The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-06
DrsmorIal OF tho T.,-Payers.
COLUMBIA, s.. O., March 2, 1874

uhMbENS OF The 0OUSE Of ISEPRESENTA-
T1vEs OF SoUrn CAnoLIEA: The Com
mittee of tho Tax.Payers' Convention.
upon which the duty was devolved of
representing some Of the grievances Of
Taxpayers arising from the fact that the
laws are improperly administered, und
OF the need OF some Wholesome laws
which should be enacted, beg respect
fully to bring before your body, in
which is lodged the power to redress
grievances, three remedies, which they
think will tend to better government:
L. The committee respectfully urge
on the General Assembly to consider
how important it is, in republican 30.
vern,nent. where responsibilities are in
posed. that these responsibilities should
be devoved ia suoh a manner und uuder
such forms ns tho Constitution es.ub.
lished by tue people prescribes.
When the Constitution, which cstab.
fishes fair and equitable distribution
Of burdens. is violated or disreguried.
it naturally excites dissatisfaction. Oae
of the articles of tho Constitution, third
section, Article VIII, where the people
Of the State require the Legislature ..to
provide, from time to time, for reRistra.
tion Of all electors" has been entirely
ened by the clear language of the Con.
stitution to respectfully but earnestly
urge on the General Assembly the pro-
per enforcement OF this duty. There
can be little doubt that peace aud good
order, as we'll us fnirness and justice,
would nll be subservcd by carrying out
this long-neglected command How
hamefully familiar have wo been made
in the recent elections with the demo
ralizing habit of repeating! How fre-
quently have the honest voters Of one
locality been overwhelmed With i'm port
ed purchased voters of another! How
often have the most fragrant acts Of
fraud been perpetrated by stuliug thu
bsilot-boxcs with false names! All these
disgraceful evils could not fail to receive
great check by the impartial registra.
ton of all voters. THIS committee,
being convinced of the great benefit 10
be derived from it, and being confident
thai no honorable excuse eau be nude
for any longer disregardiug 80 plain a
mandate from the people by their solemn
compact, the Constitution, feel ut H.
berty, as citizens interested in the moral
welfare Of the State and in tue peace
nble settlement Of ull differences that is
=
! request that this great subject be a.
! tended to ut once.
II. The committee suggests another
greut grievance from which the State
has seriously suffered. The entire ma
gistracy of the State, in violation of u
plain provision of the Constitution, has
been wrestcd from the hands OF the
people aud placed in the hands of tho
v ar II nj ,ut, 4,
fruitful Of wrong in tho past. aud
threatens more duugers in the future.
Under no form Of government, called
republican, should the entire admins
tration OF that part Of the Judicial De-
of the people be submitted to the abso-
lnte control of the Governor. The plea
most commonly urged against restoring
to the people the right thus denied is,
that the people are too ignorant to be
com mitted with this trust. The oom-
mittee would respectfully urge on the
Legislature the consideration that. in
dependent Of the plain command in the
Constitution. whether the annnin t~,""..
! ant removals have been made in the in
tercsts Of the communities. respectively,
in which the important dutie, were to
| W koIaok tucJ hI0
now regarded as part Of the patronage
Of the Executive Department. What
force can be cIaimed for the plea Of the
people being too ignorant. when it is a
notorious fact that the officers elected,
such as Clerk, Sheriff and judges of
Probate, are Infinitely superior in intel.
ligence aud honesty to the Trial j Justices
appointed by the Executive? The lat
ter are frequently appointed, as it has
been asserted by Republicans. for per.
sonal ends. In consequence of this vic
Iation of the Constitution. there are
many instances of neglected duties and
violated rights. the responsibility for
which must rest with the law-making
power. The committee hopes the LIE,
gislature will see to it that no personal
consideration or temptation will divert
them from consulting the interests oi
their constituents and the general vol
fare Of the State.
I'LL The committee, in conclusion
begs to bring to the attention Of the
Legislature principle Of representa-
ton, which it is firmly believed is found
cd in sound republiosnism, and which
will do much to abate the grievances o.
the State and produce harmony through
out its borders. The General Assembly