Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

have amen relative to the right of suffrage by the lower classes. It is suggested that the proposed action is inconsistent with the dignity of the white race; he had faith in the ri i on i t c an ri minnrmrif-.y nf tViA An. glo-Saxon race:' Bat while he held out the olivo branch to the colored man, ho would let him understand that he could never govern the South-he should participate. We should be prepared to say to them, .'thia is our land." f. Mr. Mullins then moved tl/at a Committee of one from each delega? tion present be appointed to seleot candidates for the various State offices. Tho Chairman stated that there were several .papers on his desk, and asked what disposition should be mode of them. On Mr. Mulliu'a motion, tho pa? pers were referred to the State Cen- ? tra! Executive Committee. The different delegations then sub- j mitted their nominations for persons j to recommend suitablo State officers: ? Richland-Johu S. Preston; Lex- i ington-John H. Counts; Spartan- 1 burg-G. Canton; Laurons-Dr. | McSwain; Oraugcburg-F. M. Wau- j namaker; Kershaw-W. L. DePass; Colleton-C. C. Henderson; George? town-F. S. Parker; York-J. Mason; Greenville-W. H. Campbell; Ches? ter-Major Hamilton; Barnwell-J. Evans; Marion-D. Leggett; Abbe? ville-D. W. Aiken; Newberry-S. B. Chapman; Anderson-P. Earle; Union-T. B. Jeter; Sumter-T. S. McOants; Edgefield- -L. Schiller; Fairfield-W. J. Alston. The delegates retired for the pur? pose of selecting candidates. Under the fifth resolution, the Chairman appointed tho following Committee to nominate the State Central Executive Committee : Messrs. Preston, Blauding, Foster, Schiller and Blake. The following committee was also appointed to nominate delegates to the National Democratic Convention, to assemble in New York, on the Fourty of July: Messrs. Campbell, Gregg, Vance, Henderson and Wood? ward. The Convention then took a recess until half-past 7 o'clock p. m. EVEKING SESSION. Tho Convention re-assembled at half-past 7 o'clock. The Chairman announced that the first business in order was the report of the Commit? tee to Nominate State Officers. Mr. DePass, the Chairman of the Committee, reported as follows: For Governor-Hon. W. D. Por? ter, of Charleston. For Lieutenant-G o ver nor-Hon. T. C. Perrin, of Abbeville. Secretary of State-Samuel Capers. Adjutant and Inspector-General Col. J. P. Thomas. Treasurer-Wm. Hood. Comptroller-General-S. L. Leap hart. Attorney-General-I. W. Hayno. Superintendent of Education-J. A. Leland. Gen. Preston, from tho Committee to nominate delegates for thu State Central Executive Committee, re? ported tho following: Wade Hamp? ton, J. P. Thomas, F. W. McMaster, Joseph D. Pope, of Richland; Wm. Shannon, of Kershaw; S. McGowan, of Abbeville; and Prioleau Hamilton, of Chester. Mr. Gregg, from the Committee to nominate dclegutostotho Democratic Convention in New York, on the Fourth of July, reported: Fpr the Stale al Large-B. F. Terry, James Chesnut; alternates J. A. In? glis, A. P. Aldrich. First District-W. S. Mullins; J. B. Kershaw, alternate. Second District -Carlos Tracy; M. L. Bonham, alternate. Third District-J. S. Proston; W. B. Stanley, alternate. Fourth District-A. Burt; W. D. Simpson, alternate. Gov. Perry moved that the dele? gations from the different Congres? sional Districts nominate members of Congress, which was agreed to. After consultation, tho following nominations wero made: T*r.. .j r> .. . t T?- . . . ? . ' ... wiy; Ci.MMd'd JSUHl tVt - UUUI posed of tho Districts of Lancaster, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Darlington, Marion, Horry, Georgetown, Wil? liamsburg, Sumter, Clarendon and Korshaw-J. N. Frierson. Second Congressiontd District-com? posed of tho Districts of Charleston, Colleton, Beaufort and Barnwell Johnson Hugood. Third Congressional District-com? posed of Orangoburg, Lexington, Richland, Newberry, Edgefield, Ab? beville and Anderson-S. McGowan. Fourth Congressional District-com? posed of Oconee, ricketts, Greenville, Laurens, Spartanburg, Union, Yo?k, Chester and Fairfield-Samuel ,Mo Aliley. Col. Thomas stated that, as it has been asserted by eminent legal gen tlnmnn *b** ti??n? pO?*?ODH O? *-he Charleston Constitution were illegal, he mored that tho Hon. A. Burt, ' Chairman of thia Convention, be requested to give his legal opinion ou this subject; which was unanimously agreed to, and the Hon. James Ches? nut was requested to take tho Chair. Mr. Burt said in substance, that it was I his earnest conviction that the Constitution recently adopted is fatal to tho welfare of both races. It is an imposition. He agreed heartily with the sentiments expressed here, and addressed himself to the white man and the black man. I protest, said the speaker, against that Consti? tution, because it seeks to destroy our past, our history-ove.ry land? mark. Xo people ou this continent can endure tho burden of taxation that that Convention imposes. All taxation by that instrument in im? posed upou real estate and tho sale of merchandize. The taxablo property is held by the ono race, and th? law? making power by tho other. Not only the arduous appropriations are paid by the whites, but all others, with tho exoeptiou of a small tax for educational purposes. "Without auy qualification whatever, one class is allowed to vote, while the other is disfranchised. Taxation without representation is tyranny. Those who do not hold tho property! vole and make laws; while the property owners ure not allowed to vote for even a constable. Those who hold office are incited to increase taxation. These voters aro not required to kuow a letter of the alphabet. The holders of taxable property in South Carolina will not be able to pay the taxes on that property. If a colored man acquires real estate-the object which he desires-he is placed in? stantly in the character of the white man. But by this Constitution, the colored man will not be able to hold that property three years-it will be takcu from him to pay the taxes. To those who favor that instrument, I would say that the homestead ex I emptiou does not relieve the proper I ty from taxes. No judge-even though he be from New York, Ohio or Africa-eau decide that the home? stead bill exempts from former debts; it is only exempted from future debts. I think it legitimate to im? pute to the Convention the desire to mislead honest people relative to this homestead matter. What the people desire is exemption from debts contracted on the basis of property which has since been swept away. The Constitution of the United States declares that no State shall pass any law impairing the obligation of cou tracts. That vaunted homestead law can protect no man from the pay men I of any debts contracted prior to iti passage, and that is the relief whicl: is needed. The speaker then referrec to that provision of the Constitutor which annuls all debts for whicl slaves were the consideration. The Chief Justice of the United Statei has expressed tho opinion that thej are us binding as other debts, and th< Supreme Court will so decide. Hi I also asserted that there are fatal mis I takes in the judicial article of tin j Constitution, which would work tc the injury of both blacks and whites j So cumbersome and conflicting an tho detail of that Constitution, tba we will bo crushed by it. The iinpo I verisln d people cannot bear up undo I it. Every antagonism between tin j two rac.is is incited by it. I call upoi every white man and every coloree man to unite, resist and defeat thu j Constitution, by every means our op pressers permit ns to use. It is ; duty we owe to tho living aud to th dead. On tue conclusion of this address a resolution was adopted, that tlii thanks of this Convention be tem dered to the Hon. A. Burt, fur th able, lucid and searching analysis o that instrument} promulgated ny th Convention in Charleston, and thu ho bo requested to furnish a copy V I th? Executive Committee for publies tiou. Mr. Joter, seconded by Mr. Can j non, submitted a resolution, that th District Associations nominate suits bio persons as candidates for Stat officers; and also appoint speakers t address tho citizens, irrespective o color; besides supervising tho ballot boxes, so as, if possible, to preven fraud. Which was agreed to. After tho adoption of a rosolutioi of thanks to tho Chairman, for th faithful discharge of his duties-t which au eloquent response was madt the Convention adjourned sine die. ^Amongst the papers submitted to the Cou vont ion was the following address to the colored, peoplo of South. Carolina. It was afterwards v?!erre3. to tbs Sistc Central Execu? tive Committee, with discretion to publish. The Committee has kindly furnished us willi a copy: ' ADDRESS TO THE COLORED PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. The Convention of the Democratic party of South Carolina feels it n high and bounden duty to speak to yon candidly and earnestly, und with no further apology than that our in? terests are to a ccrtaiu extent iden? tical. You have been suddenly put in position to exercise certain powers, the abuse of which may result disas? trously to yon and to ns. It is im? possible that your present power can endure, whether you use it for good or ill. The white race already out-num? bers you in the South. Disen.se has made the mortality among you twice what it is among tho whites, nud the rate is daily increasing. Emigration has carried off thousands of your color to distant States, while it al? ready begins to fill their pkces with whites from Europe. Lot not your pride, nor yet your pretended frieuds, Hatter you into the belief that you ever eau or ever will, for any length of time, govern the white men of the South. The world has never seen such a spectacle, oud its whole his? tory, and especially the history of your race, gives no ground for the anticipation. Perhaps, however, you expect to attain power by the aid of the radical party ut the North. Thc Almighty, in His wisdom, (perhaps to prevent.the amalgamation of til'1 separate races which He created and marked,) hos implanted iu every human breast a sentiment called the prejudice of race: aud wheu tint, feel? ing is ouce aroused, it is one of the strongest and most uuiversul pas? sions of our natures. When your race was amoug us ns slaves, this sentiment slumbered, and ouly ti compassion for you influenced eveiy honest heart-those among your mas? ters-to treat you kindly; those jvbc believed you wronged, to desire tc set you free. When you were sel free, compassion ceased to exist, When undue power was given jon bj the radical party, (from motive! which all men appreciated aud de spiscd,) prejudice of race sprang up The whites of this State endeavorer to allay it-here, at least-byinvitiu{ you to a course and u cdmpromisi which would have given it nothingt? feed upon. But their efforts resultei in such an utter failure, that itwouh be mortifying had it not been t Christian duty to make the effort Every step of your political career so far, has cultivated this prejudice until it now speaks aloud in Engluui and is already rapidly changing th politics of the entire North. This i the odium which must soon prov the death of the radical party, lt i too strong to be resisted, being th operation of a law of nature. D j ou not see it even iu your whit radical friends, in spite of their it dustrious efforts to conceal it, so loft as they have use for you? Is it nc apparent, also, in tho officers, nu even the very private soldiers, of th army whose bnj'ouets still prop u your power, only because they ai paid to do it? Do you flatter youl selves that your "Loyal Leagues can prevail against it? "Blood i thicker than water," and the leagu which the Almighty has organized one to which there will bo no traitor when once nn issue is fairly made. To repeat, then, ns wo began: Yoi present power must surely ami soo pass from you. Nothing that builds will stand, and nothing wi remain of it but the prejudices it nm create. It is, therefore, a most dat gorous tool that you are hntidlin? Your leaders, both white and bfaol ai i> using your votes for nothing bi their individual g tin. Many of the you have only known, heretofore, I despise and mistrust, until commun ed by your leagues to vote for then Offices and salaries for fchemselvi ave the heights of their ambition nud so that they make hay while tl sun shines, they care not who caught in the storm that follow Already, they havo driven away ? capital and credit from tho Sont aud while they draw eleven dollars day, thousands among yon are throw out of employment, and starve sit ply for lack of work. What few e terprises aro carried on aro only tl work of Southern men, who ha faith that thc present stnto of affai is but temporary. Tho world do not offer better opportunities for tl employment of capital than are to found in the .South? bat will your radical friends send their money here to invest? Not one dollar. They would just as soon venture on invest? ments in Hay ti or Liberia, os com -,..?. il..:- _?.-- .- . f ....... ?uv? ?IUUCJ I\J iiiu luuuouue vi yonr legislation. ' Capital has learned to shun it ns a deadly plague. We, therefore, urge- and ?worn you, by all the ties of our former relations, still strong aud binding in thousands of oflses, by a common christianity and by the mutual welfare of our two races, whom Providence has thrown together, to beware of the course on which your leaders are urging you. in a blind folly which will sundy rniu both you nud them. We do not pretend to be better friends to your mee than we are to ourselves, und we only speak where we are not invited because your wel? fare concerns ours. If you destroy yourselves you injure ns, and though but little, compared with the harm yon will db yourselves, we .would if we could avert tho whole danger. We are not in any condition to I make you any promises or to propose to you any compromises. We eau do nothing but await tho course of events-but tliis we do without the slightest misgiving or apprehension for ourselves. We shall not give up our country, and time will soon re? store our control of it. But we earnestly caution you, and beg you in the meanwhile, to beware of the use you make of your temporary power. Remember that your race has nothing to gain and everything to lose, if you invoke that prejudice of race which, since the world was luade, has ever driven the weaker tribe to tho wall. Forsake, then, the wicked and stupid men who would involve you in this folly, and make to yourselves friends and not enemies of the white citizens of South Caro? lina. COLUMBIA. Saturday Morning,' April 4, 1868. Til? lt? moorul lr Convention. This body adjourned last night, at 10 o'clock. Its action was harmo? nious in au unusual degree. The spirit of dignity, courtesy aud mode? ration was admirably preserved. The Convention sought a peaceful solu? tion of the great question which now agitates our State, and we believe that its action will be approved by the great body of our people. It proposes peace and justice; at the same time, it was distinctly indicated that the idea of negro supremacy oould not fer one moment be enter? tained. We hope for the best results from the actiou of this Convention. At the close of the proceedings, au admirable address was made by tho Hon. A. Burt, the President. His analysis of the proposed radical Con? stitution was able and searching, and ought to array against it every man, whether white or black. The nomi? nations made by the Convention will be supported by the party and meet with general approval. Let our peo? ple now go to work-tho road is paved. It is remarkable how, at CTery out? burst of revolutionary feeling in France, the "Marseillaise" instantly rushes to the people's lips. At the recent very serious conscription riots nt Toulouse, a body of workingmen marched in column to tho principal square of the city, shouting "Vivo la Republique 1" and singing the "Mar? seillaise" hymn. The sound of this dreaded hymn was the signal for in? stant ami immense military activity. Troops were posted all over the city, artillery planted in tho streets, and Gen. DuGuyon, who had been for some weeks in Paris, had to return in all haste to the seat of his com? mand. Tho connection of tho "Mar? seillaise" with the revolution of ISIS will bo remembered, and nt overy outburst of Republican feeling in any part of France, it is the rallying cry and inspiration of the people. It is tho most dangerous enemy Napo? leon has in Europe. -?-??-? Brownlow says the measure of Iiis ambition is lilied, and all he desires is to depart in peace. Let him do so. Xtooal .TtoTKss. MEETINO OP THE RICHLAND DEMO V ORATIO CBTJB.-?-A nieoting of thev< Richland T)firnrw?rnfclo Dub will hf> held at Gregg's Hall, on Monday night, the 6th instant, at 8 o'olock, for the purpose of nominating mem? bers to tho Legislature. A full and punctual attendance is earnestly re? quested. A citizen requestsjus to call the at? tention ol tho city authorities to the fact that the hogs at large in the streets are doing much damage to the drains and side-walks, besides under? mining fences to get into the gardens. PUBLIC SPIRIT.-We have received a copy of another candidate for pub? lic favor, with the above title, issued by LeGrnnd Benedict, .TT Park Row, New York. Price 25 cents a num? ber. Among the rc gular contributors are a number of the principal essay? ists and story writers of the day; and the articles will repay perusal. CONTRACTS-THE APPRENTICE SYS? TEM.-To give an idea how such things are managed in the old coun? try, we publish the following copy of a legal indenture between master and apprentice, according to the law now in force in Ireland: This indenture, made the day of in the year cf our Lord one thousand eight hundred aud sixty between of in the Comity of of the one part, und of in tho County of of thc other part, witnesseth, that the said by and with the approbation and consent of of in the County of doth put himself ap? prentice to the said to learn the art and of und with after tke manner of an appren? tice, to dwell and servo from the day of for and during the full term and space of from thence next ensuing, to lie fully completed and ended. During which term thc said apprentice his said master faithfully ahull serve, secrets keep, lawful com mauds every? where gladly do; he shall do no da? mage to his said master in goods, . chattels or estate, or know or procure any to be doue by others; but, when he shall know or have any reason to suspect any such being in? tended, he shall forthwith givo warn? ing to his said master of the same; he shall not waste the goods of his said master , or give or lend them unlawfully to any; he shall not commit fornication, or contract matrimony, within the Baid term; hurt to his said master in per? son or family he shall not do, cause or procure to be done by others; he shall not play at cards, dice, or any unlawful game, with his own or others' goods, whereby his said mas? ter may have loss, during the said term. Without license of his said master he shall neither buy nor sell; he shall not frequent taverns, ale-houses, or play-houses, or absent himself from his said master's servio i day or night unlawfully, under tho forfeiture of for each day h< absents himself, or serving two days for one, at the expiry of his said apprenticeship, at tho option of his said master , but in nil things, ns an honest and faithful apprentice, he shall behave himself towards his said master and during tho said terni. And the said master said apprentice the same art which uso by the best way and moans that can, shall teach, instruct or cause to be instructed, with dn<. correction; and upon said ap? prentice, shall lu witness whereof, the parties above named havo hereunto respec? tively set their hands and seals, the day and year aforesaid. Signed, j sealed and delivered in presence ol MAIL ABRANOEMENTK. -The pot,t I ..?."_--l_;_ii t ... I <->iii^v Opcu uiuia?.; tuc ?CUh. JlOIil Ofa I a. m. to G p. m. On Sundays, from I -l' j to r,iJ r. ru. The Charleston and Western mails ! are open for delivery at ?'.. p. m., and close at 8}.j p. m. Northern-Open for delivery nt 8j? a. m., closes at 2.-l."> p. m. Greenville-Open for delivery 5/? p. m., closes at K p. m. NEW AnvKRTZSBirmvra.-!Attention tscail ed to tin; following advertisements, bub lisbed this morning for ibo tiret time: H. T. Poako-Reduction cu freight. R. Tozer-Laborors Wan te?. II. 0. Herrick-United States Rovenue. I Ooo. Hone, Jr-Tribute of Respect.