The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-12-25


we're not elected and who are utterly
,an.t f0- Positions Of such responsibility
g originally composed its organization.
| - oomprised sixty eight persons OF COLOR,
most OF them totally uneducated, wittiia
very small mindrity Of whites. Since
that time, they fSve expelled smembers
whose seats We're nncontested. They.
have unseated members, returned
elected by their own board, and seated
their defeated opponents on the simple
ground that the former had notappeared
to claim their seats. The result is that,
Originally bad as the Legislature was, it
makes itself worse day by day, and the
element of the State will have 40 Repub-
lioans whatever. To those who Aatter
themselves with the hope that MIR. KeI.
logg would not willingly abet any scheme
Of outrageous misgovernment, it is now
apparent that. even supposiDg this to be
true, the power OF restraint haa passed
entirely beyond his control, and that,
should he attempt to thwnrt the
| schemes Of this Legislature, his own i'm
peaohment would be q probable event
OF the future. In conclusion, we would
state that We have attempted to perform
the duty OF our mission in tho purcst
partisan spirit; that we have not
sought to furnish capital to any political
party or to excite popular clamor in the
| interest Of any faction; We have laid our
case before the President and his A.tor-
neJ General, and we will testify TINT we
have been oourteously received nud pa
tien'ly listened to. While we were re-
fused tho specific measures of relief for
which we have applied, they have given
reasons for such refusal in no manner
implying their indisposition to soc Justice
done. They have referred us to Con-
gross, and We feel assured that we shall
have the imm media.e sanction of the Pre-
sident, SO fnr as we invite an Impartial
investigation OF the facts Of our casc, aud
that we shall have his cooperation in
any motion Of relief which Congress may
adopt aftcr such Investigation. The
people of Louisiana. ignoring party, aud
conscious of an honorable effort to place
in office men Of tried probity, seek JUS
tice, not generosity. They ask for a
calm and impartial investigation of the
recent extraordinary events within their
borders, that the truth may be known,
and there may be speedy correction OF
life OF their State.
| o'6aOU W os "a oAhHbCll hutl OtuGIS.
THE REFUNDINa OF THE CorroN TAX.
The Washington correspondent OF the
Baltimore San writes AZ follows, under
date of the 10th inst:
For several sessions past the propriety
OF refunding tho cotton tax collected in
the years Immediately succeeding the
war, has been much discussed It is
now stated, and seems to be very gene
rally believed, that O most determined
effort is to be made before the end Of the
winter in this direction. The amount
collected by the internattax on cotton
footed up something like $40, 900, 600.
The tax was, in many instances, paid
under protest by the planters or their
agents, and receipts were, in most cases,
taken.
It is represented that tho orig inal hold:
ers OF these receipts, year or two ago,
became disheartened at the prospects of
getting their money back, and parted
with them Mt prices ranging from five to
twenty cents on the dollar. There has
been for some time pending in the Sn-
preme Court test case involving the
constitutionality of the law imposing the
tax, but no one seems to have any idea
when the court will deliver its opinion in
the matter. Representative Mckee, of
Mississippi. introduced at the last session
of Congress bill authorizing the re-
funding of the tsx, which has been
slumbering III the room of the Commit.
tee on Ways and Means eyer since.
Notice has been Individually given to
oil the members OF tho House that q
movement will be made at on early day
to bring this bill up. Heretofore many
Congressman have opened their eyes
wide in horror at the idea of taking
$40. 900, 600 out Of the Treasury for the
| benefit OF the "rebel' planters of the
South. Now that the benefit would in
most instances accrue to entcrprising
Northern spectators, the case may be
different.
Mrs. Elizabeth Starr, well.known in
years past as one of the beet hotel keep
ors in Augusta, died Sunday night, in
this city. She was, it is supposed, about
eighty years of age. She, ut one time,
kept the Globe Hotel, ana afterwards,
the Augusta Hotel. Sho also kept the
Starr Hotel, in Hamburg, aud tho Trout
House, in Atlanta.