The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-10-31
A Bit of History.

The News and Courier, IN discussing the
constituti onal convention, recently said:
"The two-mill tax in aid of the public
schools was Democratic measure and was
placed in the constitution by special
amendment. 1t can be taken out of the
constitution in the same way" If our con.
temporary means to say that the two-mill
tax was originated by Democrats, it is
clearly misinformed as to the facts, and
the amendment did not become successful
in the end without stout and stubborn
resistance.
The Yorkville Enquirer has also alluded
to this matter, saying that the two-m!ll tax
is '.an amendment suggested by Wade
Hampton in 1875" and again. "This
provision became o part of the constitu-
ton as an amendment, suggested and
adopted in 1878 by Democrats.
The amendment placing the two-mlll tax
in the constitution was proposed by the
Legislature elected in 1874, and was dis
tinctively measure inaugurated by the
Chamberlain administration. During the
progress of the campaign IN 1876, the
question arose as to what the Democrats
would do with this amendment and the
issue was squarely made with the State De-
mocratic executive committee by certain
Republicans who wished to act with the
Democrats in getting rid of the carpet bag
ger, but who were greatly Interested IN the
passage Of this amendment. General
Hampton and his co-workers were making
appeals to the colored people to join with
their white neighbors in restoring good
government to the State, and distinct
pledges were being made on the stump
every day that the civil and political rights
of the negros should not be disturbed if
the Democrats got control Of the State.
The maintenance Of the public schools
was emphatically promised in various
ways, but the Republicans who proposed
to act with the Democrats deemed it impor-
tant that definite pledge should be gwen
in regard to the twc-nill tax, and the exec
ptive committee was urged to commit the
Democrats without reserve to this amend
ment. This was not done, however, but IN
view of the emergencies OF the campaign
and as matter of expediency, the State
executive committee adopted q resolution
which recommended the Democratic voters
to cast their ballots for the amendment,
but leaving each voter to decide the ques-
ton for himself. This satisfied the Repub-
lican allies, and beyond question It was
o potential factor in controlling negro votes
or neutralizlng Republican Influences IN
number Of counties.
The amendment was adopted at the polls
by an overwhelming majority, if we mis-.
take not, though considerable portion OF
the Democrats were averse to the measure,
and many of them voted against 1t. Some
acquiesced in the recommendation OF the
executive committee on the ground Of ex-
pediency, while others voted for the
amendment in order to make the tax de-
finite and distinct.
The two-Inill tax was not settled at the
polls in 1876, for the amendment had to
run the gauntlet of the Democratic Legis-
lature many Of whose members were not
in sympathy with the public school system
and did not regard the action Of the exec
utive committee as distinct and binding
pledge upon the party. The contest over
this amendment in the House was especial
" warm, and while resulting in victory
for the Hampton administration, the op-
position was strong and vigorous.
As a matter of fact, the two-mill tax has
been a bone of contention ever since, and
the white voters are by no means unit IN
its favor. This dissatisfaction grows
stronger each year, as the operation Of the
AK is plainly seen to give the advantage to
he negro in this State. Of course, 1t can
be eliminated from the constitution by the
same process which procured its insertion
herein, and if the voters decide against
holding constitutional convention 1t Will
aot be surprising to find a joint resolution
by the incoming Legislature to
.enea1 the amendment leyvinC tWO-mlll |
ak for the public schools, SO as to leave the
node and manner of imposing this tax to
he Legislature. re.-GreenYille Mountaineer. |