Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-05-01
sOUTH CAROLINA.

Inc petltlon Vi tue AeApoyvA Soh'o"
ton Of South Carolina. asking Congress for
relief against alleged misgoyerpmsnt of
the State, will not probably succeed In Sc
curing the desired action.
A subcommittee of the House Judiciary
Committee has submitted careful report
upon the subject, the conclusions Of which
appear to be reasonable. They say that
the condition of the people of South. Caro-
lima is owing in great degree to the ex-
,raordinary events that have occurred for
which the majority of her present popula-
ton are not responsible. and over which
Congress has no control. The war came,
slavery was abolished, and thus the slave
holders of the State lost two hundred and
fifty millions dollars invested in slaves.
Following the emancipation of the slaves
came the amendments to the constitution
clothing them with the attributes of citi-
zenship and giving them the right of suf-
frage. This transferred political power
from the old masters to the freedmen. the
latter having ninety thousand votes while
the former have but forty thousand. The
responsibility for placing the power in the
hands Of the freedmen rests upon the peo-
pie of the United States. by whom the
amendment giving them the right of suf-
frage was adopted and made a part of the
constitution. The judgment of the COM
mittee is that the grievances of the petit
TONERS relate to the changes in the censt-
tuition, by which the colored people have
been able to secure political power. Con-
gress has no authority to afford the relihf
asked for. It can no more interfere with
the State government Of South Carolina
than with those of New York, Pennsylva'
mia or Illinois. The claim of the petition
ers that they are suffering from the anti
republican and odio,ls oppression of
system of taxation without representation
is denied. In answer to the arguments Of
The memorialists the committee say they
are fully sensible of the delicacy and the
importance Of the matter presented for
hold any constitutional aid which can be
extended to the lives, liberties, or proper
" Of any citizens, but they are unwilling
to usurp unauthorized authority to accom-
plish such results. The committee say
they have confidence in the final success
of the great changes that have been
wrought in favor of the African race in this
country from the intelligence and capacity
exhibited by their representatives in Con-
gress, and by those who appeared before
the committee; they feel assured they can
If they will establish their rights to the
confidence of the country 1t is hoped
that with the eagerness they display to
avail themselves OF its benefits they will
be found fully equal to the dignity and du-
ties of their newly-acquired citizenship.
1t is believed that by the mutual inter-
change of kind and friendly intercourse,
and by the employment of all the means
which are found sufficient in other States,
the existing evils in the administration of
the affairs of South Carolina may be rem
edied by the people themselves. The
committee. therefore report a resolution
that the prayer of the memorialists be de-
MED and the committee discharged from
the further consideration Of the subject.
1t is said that minority report will be
made in favor of Investigation, but the
House will not be very likely TO favor it.
Congress has no authority to interfere, and
the people Of South Carolina must settle
the difficulty themselves. Tho colored
people are ignorant it is true. but they are
learning rapidly, and will soon understand
that they cannot retain power unless they
use it for the general good. When suffrage
was conferred upon the negroes it was seen
that cases like the present might arise, but
the general opinion was then as now that
all such difficulties would work their own
remedy. In all States the poorer class is
= majority Of the voters, but they require
and sustain good government as well as
the rich. A few men cannot long plumber
South Carolina to enrich themselves with
out being cast out of Office by their own
party. The many have no interest in rob-
bling the State, whether they be colored,
or white. but suffer equally on account of
II, and of course will not submit to it long.
The Arithmetic man of the New York
World is cut with his election figures again.
He has . marvellous way of figuring out
democratic majorities. If figures could
have saved the democratic party he would
have saved it, but the trouble is that his
figures are not the kind that won't lie. "
Senator Thurman's eulogy on Mr.. Sums
ner was badly dashed by the afterpiece he
threw in the next day. The introduction
of the dead senator into debate so
soon after the eulogies. only to fan the
fame Of partizan strife. was an act shock
ingly out Of character and entircly mex
cusable.
Mr. papn;ro nr tho Iousa Of panraxap