The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-01-04
- .Sessff{sss sSStff7- ~
'.GOEUM.BLsAa.
(, 8 ElnSa4as ,ApIaias /; JaHaaix 4 4; lsSs.

.ths Ptiacipls afs .rsosrosF1osAh aspas-
'1sssTfoH. represented Itself, to oh1;S6ipd
.,asss Ses9task {; govern nmants prinpipie,
'whioh,, In the abstract and In the DON
.eaxsisa Sosmmsnn dsdi iitaslf With great 3 iorus
70 bur- mind, ,is' We had studied, with
aoalysieaii thoroughness, Mr. Oalhoun's
greet, york on aovKRn,tEsr. ara We Hers
fsmilias Fith his fayorite suggestion ept
ssas a;s aiis shlsh =slibe
,,So9ad = leadins and vital idea in bis
tsdiSmea aoVKhNiEsr. .It 6couwedato
III .ia:thss sa h the Prilciplso Of raorosr1osA1
: axPazszNrATnoH. there was something
far more practical and far more in con-
sonanee with the genius OF the century,
sAhan. Mr.. yCalhoun,s ooacurrens idea.
After our attention had been called to
sthis ,subjsot. by the movements Of ex-
United States Senator Buckalew: Of
PennsylvaniR, we looked into the his
itorytof proportional, representation and,
to our surprise, we found that the idea,
In the rough, had been developed, more
onlSssyin Europe, aud that especially in
England, that most solid az all nation.
'ahties- -thepfindiple had been discussed
!, BY her wisest statesmen, and had even
baen pnt in successful operation, ea3
As an ,abatraot principle of govern.
mant. we at once became welded to the
idea. q We felt II to be fair, sound, just,
right. Further, although having little
hope that the msiority in South Caro-
lima would have the sense or disposition
to adopt the principle. we threw out the
idea. and suggested this new mode OF
snReege as measure Of general reform,
. in. view Of. the then existing state Of
,anetcby, discontent and threatened
bankruptcy. As The source of much OF
one troubles laroseIf from the corruption
and. political complexion, Of the State
Legislature, we held that any measure
acalculated TO improve the character and
elevate the tone Of that body. was a mea-
surein the direction OF . general relief.
IL Many Of the leaders and exponents OF
the. ruling majority in South Carolina
qteeted to accept this measure, aud pro-
missed to giveSit their support and to
exert their Influence in the direction of
IA adoption ass measure of equal and
-eAa5s ;;sss.s&s e Gov. Scott, Lieut. Gov.
Ransiar. Attorney General Chamberlain
and the Radical newspaper here. all pre-
tended to adopt the idea. The Tax
payefa Convention---which. in spite Of
its honest, liberal and just purposes. as
fespects alatge majority Of its members,
.ds someshat q painful reflection to us7
met, The Convention was eagerly seek.
Ing fof some means OF saving the State,
1t wae seen, felt and acknowledged that
the present dynasty was miserable. q
diaSraoefpl, q costly failure. The Con-
rsntion adopted the idea of proportional
Representations. as measure, which, if
adopted. would give at leest some relief.
MI. Chamberlain was in that Conven-
tion--a spy in the camp-a false knight
wearing the garb Of pretended sympa-
thy with the genuine SONS of South Ca.
rolins. native s'and adopted. he was
there-sent there to represent Riohland,
by an ill-advised and thoughtless move
ment of good men. When the question
Of proportional representation was pre-
.sented BY one who had been invited to
take seat in the Convention for the
purpose, Mr.. Chamberlain arose, took off
bis ovesooat, and with honeyed words
tnd hypooritical accents. advocated the
nlshsIxa; and made Acknowledgement OF
the failure of the very regime OF which
he was part, and OF whose rcscality he
was then we'll aware, even before the re-
oent developments.
30, loo. Gov. Soott and the 6olored
Lieutenant. Governor, all took the same
ground. .>and their pretensions are upon
record.
AT the time. We distrusted the profess
aions of all these people, excepting, per-
hsps, those OF che oolored Lieutenant
Governor. We believe that the pretended
support OF this measure was snare. We
believed that, seeing the inevitable ruin
that was coming. and feeling insecure in
their persona, and in their party from
tho gathering wrath Of an outraged peo-
pie, the Governor and the Attorney
General, trembling in their shoes from
guilty fears, and made towards by con-
science, sought to administer sop to
0erherns-soneht to throw tnb to the
popular whale. The great BOND sw1NDLE
and the SWELLING OF THE STATE DEBT to
iAs present enormous bulk-those. too.
loomed mp before the minds of the faith.
Teas, treacherous officials, and they pre-.
tended to accept proportional representa-.
tion. '''-'' ' -