Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-03
South Carolina.

and outspoken, but are not 80 raulcai anu
dangerous. Before the war South Carolina
was one Of the proudest States of the
Union. She boosted of her aristocracy,
her wealth, her political influence, her cul.
ture. her refinement and elegance. But
she has now fallen from her eminent and
commanding position, aud her entire socia
and civil life has been subverted and turned
upside down. The plough-share Of the war
and the deeper trencbiug Of the reeonstruc-
ton Of subsequent peace has absolutely
changed and reversed the places Of her ru-
ling and seryilc classes. To-day the old,
cultivated, wealthy, refined class Of the
State is underneath--th old, subject, igno-
rant, servile class is at the top. So com.
plete a social aud political revolution has
never before occurred in any State 10 the
world in so short a time.
James Freeman Clarke, Of Boston, has
been making visit Of one or two months
to South Carolina, and on his return, re-
lated 10 a sermon to his people, the facts
that he had observed and the impressions
they had produced. We we're surprised at
his statements, and could hardly credit
them, and might have passed them by as
unnecessary to be emphasized by repeti-
ton, were they not again forced upon our
attention by the personal statement made
to US last week by an intelligent gentle
man, who has visited there for year past
From the testimony Of these cye-wituesses,
who have been in the State long enough to
give their words weight, it would seem that
the social and political and financial and
moral condition Of the State is 10 the
highest degree deporabe The whole
power Of the State is in the hands Of the
colored people. They have the disposition
Of all the public Offices. They have the
absolute control of all the departments Of
the government and all the educational in
terests of the State The legislature con-
sists of one hundred and twenty-five per-
sons OF these but twenty are white.
The remainder are colored men, more than
iour.hfths Of whom can neither read nor
write. Some OF the most prominent men
of the Legislature, some of whom are
trustees and superntendents of public
oh 81 20. Nk.N ta
or write ought to be a member Of the Legis
lature, or hold any Office Of trust or emolu
mont Most of the electors are equally ig
noraht, and deposit in the balot-box ballot
they cannot read
But it is not to be supposed that this unin
telligent exercise Of sovereignty is destitute
Of force and power. 1t wieds all the Gle
ments of political supremacy with tire
mendous directness and force, because it il
trammeled by no considerations Of wisdom
policy or integrity. Mr.. Clarke says, tina
/ " the colored men who 60 to the Legislature
poor as they can be, often come back driv
ing horses costing thousand dollars pair
g and after being members for a session o.
two, purchase houses at a cost Of $4,000
The enormous taxes which they levy 60 int,
: their own pockets and into those Of thei
: white and black leaders"
J, Mr.. Herrck, the gentleman to whom W
I have alluded, says that the assessment o
property for toaes 10 utterly oaprioious an
G absurd. The assessors will often put prop
e erty into the list at four or FIVE times it
i value, aud now, over the whole State larg
e tracts of real estate, and in the cities an
towns, valuable buildings and lots, are be
c ing sold for taxes that the impoverishe
n and burdened owners cannot pay. TIL
G propretorship Of the State is thus rapid
g changing hands. The property to be sol
n for taxes usually reverts to the State, b,
y cause no one can afford to buy it, and
Il then divided among the members Of IL
Ring. la Charleston county alone, in
lie q single month, two thousand nine hundrC
y pieces of real estate were put up for sa
I'd for arrears Of taxes, and were all forfett
n to the State because there were no bidder
h. and were then put into the pockets of Il
at robbers who have systemAtzed this VOL
70 of stealing the entire State The Govern
in of the State has Just been indicted {
&c petty larceny, though the larceny was pet
as only in comparison with other larceni
ty committe there. He simply took 500
ed of the public funds of the treasurer
&C. Orange county for his private use. He I
'k' sisted the arrest by calling out the mlii
on for his protection
m The taxes that are raised for pub
he schools are mostly stolen by the various
ficials Of the State The funds raised won
:. support the schools ten months III t
=. year, but they are open, on the averal
only two. Many Of the teachers are U
- able to get their pay They are oblig
- to leave their schools, in numerous
stances, for want Of means Of subsisten
a. the Ring having stolen all the school app
priation The Northern teachers who ha
gone there are cheated out of their wal
:, very generally, and their places are 81
:: piled with colored teachers Of the low
a grade, some Of whom are ignorant Of
S. primary branches that are taught in our
N fant schools. Office seems to be the ulti
A. thule of freedom to the colored man.
-. Offices are, therefore, his rightful spo
:. Qualification is nothing. The pay is all
80 all. The legislature, the judiciary, the
os ecutive departments Of government, off
of assessors, collectors, trustees and sup
=, intendents Of schools, teachers and sheri
clerks aud constables, are all sought as
legitimate prey of citizenship, and in m
tn. cases the last thing that is thought Of is
at ness or capacity for the Office. The ba
der is regarded az the means Of making mon
SEES The social condition of the State corr
ing ponds to its political. The normal I
9 a right condition of State is not ups