant,
but the assessments were outrageously dispro-
pordonate and unjust, and That taxes were, IN
many instances, ten times as high as they
ought to be- This arises from the incompeten.
cy of the assessors, few of whom actually know
ANYTHING about the value of property, and
many more being governed more by personal
spite than by desire to do justice. This is NO
doubt true to great extent
These were the two principal points dis
cussed, although others were incidentally
mentioned. We are highly gratided with the
manly and ddignifedpositions taken by General
MCGOWAN and Colonel Fair, and, while we
have no particular objections to offer to the
remarks of any one Of the gentlemen. present,
we regard the stand taken by the two gentle
men named as pre-eminently Just and digh-
fed
The meeting had no political significance
whatever, for politics were not mentioned, ex-
cept incidentally. during the entire conference.
That the meeting will result In good, there is
every reason TO believe. as these gentlemen
can return to their homes impressed with the
belief that the Governor really desires to pro-
tect the interests of all classes OF citizens,
irrespsctlve OF party lines.
That there are certain abuses In the Legis-
lature which must be corrected, there is no
one foolish enough to deny; and, SO long as
tlrese abuses exist, there will always be
fruitful cause for complaint. Most of the gen.
tlemen who took part In the conference re-
turned to their homes yesterday.
funeral Notices.