The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-02-04
Our Columbia Correspondence.
COLUMBIA, Jan. 20, 1875.

VII SolAlllUl2 AOI CoFOIIoCiiSSs
COLUMBIA, Jan. 90, 1875.
Having been a careful observer of the pro-
ceedings of the House of Representatives for
the time it has thus far been in session, am
forced by these observations to take view of
our situation somewhat different from that
formerly entertained, and different from the
view entertained by that class of men who still
hope and believe that change has set in for
the better. There can be no permanent ad
vancement on the high road to prosperity in
this State until virtue shall take the place of
immortality; until honesty shall take the place
of dishonesty, and until a fair-minded, liberal
policy shall assume the place of that narrow
and contracted policy which has and still con-
trolls the present dominant party.
These evils alluded to above as the policy of
the present dominant party are the roots of all
our troubles. To suppose that they have been
removed because the character of our laws at
present are better than heretofore is erroneous.
and ls calculated TO mislead our people In
vital particular. There are two things which
operate to create this misconception of our true
condition. One, the ambition of our present
Governor, together with his honesty of purpose,
and the other is the absolute necessity, super
induced by the outside pressure brought to
bear upon them, that our rulers should reform
the affairs of government There is not SIN
gle individual who has carefully observed the
discussions, the arguments and the n'odus op-
crandi upon the floor of the House, and who
will take the trouble to carefully consider in a
comprehensive manner the whole situation,
who can, for moment, believe that either the
men who represent the Radical party or their
morals are improved, or are on the road to i'm
provement. They still possess the same preju-
dices, hatred bitterness, cunning and chicanery
which has always characterized them, aud their
lack Of morality is equally apparent. Thomas,
a colored preacher and member from Colleton,
in speech to-day in the House, made the fol-
lowing remarks: "That if could do good"
that is what he, with his knowledge Of right
and wrong, thought to be good, "by setting
aside the constitution, would most unhesitat-
ingly do it, if in my power" Think of this
all you who believe in the doctrine that "all
men are born equal" Here we have man
who occupies the position of chairman of the
committee on Claims, the most important COM
mittee in the House, who openly avows that he
would not hesitate to commit perjury, and
that, too, in the very House where his solemn
obligation was taken. When we consider that
the member, Thomas, is not alone in this un-
enviable position, but that he has many COM
peers in the race for notoriety Of this kind,
what hope is left for us, especially when we
consider further that the voters in large part
of the State may be expected to perpctually
elect just such men to control the destinies Of
South Carolina, and to make her laws?
As for myself, can see no hope of perma-
nent relief from our wretched and corrupt con-
dition, unless that relief comes from Washing
ton. Make up your minds to this at once, and
shape your actions accordingly. Our Legisla-
ture may be temporarily improved, and we may
become better satisfied with its legislation, but
if you will properly ana'yze the situation, the
irresistible conclusion ;s forced upon you that
it is We, ourselves, who are mainly changed
and not that the character Of the laws are 30
much improved. 1t is this change on our part
which we have reason to dread most. Men by
constant contact can become used to anything
we have already become accustomed to our
oppressions and after awhile we may be able
to look with complete Indifference upon the
corruption characteristic of this State. Such
indifference, if it comes, is one step down into
that terribly filthy pool of corruption, so con-
genial as the home of our rulers for the last
six or eight years.
If there is any other relief for this State from
Radical rule, it must come from the upper
counties A little leaven, it is said, will leaven
whole cake. Be that as it may, it is an in
disputable fact that the few Conservatives in
the House are mainly entitled to all the good
laws that have been passed, either directly or
Indirectly. The Conservatives, too, have 30
far always manifested desire and willingness
to advocate only suoh laws as will certainly
benefit all classes, irrespective of either party
or policy. a-
TnW7N AMT cnTTNTv NEWS