The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-05-14
Minority Report of the Judiciary Committee
on South Carolina Affairs.
WASHINGTON, May 9

olira. The report dissents entirely from the
conclusions of the majority, and is generally
concurred in by the entire minority OF the Ju-
dicary committee.
The minority says it is impossible to turn a
deaf ear to the supplcating vail of 100000
oppressed and despoiled citizens, of that once
prosperous and happy State, praying only that
inquiry be made into their alleged wrongs.
They cannot find in the rcproaches of the con-
or justification for refusing the hearing they
now request. Their fidelity to the Constitution
and laws now is unquestioued, and their plea
is made in respectful terms The report then
recites briefly and pointedly, the list of griev-
ances complained of, and predicates from them
that the charges of the memorialists are true
The minority say:
"We are aware of the doubts and difficulty in
pointing out precise clause of the Constitution
authorizing intervention, but that protection
in all things is essential to good government,
no one denies 1t should never be lost sight Of
that for the constitution of things now existing
in South Carolina, the Federal Government IS
primarily responsible. Blink it, look upon it
as we may, horrible as the work of its hands
may now appear, Congress set up and establish
ed the state of things that makes the common
wealth of South Carolina the foul stigma 1t
now is in our system. We do not argue the
right to interfere on than ground at this time,
but we submit that we subject our governmental
theorem to the contempt of the world and all
intelligent men, in that we were all-poWerlui
to inaugurate and establish the pandemonlum
now existing there; and the very moment 1t IS
done, are utterly powcrless to interfere with 1T
at all or to save the property of the people
from the spokesman. Nor can we torego the
suggestion, that if this appeal were on behalf OF
100000 negroes, instead Of 100000 white
Southerncrs of our own race and blood, such
are the sympathies OF the majority, as hereto
fore exhibited, that they would find, by right or
wrong, some means of relief The petitioners
would not have been so codly and hippantly
turned away. -,
1T is a matter of the greatest dclcacy for
the Federal Government to interfere to protect
part of the people of a State from the op-
prcssions and misrue of the other 1t Is con-
ceded that it ought not to be done for trivial
causes, but it is not light or trivial cause that
300 900 people, all the property holders OF
great State, are being stripped and dcspoled
by usurpaton and fraud. That there ought to
be power and authority adequate III such emer,
gency to save, all lovers of honesty and good
government will admit; and it Is a tundamen-
tai defect in our system, If there be not. In
view of the thoughtful wisdom OF the authors
of our Constitution, are We prepared 10 auh1il
that our constitution Of government Is so latal-
" and irreparably defective? The complaint
Of the memorialists is that the rulers of the
people have usrrped the power to tax property
owners, not for legislative purposes; not to
support the Government of the State; but for
the purpose of impovcrishing the taxpayers
and enrchng themselves for the purpose OF
taxing white people down to the level of the
negro. Under the pretencc of the taxing pow
crs, they are cndcavoring to distribute inc
property of the owners amongst those VINO
have none Is not this an usurpation by the
rulers of the State against which the constltu-
tional guarantee was intended to protect? 1t
is not the mere abuse of taxing power, but the
utter pcrversion of that power from all the le-
Ultimate objects of taxation. Can there be a
republican form of government where this IS
done. the main object Of the Government be-
inc the protection of the property OF the citi-
zen and the citizen in the enjoyment OF his
property % ~. c.,,.
The report quotes from Hamilton, Calhoun
and other authorities, as to the Constitutional
guarantee and concludes as follows: I'm view
of the whole case, we cannot hesitate 10 RECON-
mend the appointment of committee OF pom
houses of Congress, with power and authority
fully INQUIRE and investigate into the condition
of the State and the charges and complaint OF
the mcmorialsts. To do less, we feel we should
violate or peglcct most solemn and im,pera-
tive duty. The cry of that outraged, hel plcss
and suffering people has reached our hearts, as
we'll as our understanding. That once pros.
nerous and beautiful State is on the verge CT
ruiu. She is, indeed already PROSTATE.
horde of thieves and robbers, worse than any
that ever infested any civilized community on
earth, have her by the throat, and are fast
sucking her life blood. 100000 of her citizens
descendants of those who fought and won,
with our fathers, the battles of American lnde-
pendence and liberty, are crying to Congress
that humanity can endure. They have ex-
hausted every resource, and are utterly help
less of themselves. To refuse their request IS
to drive them to despair and ruin."