The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-02-05


ing in Charleston on the subject, is it not
fair to assume that the Charleston Senators
opposed the bill on public grounds which
influenced the majority Of tho Senate
Those who 20 beneath the surface to seek
for mcau and selfish motives to account for
conduct which is readily explicablo by con
siderations of public nature, at least give
rise to suspicion as to the character of
the influences which habitually control
their own action. Now it seems to me that
1t would be b,ld effrontcry to charge the
Charleston Senators with any improper
motives or nduct in this matter and
must do you the justice to say that you
have not yet done so but have directed
your ire at the members from Charleston
meaning of course the members of the
House. Let us return to them.
Sd. 1t is true that after the conference
Committee ofthc two Houses failed to agree
upon The two questions at issue, to Wit: the
free tuition clause and the census clause.
and the former being Senate measure and
the latter being house measure, the mat
ter came before the House in new aspect.
1t was no longer question whether the
House wished the census to be taken. On
that it had already pronounced its judg-
ment ur equivocally and, as the Charleston
members were in full accord with the sen.
timent of the whole House but when an
other question was presented to wit: Shall
the House force the Senate to accept its
views on this subject by defeating the ap-
preparation bill? conservative mon from
every quarter of the State felt that the
House should not go 10 that extreme length.
You must remember that the Senate was
contendlng for principle also, aud one of
far greater consequence than the expedi-
ency of propricty of census, and that was
the right Of each branch of the General
Assembly to determine for itself every
public question which may arise. This is
principle underlying aud necessary to
harmonious operation Of the very system of
our government itself, and the Senate could
not without. stutifyiug itself allow i.s f-oa-.
dom of assion to be invaded. The result,
therefore OF deadlock would have been
that the appropriation bill would have
been defeated, there would have been con-
fusion and uncertainty everywhere, the iu-
terest on the public debt would have been
in default with consequent injury to the
public credit An extra session would
have been called, with the attendant ex-
pense and Inconvenience, and upon its as
-embling NC would have met precisely the
same difficulty, assuming that the Senators
are governed by the same motive and feel.
ing, that ordinarily govern frcemcn. The
action of the House in this emergency as
in my humble judgment highly credtable
to its common sense and in the best interest
of the State at large, all the worse ere dita-
BILE too, in that this wise aud moderate
course was taken in spite of the frantic
outcry Of some foolish people that such a
course was sacrificing its power and dignity.
Whatever may be the praise or dispraise
however belonging to this episode the share
to be apportioned to the members from
Charleston is not great, because they had
very little part in it. They claim no cred.
it and ore justly amenablc to no criticism
except that which falls to the majority Of
the House with which they voted.
But, Robert, all this seems to me like q
chatter Of ancient history and l can hardly
conceive Of its being matter of any in
terest to people generally. A few politi,
clans may attempt to make some capita
out of it but that is of little consequence
You will remember that constitutions
amendment has been passed and is to be
submitted to the people next fall whereby
the United States census of 1890 may be
adapted as the basis Of apportionment. II
the people adopt it the representation will
be apportioned thereby and the great ex
pense of the taking Of tho census will be
avoided. If the great and wealthy State O
New York can omit to take census uu
der somewhat similar circumstances surcl,
i: cannot be very far wrong for us to avoid
any extra expenses in a year like this when
everything in South Carolina is unusuall
depressed. Are you so inpatient to hav
Charleston shorn Of her strength that 20,
cannot wait few years? Charleston pay
about one-6fth of the taxes, she has les
than one-tcntb Of the representatives
/ XNharai, dnos xk a ,sa ar ahuaa lha xana