The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-04-21
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Tuesday Morning. April 81. 1874.
Reform by Peaceablo Sr.ans.

.s
The Union asserts that Gen Kershaw
used these words, in his address to the
Judiciary Committee OF Congress-: ''The
Tax@Payers' Convention resolved, at it's
last session, to submit to it no longer.
There is no other mode OF redress left
us hnt an appeal to force" We branded
sth!s sc misrepresentation. The Union,
by declining to correct this. repeats it.
The Feport that We have seen of Gen.
!Kerskaw's remarks is different:
t'Gen. Kershaw followed on the same
side. who. after recapitulating the evils
OF the present Government, said that
the iniquity was 80 hard to bear, so op~
pressive to the tax payers, that It was
the opinion of many that there was no
resource left but forcible resistance by
che Taxpayers. There was O limit to
human endurance, and no one could
say, knowing all the facts, but what that
limit was at hand in South Carolina.
Vhey had come up to Congress hoping
Tor the relief they had vainly struggled
for at home. Let them have thorough
inquiry by Congress into the wrongs
complained of, and if nothing more
should come of it, the moral effect
would be good. The memorialists were
going home to do their best to concliate
public sentiment in the State, and they
trusted for all the support from Con
gress that that body could feel justified
= IN affording."
twill be seen that he did not say that
anything had been resolved upon by the
Tax.Payers' Convention. He did not
sssg that there is no other mode of re-
'asesS'bnt an appeal to force. His state
nents ARE essentially different from
shese. he .l,iated at trouble as likely
TO come ont of the corruption and mis-.
stse prevailing here. This corruption
and its possible consequences were the
grounds upon which he based his ap
peal to the Government for relief. He
deslee. to anticipate and prevent COLI
As!a-ss of any sort. he asked at least for
thorough inquiry into the wrongs COM
A%Naed OF, urging that some good moral
effect might result from it. What good
motive can any one have for opposition
to Investigation? If the Constitution is
SO peculiar since it has been tinkered
shat under it the Government can only
interfere in the affairs of State to pro-
duce anarchy and misgovernment, but
not to remedy any evils, it surely can
: ind no constitutional impediment to
snGci.y which is invoked in the inte-
RESTS Of peace, and in order to secure it's
moral influence for good. General
Aershaw declared, further. that the me-
morialiets would do their best upon
their return to conciliate public senti-
ment.
There is nothing revolutionary or
christening in all this. The Conserva-
tives are not amenable to the structures
OF the Union in charging upon them a
readiness to resort to force and indul-
genee in threats The militia clans are
gathering in Elgefe!d and other Coun.
ties. as in 1872. but the design is to
startle the rural colored mind, and make
the race rally and vote ''solid" in the
next elections. The Conservatives look
on, and decline to give them any oapi.
tai, In the shape of abuse aud threats.
But shey do mean to make an issue with
this rotten government. They do mean
to correct some of it's abuses. They
>E7iE eet submit forever to outrage. They
Will require the tag to be moderate, the
assessments upon property to be ad ga.
!oren', according to the Constitution,
and the money to be expended for pub
Tic objects. and not to pamper rogues.
They call for no bogus reform. They
demand the genuine article. And they
: will have it, too. If it comes through
the means OF the better class of Repub.
licans. it will be none the less aocepta-
BILE. 1t is time they were showing their
hand. Ths job is heavy one. Those
who mean to undertake it must be ur
and doing. There must be reform in
Soul Carolina.
To WHAT Duo.
Ihe Onion diates upon the prosperity