The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-02-26

JosrsvILLr, Feb. %, 1885.


Editor Union TSnes 1t would seem TO 0
Gloss observer that your correspondent MS
most prominent faculty is that which impels
him to give names Of ridicule and sarcasm to
taose who have chosen to disagree with him on
the census question. This time he calls them q
'Howling Mob' Or, whatis about its equivat
lent, he says their opinions are such rs one
we'll for MS spirit Of fairness il he would tell
your readers that this 'Howlink Mob is COM
posed Of . majority Of the beet journals in the
State, together with Senators and Representa-
lives, among whom Is our own d. II. Rice, with
an experience in tho legislation Of the State Of
mere than twenty years.
For perspicuity Of style your correspondent
will appear on examination that his last article
Is q recapitulstion Of his first with few quota
tions thrown in to save appearances, while both
his articles leave everything about rs clear rs
mud except his proposition, and that is veiled
in great obscuriiy.
There are but three points which have been
developed in this discussion by those to whom
our friend refers in such dignifed terms: !.
That the Constitution has not been complied
with, by reason Of the failure 10 provide for
taking the census. 2. That such failure Of COM
plianee was due to sectional Influence. 8. That
this influence was exercised with q desire to
maintain un iue advantages Our friend takes
issue and claims that the Constitution has been
complied With. We will now take his arguments
from the labarynth Of obscuriiy in which he has
placed them and subject them to analysis.
In the first place he aaysa great deal about
some bill being passed by the Legislature en-
abling the State to adopt the United States
census. Will our friend inform us where we
may find such bill? We know that the Leg
islature passed an act providing for an amend
ment to the Constitution authorizing the sppor-
tioument Of Representatives on tho basis Of
United States census. This, then, must be what
he means when he says so much about bill,
for take it for granted that he knows the diff
erence between an act providing for an amend
ment 10 tho Constitution and statutory law
Well, taking this view Of il, how does his
argument stand It is rs follows The Con
stitution has been complied with, because the
amendment to it, which amendment, whcr
sanctioned by the people in general election
will make it lawful to adopt the United States
census As the basis Of representation. Die
anybody ever sec n more illogical conclusion
| than this That to provide for an amendment 4
| the Conshtution is equirdient to compliance rit
ds explicit requirement Of that Constitution! An'
yet this is just our friends conclusion whe'
stripped Of its otscuring habilamcnts. This i
like declaring that debt has been paid becaus
some change has been proposed in the stipula
tions of the original contract!
| Then, again Our friend, with q show Of ar
gument which is absolutely overpowering, give
us a quotation from the Constitution on thi
point, either overlooking lhe fact thStlt des
and spikes hiu' caunop, erAsupPosing that hi
readers would fail to SEQ II, surrounded as they
are BY SO vast amount Of smoke IS he has il
some way succeeded in producing. We viii
| repeat his quotation, and sec how 1t serve
his argument: An enumeration for this pur
pose (apportionmen,) shall be made In 1856
and again in 1885, and shall be made in tn
course Of every tenth year thereafter as sha
be by law provided.
BY this clause Of the Constitution it will b
seen that the census should have been take
and apportionment made in 1885-last yea,
The fact is, the census was not taken then be
cause the Legislature failed to make the nece.
sary appr opria'ion. In the face Of this fact ou
friend ooncl ludes that the requirements of ih
Constitution have been complied with becaus
the Legislature has provided an amendment I
the Constitution which, in case the peopl
| should sanction it, the United Statas census
may be adopted and apportionment made a5ou
| the year 1888.
Our friend says in his first article, and repeat
IL in his second, that the institution is defnit
| as to the time Of taking the census, and know
that the timo has passed and that the censu,
| hds not been taken, and yet claims that tn,
Constitution has been complied with Bu
| then there has been an amendment proposed
o, my! 1t 10 amazing that o writer with O.
| little logical acumen IS our friend has her
manifested should have the sudacity to appi
| such an epithet - 'Howling Mob TO such mel
| as our venerable representative, who has NOR
| than twenty years experience in the halls OF tn
House Of Representatives, and to Statesmen
and Editors in all sections Of our Comm On wesl
who have complained that the Constitution ha.
| been disregarded, and a breach made In tn,
wall which is the ouly safeguard to human
liberty. SUBSCRIBER.
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