Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-05-14
THE TAXPAYERS, APPEAL.

II In the House of Representatives, on the 9th
instant, Mr.. Eldridge from the judiciary COM
mittee, submitted the following minority re.
port on the condition of affairs in South Car.
olina:
1t is impossible to turn deaf ear to the
supplicating wall of the three hundred thous-
and oppressed and despoied citizens of that
once prosperous and happy State, praying
only that inquiry be made into their alleged
wrongs. They cannot find in the reproaches
of the conduct of the memoralists in the past
any reason or justification for refusing the
hearing they now request. Their fidelity to
the constitution and laws is now unquestioned,
and their plea is made in respectful terms.
The report then recites briefly and pointedly
the list of grievances complained of, and pred
cates from them that the charges of the me-
morialsts are true. The minority says "We
are aware of the doubts and difficulties in
pointing out the precise clause of the constitu.
ton authorizing intervention but that pro-
lection in all things is essential to good gov
ernment no one denies. 1t should never be
lost sight of that for the condition of things
now existing in South Carolina the Federal
Government is primarily responsible. Blink
at it, look upon it as we may, horrible as the
work of its hands may now appear, Congress
set up and established the state of things that
makes the commonwealth of South Carolina
the foul stigma it now is in our system. We
do not argue the right to interfere on that
ground at this time, but we submit that we
subject our governmental theories to the con.
tempt of the world and of all intelligent men
in that we are all powerful to inaugurate and
establish the pandemonium now existing
there, and the very moment 1t is done are ut
terly powerless to interfere with it at all, or
to save the property of the people from the
spokesman. Nor can we forbear the sugges-
tion thatif this appeal were on behalf of 300,-
900 negroes instead of three hundred thou
sand white Southerners of our own race and
blood, such are the sympathies of the majority,
rs heretofore exhibited, that they would find,
right or wrong, some relief. The petitioners
would not have been coldly and fippantly
turned away. 1t is a matter of the greatest
delcacy for the Federal Government to in
terfere for the protection of State from op-
ought not to be done for trivial causes. But
it is not light or trivial cause that three
hundred thousand people, the property hold
ers of great State, are being stripped and
despoiled by usurpation and fraud. That
there ought to be power and authority ade-
quate in such emergency to save, all lovers of
honest and good government will admit, and
it is fundamental defect in our system if
there be not. In view Of the thoughtful wis
dom of the authors of our constitution, are We
prepared to render the judgment that our con-
stitution of government is 80 fatally and ire
parably defective? The complaint of the me-
morialists is that the rulers of the people have
usurped the power to tax property.owners,
not for legislative purposes, not to support the
government Of the State, but for the purpose
Of ofimpoverishing the taxpayers and enriching
themselves; for the purpose of taxing the
white people to the level of the negro, and,
under the pretence of the taxing power, are
endeavoring to distribute the property of own
ers amongst those who have none Is not
this an usurpation by the rulers of the State
against which the constitutional guarantee
was intended to guard and protect? It is not
a mere abuse of the taxing power, but an ut
ter perversion Of that power from all the leg
gitimate objects Of taxation. Can it be re-
publican form of government where this is
done? The main object of government is the
protection of the property of the citizen, and
of the citizen in the enjoyment of his proper
ty." The report quotes from Hamilton, CAL
houn and other authorities as to the constitu.
tional guarantee, and concludes as follows:
"In view Of the whole case, we cannot hesitate
to recommend the appointment of a commit
tee of both houses of Congress, with power and
authority to 90 into the State of South Caro-.
lima, and fully inquire and investigate into
the condition of the State, and into the char
ges and complaints of the memorialists. To
do less we feel that We should violate or neg
lect the most solemn and imperative duty.
The cry Of that outraged and helpless people
has reached our hearts as we'll as our under
standings. That once prosperous and beauti-
ful State is ON the VERGE of ruin. She is indeed