The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-04-25
COLUMBIA, S. G..
Saturday Morning. April 25, 1874,
Redress from washington.

SotHuoy moI0lNks dpIA ~ LOSE
Redre.. from washington.
Ellison 8. Keitt, Esq, q member .oi
the Tax-Payers' Convention, writes q
aetter to the Charleston: :News and Cou.
rier, in which he takes issue with the
President in affirming that "South
Carolina is a sovereign State," and hav-
ing shown the contrary, clears away
chat impediment to interference by the
executive and Legislative branch Of the
Government for her relief. Mr.. Keitt
zecapitulates that in 1888. Great Britain,
by treaty, acknowledged the American
colonies to be free. sovereign and inde-
pendent States, calling each by name.
This sovereignty they retained, under
the articles OF confederation and per-
petual union, until 1889, when the pre-.
sent Consultation was ratified. Under
it, the authority to make, alter and un.
make the fundamental law was vested
by the people of each State in the peo-
pie Of, three.fonrths of all the States,
where it now resides. The States have
rights, but no rights of sovereignty. In
further confirmation, Mr.. Keitt shows
thai, upon South Carolina attemp mpting to
exercise the sovereign right to sever
her connection with the General Go
vernment, she vas crushed, and in 1867,
ner State Government was blotted out,
and the present anomalous government
was erected and set up by Congress in
its stead. In its Constitution, framed,
adopted and ratified by those now in
power, md approved by Congress. it is
declared that "the Government of the
United States is paramount.
Having thus shown the fallacy, and,
wevraay say, the mookery. of the claim
OF sovereignty for South Carolina, Mr..
Keith deduces from the structure and
spGrposes of the Government. as laid
down at it's origin, its duty in the pre-
niass. Dhese purposes were to foru,
.2acze perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility. provide for
the common defence, promote the gene
Tal welfare, and secure the blessings Of
liberty. And Congress, is furthermore
empowered aud directed "to make all
laws which shall be necessary and pro-
per for carrying into execution the fore
going powers" &c. He then shows
how the general welfare" has been az
fected by the course OF things in South
<Ga,oiina-such, for instance, as the
fraudulent issue in one year. by the
highest officials OF the State. headed by
the Governor, of over $6,O0O,O 900 of
bonds. and false reports concerning the
same to Congress-; the corruption of
elections, such as that OF United Suites
Senator, and the general condition of
things, which is oppressive, rotten and
Infamous.
We give the conclusion of this plea Of
Mr.. Keith, which is earnest and we'll
presented, in his own Words
''By reference to the twenty fth sec
ton Of the Judiciary Act of 1889.
framed and adopted by the fathers of
the republic at the very outset of the
Government, on the heels Of the ratif.
cation of the Constitution, one of the
earliest measures Of the first Congress,
it will be found that the judiciary Of the
State is subordinated to that of the
United States. The Act of the Sd of
March. 1888. does the same thing. That
of 1871 not only subordinates the Judi
ciary of the State to that of the United
states, but under it the army was Sen {
here, and the United States courts
took jurisdiction when the State Go
vernment, impotent because Of it's cor.
ruptions, failed to protect the rights of
persons. The taxpayers, now that
there is no security for the rights of pro-
perty under the State Government, that
the officials Of that Government, by
their corruptions. frauds and briberies,
have struck q deadly blow at the heart
Of the general welfare, have felt it to bs
their duty to expose the facts and in
woke the interference OF the General
Government for relief and redress"
Grnhtteviiie Manufacturing Company.