The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-18
A Convention Of fFar4mersc cslEed.

4<OCh OON 4NOs 41SS OA<sAHSoAStoS ~ -
Convention Of ofEarmers'cssIEed.
In our last issue We published pa
per signed by ninety-two gentlemen
from different. sections Of THE State
calling a convention of farmers to be
held in Columbia on Thu1sday'the 29th
of next April. This eall sets surth the
following grievances:
1st, The farmers being >seventy-siX
per cent of the population.off the State,
justly claim that they constitute the
State, and yet they do not govern it,
nor are the laws administered lin their
interest.
I'd, While their ability 'tetPay' taxes
grows smaller year by year, 'these' taxes
do not grow less; nor has any thing
been done to foster and encourage their
interest.
Sd, While the negroes ,ssed'te'be the
mudsills of our economic sSbIie, now
thousands of white landowuing farra-
ers are slowly sinking to be added to
the foundation upon which Il dewlmen
and corporations are erecting fortunes.
4th, Lands are growing poorer year
by year because an insane system of
farming prevails which skins GheState
by impoverishing the soil, and nething
is done by our Legislature to stop lit,
or to try to teach better and wiser
system,
5th, Forty Thousand dollars, three
fourths of which is paid by farmers,
are spent annually to educate men for
other professions and pursuits, while
the farmers get nothing. Even the
small amount given by the national
government to educate farmers is ap-
propriate to sustain an educational in
stitution for our future masters.
9th, Twenty-Five thousand dollars
are annually paid by farmers alone, to
sustain an Agricultural Department.
and to collect phosphate royalty from
which farmers receive no benefit ex-
cept partial protection against fraud
ulent fertilizers.
7th, A succession of bad crops and
the consequent poverty of farmers ne
cessitated economy and reduction of
taxes, yet the last Legislature ignored
this necessity and in addition refused
to provide for = reapportionment of
representatives according to the consti-
tution.by not holding census.
9Th, The last Legislature, though not
corrupt, has been very neglectful of the
public interest, anG the farmers of the
State cannot afford so elect such
another, nor can they allow the Agri-
cultural interest to be subordinated to
every thing else.
9th, Other States with less eXpendi-
ture than we are making, are doing ten
times as much to encourage and assist
those engaged in farming.
These are serious grievances, affect
ing the very best interest of our: people
and call for a close and searching in
yestigation at the hands OF the conyen-
tion to be assembled under this call.
This cannot be had unless every coun-
ty in the State be represented by it's
best men-most progressive and intel
ligent farmers, who will 60 to Column
bla thoroughly appreciating the import
ance of the duties to be performed and
the effect which that convention will
have upon the citizens of our State.
Every class of our people feels the en-
barrassing circumstances by which we
are surrounded and most earnestly de-
sire to see them so adjusted as to re-
dound to the benefit of every citizen.
If there be remedy, let us have it; but
vituperation and recrimination, strife
and division among our people will be
mourned with as much sadness as re-
lief will he hailed with gladness. We
trust Orangeburg county will be repre-
sented by her best farmers who will
understand that the proper result of
the appointed convention will be relief
from our present ills, but not at the ex-
pense of the Democratic party.
SOphistry and BoSh.
We have seldom seen good logic pros
tituted to a more Infamous purpose
than in the recent speech of Senator