The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-08-14
To fAwyQtosv OF tho Third OouKres-
sf0nA1 Vk1fICt or youth Ca rolina

To fs.lva,e.. OF tho Third oong1..-
sfshsa VtssrIct OF south Caroline.
FELLow-o1T1zENs: I offer myself ss a
SSn4idate fot $oGr votes tn$t6b sleG
eP9Awhich &Ee .laceA inF koyemhel
neze. to select member Of Congress
for tbis Congressional District.
! Ukp;ofAble Asis the condition of the
State. 1 think you will agree with me
that State party organization does
nut promise MS relief. II the whole
State, the Republican purity is in q
majofity. although that minority is
undoubtedly enormously exaggerated.
But, still, an organized party opposi-
ton orings the Republican party to
the support of it's candidates in every
portion Of the State, aud thus where
we are locally strong, we are not al
lowed simply to fight our own battles,
but are forced into conflict with the
whole strength of the Republican
organization. Worse still, in the pre-
sent condition of national parties, q
State party organization is sure to be
misrepresented as being an opposition,
not to the iniquitous administration of
the Republican party in South Caro-
lima. but as an opposition to the Re-
publican party of the Union, aud espe-
cially to the administration Of General
Grant, and the prejudices and power
OF the Federal Government ore thus
enlisted against us. Now. I am per-
feotiy safe In saying that, at present,
to the people OF this State, Federal
politics are obsolete. Their one-ab-
sorbing, vital interest is the honest
administration of the State Govern
ment, and they ask for power only 80
fur as events have proved that power
ID the hands of the property .hol oldrrs
and tax-payers of the State is abso-
lntely necessary to secure such honest
Naturalization. And they need rep
reseutation in Washington. to be
heard before the Congress of the nu-
tion and by the President, in order
that the truth as to their condition and
feelings should be known; in order
that the influence Of the General Co.
vernment shall not be- used against
them, In entire misconception of their
sentiment and their purpose. This
representation has been purposely aud
pertinaciously denied US. Take your
own Congressional District as an illus
trntion. Whatever may be the strength
OF the Republican party in the whole
State, or in other portions of the State,
here certainly they are not a majority.
That there are some Republicans,
admit-some Of them selected without
reference to party affi!iatiops-holding
County Offices nnd seats in the Legis
lature, and they have proved useful
and faithful officers. This condition
of things was well known to the Re
publican Legislature, when lost winter
it undertook the re-distric,ing of the
State. What did it do? The Act OF
Congress Of 1862 required that cacl,
! Congressional District should be com.
posed OF "contignous territory" Sc
when they had grouped together
Oconee, Pickens, Anderson, Abbeville
Laurens and Newberry. in which g
reasonable effort would have secured
the people such representative al
they really desired. they added Rich
land, which is not contiguous terri
tory" which touches the rest of the
District at no one point. simply anc
only because Richland Was entirely il
tho hands Of the Republican purity
and experience had shown that any
number of Republican votes could b,
manufactured to order in thnt County
to meet the requirements Of a con
tested election. This Congressiona
District has, therefore, for the ex
press purpose Of excluding you from
representation, been constructed ir
deliberate and fraudulent violation O
the law of the land. If there were NJ
other issue, this is one which yor
ought to make in vindication of til.
supremest right which belongs to fre,
men, and one in which you can ap
peal from the narrow and seltisl
tyranny OF the Republican party of tn,
State to the Justice and to tho Lawful
authority of the Republican party o
the Union.
But there are other reasons why yol
should earn estly endeayor to secure fo
yourselves fitting representation
The section of the Stute in which ",
live and with which our fortunes ar,
identified is the only ono in whic!
there is marked evidence of materIa
Improvement. We have q bomogcne
Gus population. the advantages OF ou
soil aud climate offer sure, if slow
Inducements to immigration, our po
pulation is increasing, and the open
ing of now channels Of communication
is fast bringing this up-country, hitler
TO 30 isolated. into direct relations
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