The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-03-21
Arraign the Ring:

The longer we lie supine the more difficult
will it be to shake off the load OF vicious
and unconstitutional legislation by which the
Radical ringleaders have consolidated their
power aud augmented their ill-gotten gains.
Three years ago they were cautious and even
timid. Twelve months later they grew more
bold. And, now, they are convinced that
the taxpayers cannot be goaded or kicked
into any resistance to the monstrous schemes
of the SCOTS, Neagles and Pattersons who,
by alternate csjolery and bribery, do what
they will with the Legislature OF the State
The peacefulness OF the people is ascribed to
sullen disloyalty. Their promptness in meet
ing the demands of the State Government is
attributed to their secret conviction that
they are not, after all, taxed too heavily.
And when the people point to The delinquent
tax lists and the hundreds Of thousands OF
acres OF lands advertised to be sold, as q
proof that the load is more than they can
carry, the apologists Of the Ring assure the
public that high taxation is good for US, and
that Mr.. Brown, of.Nebraska, or Mr. Jones,
Of Rhode Island, pays heavier tax than we.
or what avail is it that O Northern State
taxes the people more or less than the South
Carolina Radicals tax the citizens OF this
StateH We have only to ask whether the
rate of taxation is any higher than is neces-
sary, and whether the public revenue is hon.
estly and economically spent. One answer
only can be given. Taxation is high because
the State Government is e1travagant and
corrupt; because the State spends each year
more than it's enormous income, and then
increases taxation threefold and fourfoid to
make up the deficiency. That the people, as
a whole, cannot pay the taxes OF the present
year Governor Scott and his myrmidons
know. But rs long as we are silent as
dumb cattle; as long Us we fail to act in
peaceful opposition TO unconstitutional leg
islation; as long as we refrain from seeking
the remedies which may be found in the
courts; 80 long will the wild work Of waste
and robbery continue and increase We
have no desire to tilt at windmills. The
laws which are unquestionaby just and equal
must be let alone; but how many OF such
laws can be found upon the statute book as
the fruit OF three years Of partisan legisla.
ton? We are not afraid to go into
the courts. On the contrary, VIC desire it.
If our case be as strong as We believe it to
be, the courts will not dare to refuse to re-
move at once portion of the public bur-
! den. And II they should refuse, We have
other courts and higher power to which We
may appeal.
Good must come OF movement in the
| courts. Once in presence Of the majesty OF
the law, We may expect to lay bare the hide
ous moral deformlty OF the knaves who rule
the people. The collapse OF Erie and OF
Tammany was not more sudden than should
be that Of the Columbia Ring. But We can
accomplish nothing, if we nervously wait
the one for the other. Unless we are ready
to sacrifice time and convenience and a por-
tion of our means to accomplish the public
,.demption, what is the worth OF the intelli-
gence and pluck which distinguished
Charlestonian, on Monday night, declared to
be tie characteristics OF this people? In
tellieence is OF no value unless it is directed
to discovering loophole Of escape from
threatening danger, and to planning such
an attack upon the common enemy as holds
out the best prospect OF decisive victory.
Pluck is OF little value so long as 1t is orly
expressed in silent endurance t. troubles
which, by opposing, we may end. We have
no love for New England, but we know that
if Vermont or Massachusetts had suffered as
South Carolina has suffered, their people
would have risen in revolt-would have died
or regained their liberty. Armed resistance
to any law or edict, we cannot and would
not make. All that We advise is a persistent
opposition in the courts, to every wrongful
act OF the State Government.
The citizens who have taken up the mat
ter Of the License law have begun the good
work. Their sword does not, however,
reach far enough. The Ring must be
wounded more grievously than successful
opposition to the License law will do. We
desire to expose the systematic men
daciLy OF the whole crew, their wanton sac
rifice OF the interests OF the State, their vio-
lation of solemn obligations, their buying
and selling votes, their deliberate disregard
of the principles Of the constitution and of
it's plain provisions. Many of their rascally
laws have an appearance Of justification.
Legal sophistry may reconcile them with the
organic law, and may, by 'liberal construc-
"tion," pretend to justify whatever is done
under color of their authority. But in one
striking instance the Ring, rashly relying
upon the lethargic mood of the persons
chiefly interested, concocted measure
which, from it's beginning to its end, is a
fraud and cheat They have, in this mea-
sure laid themselves open to damaging at
tacks. They know their danger, and have
attempted to buy off the opposition OF the
Conservative press. An impartial judicial
investigation OF the one act to which we al
lude would bring with it instant relief, and