The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-04-21


They were under disabilities. They
were denied all voice and audience, and
the effect OF this state Of things was to
instill into the minds of the enfran.
ohised freedmen that the property
owners were under the ban OF the 20.
vernment itself, and were not entitled
either to confidence at home or at the
foot-stool OF the nation. He disclaimed
any sentiment Of rcproach in alludine
to these matters OF history, and said
they had been adverted to to repel the
allegation that tho memorialists and
those they represent declined to partici.
pate in the work of recoustruoting the
State. and to dispose OF the appeal to
political prejudice resorted to by the
counter-memorialists. Suppnsir q their
allegation true, it was no argument in
favor of spoliation and punder under
the form OF law. 1t was sufficient, how
ever, to say that the leading men of the
State wero under political disabilities
by tho reconstruction Acts, and that no
invitation was extended to them to par.
ticipate. Referring briefly to the main
causes Of complaint in the memorial, he
showed thut the representations Of the
other side were based only upon the
taxation for State purposes, omittiug
the separate County tax levies, md also
in cases of cities the municipal levies,
all OF which swelled the assessment to
over twelve times what it was before the
war. He showed, also, that the assess
ment by the State assessors placed the
large area of unproductive land in the
State. in many instances, ut five times
its market value. Such lands were taxed
alike with the producing areas. He
frov H.. l.
Republicans and from editorials in lead
ing Republican papers in the North,
showing that the condition Of the tax
payers of South Carolina is such as to
excite in the minds of the writer's the
gravest apprehensions as to the effect OF
the unfortunate facts upon the character
of the Republican name and the welfare
of the country. In this particular con-
nection, he quoted at some length from
speeches of ex-Attorney. General Cham
berlain and District Attorney Corbin.
He showed by the history of the legisla-
ton under the new State. that the State
officers have been governed by no law
IN the expenditure of money, but that
they have squandered it lawlessly. waste
fully and crlminally. Referring to the
promises made by the more thoughtful
OF the leading State officers of reform,
Mr. Simons showed that they were made
but to the enr; that the fatal experiences
OF the past six years has shown this nud
that they have no power now to delude.
True reform consisted in taxation alone
tor honest purposes Of government, an
honest and economical expenditure Of
the public moneys, and the protection
OF the rights of property. in the exist
ence OF Republican Government in
TACT. The return to right and justice
would be the end of con spiraoy; would
result III the termination of the rule of
the rapacions spoilers, and render fur.
ther spoliat'on of an oppressed people
impossible. knowing and feeling this
to be so, the counter r-memorialists come
up here with the cry of Peccdri ON their
lips, and beseech Congress not to inter
fere, but TO sanction, by non action. the
enormous and incessant ontrages which,
under power Of combined ring, the
very existence Of South Carolina, us
we'll as the welfare of every section of
the Union, is imperilled.
In conclusion, Mr.. Simons said: "We
appeal to Congress now, because there
is not only n failure to protect property
within it's limits, but conspiracy for
It's ruin and practical confscation, and
which eilectuully prevents any other re-
medy or redress. All that We now ask
is committee of Investigation, whereby
the true situation of affairs in South
Carolina may be made known to the
whole country; and it may be ascertain-
ed whether this combination and cou-
spiracy, equally fatal, although under
the forms of law, does exist, and then
that the remedy commensurate with the
evil may be applied. To this. as Ameri-
can citizens. We are certainly entitled.
We invoke the aid Of Congress, because
there is no other power which those in
authority over Us will reoogniza or heed
We invoke this aid, because the ring in
South Carolina delnde their misguided
followers, and profess to have charter
for their misrule under the sanction Of
Congress, the Executive and the admi-
nistration ut Washington. We invoke
the honest and moral sentiment of
every section Of this broad land. We
can, God willing, do no less. We have
exhausted every effort within the limits
Of reaceable agencies at home, we now
make an honest aud confident appeal to
you. Whatever be the result, we feel
that we have fulfilled one of those great
do.ies which are superior to life itself,
and Vuiiol, 1vI;lo oopoD,ap.3;pn -.