The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-02-26

end corruption:" to restore simply honest ad-
ministration of public affairs? What we want
of all things is all honest, economical govern
ernment. 1t matters little i'll our present con-
dition whether it be Republican or Democratic,
Radical OF Conservative. 1t is not with us q
question of faction or party or race: 1t is simply
a question of self-preservation
Gentlemen, the people of the State look to
you for counsel in tller great trouble.
To refuse the payment of these excessive
taxes and take the consequences is the su9-
gestion that naturally springs up to the ag-
grieved mind. Let Us understand our ground.
This is all extreme remedy; it looks i'll the
direction of resolving society into its original
clements. II is the last resource OF an over
burdened people. To give it any effect other
than ruin to few, there must be general ac-
cord and cooperation, especially among large
taxpayers Taxes are the dues Of government,
it's only resources for sclf-support; the wrong
and the tyranny IL IN the excess OF them ana
the line is most difficult to draw. But there is
limit to all human forbearance; and it is q
law of compensation, that excess must and
will lead to reaction. Whether any, and what
line of conduct be practicable and expedent in
this direction, now or in any future contlli-
gencv, is a matter whcl will doubtless dwell in
your minds, and receive your most careful and
anxious deliberation.
In the meantime there are other eXpedients
perhaps, with greater unanimlty.
l. Encourage immigration. This ls always
good policy in q State: and it is doubly 80 with
us. As the andhoders of the State, you have
great power in this respect. The Immigrant
brings labor, enterprise, money, and, above all,
love of economy and honesty Whether he buy
his own farm, or work on your farm, he will
see and know the value of honest government.
Effective organization is necessary here as i'll
similar undertakings. branch Of the great
stream of immigration has begun to set in upon
South Carolina. With proper encouragement 1t
will grow broader and deeper. and bear in upon
it's bosom hopes and means Of relief at no dis
tant day.
2. Organize Affiliated Taxpayers Clubs or
Associations an ecery county, acdh central heGd
in this city, These bodies can overlook the
doiugs Of State and county officials; sound the
alarm at every discovery of public misconduct;
trace out the fraud and the offender, and do
all in their power to bring the betrayers of the
public trust to the bar of offended justice.
What is now nobody's business, will then be-
come somebody's business. Your numbers will
give you strength and i'll concert OF action you
will find confidence. 10 make these organza-
selves to a reasonable assessment, proportion
ed to their ability.
8. Nemoriaiize the people of the United States
IN Congress assembled. Carry up your griev-
ances to the highest legislative authority i'll the
land If South Carolina wero an independent
State she might, and probably would, right her
own wrongs and redress her own grievances
But she is an integral part OF the Union, q
State of the United States; and as long as she
Yields obedience to its laws, is entitled to what
ever redress of acknowledged wrongs, and
whatever protection against ilagrant misrule
the Federal Government can give. This great
government has moral as well as political
bower. IF it would but speak resolute word
and act in accord Herewith, in its appoint
ments, in it's disbursements of revenue, and III
the various ways i'll which it comes Ill contact
with the State Governments. this of itself
would do much to bring the perpetrators OF
these great wrongs to sense OF propriety;
for the Federal Government is the only power
they seem to fear. They would not dare to
provoke it's antagOnism. but would quietly
bow to it's behests. What politicul power
the Federal Government can exercise
in relation to political system organ
lied subject TO its own approval, III
the abnormal and exceptional way that the
government Of South Carolina was organized
under the recons truction acts, is matter to
Which YOU may invite its gravest and most
earnest consideration. That condition OF
things may arise if it has not already arisen,
in which it will be the duty of the United
States, through their constituted authorities,
and in pursuance of their fundamental law, TO
guarantee to South Carolina Il Republican form
of government, would seem to dc demonstra-
ted bv the explicit provision to that effect in the
| Constitution of tho United States. A deiinl-
| ton or ntimation of the causes or conditions
that would challenge and warrant such lnterpo-
sition might of itself work out the required
relief At all events, it is i'll accordance with
the historical usagcs and prccedcnts OF the
country, from Colonial times to the present day.
that in such exgencles plain and truthful
statement of grievances be presented III the
most solemn form to those who have the power
to redress; that their sympathy and their aid
be invoked; and that no means or agencies
| within the law be left untricd to arrest and
turn aside courses of oppression and mlsrue
that cannot result otherwise than i'll some great
and disastrous catastrophe.
Bancroft, the historian of the United States,
heads the l4th chapter of his 5th volume, with
these string words, which fall upon the ear
like voice out of the shadowy past:
''soUTH CAROLINA POUNDS THE AMERICAN UNION. '
This was in June July, 1765, ten years before
the declaration Of independence and the his
torian has reference to the response of South
Carolina to the Massachusetts circular for the
the first Congress OH the American Continent
One legislature and another held back and
s.the great measure was in peril, and sits fail
ure would make of American resistance @
mockery;" when "far away, towards the lands
of the SUM-" South Carolina, the most highly
favored bv the Crown of all the colonies; under
the lead of the fearless Gadsden, the eloquent
Rutledge, and the patriotic, fiery Lynch forget
ting her separate and selfish interests, and
listening only to the inspiration of freedom, and
casting behind her lfear of consequences gave
her vote III assembly for the first Congress and
the first Union of the American people. And had
it not been for South Carolina no Congress would
then have been held; and the historian further
records that the very first delegates who ar
rived ON the spot for meeting, at Phlladelpa,
were Gadsden, Iutledge and Lynch, the dele
gates from the far distant Colony OF South
Carolina. And from that day onward that
noble little colony marched forward with brave
heart and untlaggrg step. side by side in line
with her sister colonies, through the valley OF
the shadow of death, till they reached together
the final and glorious consummatlon OF dellv-
erance and liberty, suffering az no other colony
suffered, bleeding at overy pore, the martyr
if not tho champion OF the cause of lndcpen'
dcnce.
There is one thing the American people may
be disposed to remember against South Caro-
lima, but there are many, many things they
cannot afford to forget BY the memories OF
that glorious past, by tho record of common
surerings and achievements in tho most mem
orablo days our history records. and in the
name and for the sake Of that liberty for winch
tho blood and treasure of their fathers and our
fathers were poured cut without stint, lot liz
call upon the American people to do their best
endcavor to rescue the homes and the descend
ants of the Rutledges the Gadsdens and The
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