The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-13
HELP FOR CHARLESTON.
THE PROPOSED SPECIALS SESSION OF
THE LEGISLATURE.
Action Demanded by Ghe
circumstances OF the Situation.
The Governor Should Not he Gov
erncd by ShOrt-Sishtcd lndivid.
(Ncns and Courier. October 81

(Nc,Us and Courier, October 81
Asstotcd in the Nc,us and Courier on Fri
day last the amount Of the losses In Charics-
ton by the earthquake is correctly estimated
at about S5,O00,O0U We do not see how IL Is
possible that the people OF the CITY, whose
prouerty has been 50 seriously utinaGeu py
this great disaster, can rapidly recover tle!T
former condition without outside aid. IL is
with this object in view that we urge the call
ing of IL special session Of the Legislature 10
make such provision as Is ueelhcu ocsI W
meet the emergency. an
The question has already been Statcu III All
it's bearings. 1t is only desired now 10 reiIer,
atc the views which we have expressed, ana
to suggest that the cXigcncics OF the case are
as great lS they have ever been, ana LhilG ac-
ton by the Legislature on the line we nave
indicated would not only provide reineuy
for the existing state OF affairs, but would DE
a guarantee OF immediate assistance IN case
another similar contingency, or any other,
should unfortunately arise r,,
There is considerable opposition In Cnaries-
ton TO the calling of an extra session Ol the
Legislature; but we must insist tnat INC nc-
crssity is pressing, and that immediate action
is warranted by the circumstances oi the sit-
uatiOn. The Legislature oil the Statc ouSuC W
have an opportunity to act.
| The Cvtunlbin Register is heartily In accord
with the Ncus and Courier upon TINS ques'
tion. Indeed, it has been urging LOT Some
time past the importance OF state ald lor
Charleston. On Saturday last II h;ld the lol-
lowing strong and timely comments:
I'VE welcome support which goes to urge
upon the State the prompt aischar9c oi !.
solemn duty which IT cannot iorcgo wlt,out
lasting injury to itself no less than to Char'
lesion. besides incuriing the odlum o1 turn
ing its back Oh it's own flesh and blood, wnen
uli mankind stood appalled, at the calaiiiity
and came with warm sympalnieS anu n VIII VIII
ready purses TO the assistance of our suffering
There never has been any serious question
as to the authority in the premises, ana we
take it that Governor Sheppard mas never ,
been unwilling to call an extra session Oh lne
Legislature had the Charleston sufferers
themselves askcdlt. But if the extra session
is to be called there is no time to Oe LOST ABOUT
Constitution so us to permit the aid; Tor,
without an amendment, the decision OF our
Supreme Court would forbid any Slate alo Iof
rebuilding private property, ana tiiaI Is eN'
actly what is needed in the caiamitous co,'Gi.
tion of Charleston property y.holdcrs. Nobody
asks that the State should giUe these people
| the money to restore their ruined properly
nil that Is asked is that the State should lehu
them her credit, on good security, so its 10 Cii,
able them 10 get the money needed at cheap
| rates. There need not be Il dollar loSt 10 Che
State in thus doing, whilst at the same tlmc
she would put her ruined commercial enl'
porium on its feet again"
the hands of the State and sealing lis Fps by
preventing by calculating opposltlon tue as
sembIing Of the representatives ol Inc people,
/ i'll THIS time oil nCcu. w ID Will pC iSftSs w
| make answer when our fellow countrynch
| shall tell us that they were willing ana aoie
! to help us, and wcro denied the opportunity
| by persons holding public position in Char;
| lcstono II will be too late then 10 repent ana
explain. Now is the hour for action. CfoV.
ernor Sheppard will act promptly If he Is MOI
/ thwarted by shortsighted dissent mere IN
! Charleston. This, at least, Is demanded: LEI
/ the opponents of the extra session anu o
State aid speak out and give voice 10 theil
! fears of themselves and their doubts OF thcli
| fcllow-ctiZens. No uttcrance OF theirs can be
! more injurious than silence, for silence ls
accompanied by frigid aversion to tn. only
means vet suggested by which those VINO arc
help:csS can be helped by those who, to every
apDcarancp, are anxious tn help them.
! a correspondent, who writes under the sig
nature of "CharlcSton,' suggests that the peo
ple OF SOutti Carolina cannot, even by amtnu
. ing the Constitution, authorize the issue
bonds or the iucurring OF any pnD!lc ooiig;s
ton Tor the relief of the sufferers by the carth
quake. This objection was uncarthcd some
weeks ago, and has been made the most oi D!
the opponents of quick relief and the early
restoration of Charleston by and through leg
islative action. But we hold that the peoplt
are sovereign, and that their Will, eXprcssct
according 10 the forms of law, is supreme
There must be paramount authority some
where, and we find that authority in the pen
pie and not in distractions about the unWrlt
len law that underlles the law, and the IKE
In any event, the Legislature should cunSluc
and determine the matter.