The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-06-03
A Respectable Republican.

It is unfortunate for the cause OF Republic
canism in South Carolina that oae OF the
very few members OF ''the Party" whose
personal standing and uniformly wise and
moderate counsel have won the respect
of friends and foes alike, should have been
singled out for a. distinction, which, how
FEVER honotable in itself. practically removes
him from the arena OF State politics. We
allude to the Hon. B. Odell Duncan. His
letters on the condition Of affairs in South
Carolina, which have already been. published
in THE NEWS, have marked him as a man OF
keen perceptions and sound judgment, as
well as of honesty of purpose and unfinch-
ing courage. Mr.. Duncan's latest letter is
addressed to O Radical contemporary, and
deserves more than a passing notice. he
begins by paying what he conceives to be a
due tribute to Governor Scott for his course
since his reelection. He says:
ssHe has removed a large number Of incom-
petent and corrupt officials, and appointed q
much better class of men in their. places. He
has .disbauded the militia In counties where it
caused disorders. He called on the President
for United States troops instead Of listening to
the hot-heads who would have preclpitated a
conflict between the races. He vetoed a Rpm-
Der OF corrupt bills passed by a most Infamous
Legislature. In my opinion he should have
vetoed at least two others-the tax bill and
the GreenEille Railroad consolidation bill. The
taxes are outrageously high for q poor State
like South Carolina, whatever the Union may
say to the contrary; and the consolidation bill
benefits only a small ring of unworthy men
at the expense Of millions to the State. But,
Notwithstanding these two bills were signed
by the Governor. 1 think he merits and should
receive the support OF all good men in his ef.
forts to put a stop to the lawlessnsss that Is
disgraclng our State"
He considers, however, that the stoppage
OF present disorders will only prove a tenn
porary. peace, unless better government can
be restored to the State. BE adds
1.-The inevitable tendency of bad govern
ment everywhere is to encourage the spirit OF
onl CSouOslo ohu oioOioSA, ~ aoS opOh Ooiot
auce t the laws. Such has been the result in
Ireland, In France, In Spain, In Italy, and all
over Eurcp pc; and Americans have everywhere
given their sympathies, aud most properly,
too, to those resisting oppression. But I zen
ture to assert, aoiM considerable knowledge Of
tie facts, thai in no country in Europe has
there beer, o1thin the last .fEy years., such a
miserable government as in South CAROLINA. In
mo county has legislation been 80 corrupt
and partisan, or the execution of the laws
been In the hands of such incompetent, cor
rupt and bitter men. Nowhere has intelli-
gence and property been more completely
under the domination OF ignorance and vice.
Shall we then wonder tina. there are disorders
in different parts of the State
Mr.. Duncan then proceeds to comment
approvingly on the Hon. G. G. Memminger's
proposition for o new State Convention, al
though be does not, under existing circum-
stances, think it either possible or wise to re.
strict the suffrage. He states his views as
"But, while 1 do not believe we could &C.
what Colonel Memminger desires,
I think much of value could be accomplished.
One great aG .oatage would be the simple fact
of both parties being represented. instead Of
being a convention of only one party like the
Ole. Then, 1 think, it might be posi-
BILE to so change the constitution as to require
all coming OF age after q certain date to be
able TO read and write in order to vote. This
requirene nt was incorporated. In the original
report OF the committee on franchise and
elections" Hon. X. G. DeLarge, chairman, In
the Reconstruction Convention, and 1 warmly
It, Us may be seen from the records,
after it was abandoned by the chairman.
thea convinced that such a provision
would be- o wise one, and events since have
greatly strengthened my conviction. 1t would
disfrancllse no one now allowed to vote; it
would be one of the greatest slimulalts pos
slble for every one to learn to read and write,
and 1t would gradually bring about the salu-
tary requirements desired by Colonel Mem
minger.
Another change which think would be
most desirable in the present critical condition
of the State, would beto give the election OF
senator's to property-holders say to SUCH as
have paid some tdI, however small, on proper
ty. With o Senate thus elected, and having a
direct interest in low taxation, the reckless
expenditures of the Legislature might be, toa
.conside cable extent, controlled, and the ap.
pointment OF incompetent or corrupt men to
Office prevented. The property owners Of the
State would not object to a tax voted by a
Senate of their own choice, or to officials con-
frmed by it. At the same time the rights of
the colored. people would be secured by the
House Of Representatives and by the Execu-
tive, both the result of universal suffrage.
Then there is the principle of minority
representation which has of late years at
tracted so much the attention of political
philosophers. AS you are aware, the enlight:E
ened and progressive State of Illinois has
been tie first to adopt this principe in her con:
slitution. 1t would be difficult to find any
stronger argument against this principle, even
where aociety is in its normal condition, than
that 1t is new and untried. If in a certain
constituency there are 5000 Republicans and
10000 Democrats, nothing could seem more
fair than that the two parties should be repre-
IN the proportion of 9 to 10. But 1t
would seem to be a pri Iciple specially suited
to the present abnormal condition of the