Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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minute details, and so burdensome will be the government which it inattgurates, that you win be crushed by it. You cannot bear it. As well might tho heavy harness of the mailed warrior be put upon the limbs of an infant, as for these burdens to be imposed upon tho impoverished people of South Caroona. None but a/people rich and highly oducated can live under that Constitution; Try it if you will, but I toll you, gentlemen, that antagonism will bo exerted between the two races, and conflict may be the result. Under it peace and harmony are utterly impossible in South Callina." We have thus suggested to your honorable body some of the pro? minent objections to your adoption of thia Constitution. We waive all argument upon the subject of its validity. It, is a Constitution de fado, and that is the ground upon which we approach your honorablo body in the spirit of earnest remonstrance. That Consti; tution was the work of Northern adventurers, Southern renegades and ignorant negroes. Not one per centum of the White popula? tion of the State approves it, and not two per centum of tho negroes who voted for its. adoption know any more than a dog, horse, or cat, what his act of voting implied. That Constitution enfranchises every male negro Over the age bf twen%-one, and disfranchises many of the purest and best white men1 of the State. Tho negro being in a large numerical majority, as compared with the whites, the effect is that the now Oonstitution establishes in this State negro supremacy, with all its train of countless evils. .>A'?ip?rW r^oe--a portion, Senators and Representares, of the same proud race to which it is your pride to belong-is put under tho rule of an inferior race-the abject slaves of yesterday, the flushed freedmen of to-day. And think you that there can be any. jost, lasting reconstruction on this basis? The Committee respectfully reply, in behalf of their white fellow-citizens, that this cannot be. We do not mean to threaten resistance by arms. . ?But tho white people of our State will never quietly submit to negro rule. We moy have to pass under the yoke you have authorised, but by moral agencies, by political organization, by every peaceful means left us, wo will keep up this contest until" wo have regained tho heritage of political control handed down to us by an honored ancestry. This is a duty we owe to the land that is ours, to the graves that it con? tains, and to the race of which you and we aro alike members-the proud Caucasian race, whoso sovereignty on earth God has ordained, and thoy themselves have illustrated on the most brilliant pages of the world's history. Nor, Senators and Representatives, does the State of South Caro? lina merit, at your hands, the political treatment that has been meted out to her without stint. It is true, South Carolina took the field promptly, in the late war between tho States. Her people embarked their all in the struggle, because the sovereignty of the State demanded this of them. But when the war ended, and the arbitrament to which they resorted was adverse to then cause, no people over yielded moro gracefully to the decree of Providence. Quietly they laid down their arms, and, in peace, they became law-abiding, as, in war, they had been faith? ful to their flag. They accepted tho legitimate results of thc wai*. They were ready to abandon the claim of the right of their State peaceably to secede from tho Union, and they assented, in Conven? tion assembled, to the emancipation of their slaves. And now, were tho Stato admitted into the Union, on a just and reasonable basisi we hesitate not to declare that again would oui* people greet the starry banner of the Union, and unite with their fellow-citizens ol the wholo country in the effort to promote tho glory, wealth and prosperity of our common land In our rotations, as proposed by us, with tho black people of this State, we arc not disposed to exact anything that just men may deny or Heaven disapprove. When South Carolina assented to the act of Federal emancipa? tion, wo hold that the freed people became members of the body politic, and, as such, entitled to all the civil rights that arc enjoyed alike by all classes of the people. They became entitled to 1 life, liberty and tho pursuit of happiness"-to all that the Declaration of American Independence and the English Magna Charta claim foi man as his inalienable rights. But as it regards suffrage, we hold that this is not a political right nor a civil one for man, either white or black, but it is a trust, a delicate trust, to be conferred by the State upon the people thereof, according to considerations of expediency! and agreeably to the sound political doctrine of the groatest good to the greatest number. With respect, now, to the extension of this trust to the colored people, we believe that nine-tenths of our people are willing to con? cede it to them, duly qualified. We cannot admit universal suffrage because the great body of the colored peoplo are utterly unfitted te exeroise it with intelhgenco and discretion; and because it woulc make the negro dominant, and thus hiing about a fatal antagonisn between tho races. We cannot deny it altogether to the black man because that would be neither right nor politic. Hence the pohev of tho mean between the two extremes, which has mot witt general favor in this State. The conservative party of South Caro? lina now stands and gathers strength, day after day, upon this pro position. The Convention of the party lately passed the following resolution : "Resolved, That under tho action of the Stato of South Carolina heretofore taken, we recognize the colored population of the Statt as an integral element of the body politic; and, as such, in persor and property, entitled to a full and equal protection under tho Stat? Constitution and laws. And that as citizens of South Carolina, w( declare our willingness, when we have the power, to grant them under proper qualifications as to property and intelligence, th< right of suffrage." In behalf at least of the Democratic party of :jouth Carolina which embraces nearly every white inhabitant, and many of tin colored peoplo, the Committee declare that this policy represents tin political sentiment of tho State. Wo offer tliis in good faith, as tin basis of a true, a genuino and lasting reconstruction. This, w< earnestly believe, is the peaceful solution of tho great question o white man and black man in tho South. This solution we offer t( tho conservatism of the countrv. as ono nlil-o both race.:. .Lot this be accepted; let the vexed question of th< black man be removed from tho high court of the land, and let al of our peoplo North, South, East and West, be permitted harmo niously and earnestly to address themselves to the great work o individual improvement and national aggrandizement-then agaii may we expect a return of the better days of the Republic, and ? restoration of the Union in fact as well as in name. WADE HAMPTON, JOHN P. THOMAS, JOSEPH DANIEL POPE, F. w. MCMASTER, SAMUEL McGOWAN, W. M. SHANNON, State Central Executive Committee. COLUMBIA, Wednesday Homing. May 6, IB68. ' n * tU* ConiUtulloa, ikr^wtoierens, tho masterspirit of tho rascal party io Congressand^ui \ of it, ?aid: "Some of the mem ben; of tho Senate seemed to doubt their powers under the Constitution, which they bad just ropudiated, and wholly outside of whioh all agreed that wp were, acting, else our whole work of reconstruction was usnrpa ( tion." Even tho New York Tim??, which rcpre?ents a more cautious radical sentiment, hw said: "So much ot the Strong effort of the last six ypura, military and civil, hot. been. denis outside at tb* |?tfc?ff of the Constitution, that it is Tain labor to appeal to any abso? lute constitutional guide, however earnestly moderate and conservative men may desire to make such an appeal." The Baltimore Sun thinks there is no more ominous sign that the country is drifting towards .un? known and dangerous shores, than an impaired respect and veneration of the American Constitution. Tho sneers and scoffs with whioh all ap? peals to that fendamental law of our .Government are met by the extreme radicals, and the grave declaration of more reflecting organs of that party, like the Times, that "it is vain labor to appeal to any absolute constitu? tional guide," indicate a want of in? telligent appreciation of the princi? ples and value of free constitutional forms whioh, if prevalent among a majority of the citizens of Cita coun? try, would render them an easy prey to the usurpation of all rights and liberty. It is a common thing to hear from the radical press that the Constitution formed in 1787, with its government of limited powers, does not meet the wants and necessities of 1867; that the country has out-grown the Constitution; and that we might as well attempt to mako the garment of a child flt a man, as that instru? ment, fabricated in our political in faucy, meet the requirements of a republic eighty years old. It is diffi? cult to understand what want ol adaptation there is between those maxims of pohtical wisdom, the pro? duct of centuries of experience in England, embodied and applied io the Constitution by the greatesl statesmen of America, and the extra? ordinary material growth and pro? gress of the country. Certain it is, that, under this Constitution, we have run a career of wealth and [prosperity unparalleled in the an nah of nations, and which was never in? terrupted till its principles were de? parted from. Besides, the Constitu? tion, among its other evidences oi sagacity and forecast, contains withir itself an explicit provision by whiob it may bo legally changed, whenever, in the opinion of the people, such E change is necessary. It, therefore, meets all possible demands of pro gress, whether material or politi cal, and no necessity whatever oar arise for going in time of peace foi years outside) the fundamental la\>, whioh the people have themselvei enacted. That Congress has done so. is admitted by its great radical leader, and, according to the New Yorl Times, so much has been done ii that direction that it is vain to ap peal now to any absolute constitu tional guide. If this be so, then tin people of the United States are a this moment practically without i Constitution; the limitations it im i poses upon the various department o? the Government hnve ceased tc exist; military governments may b< imposed upon States whioh never lof the Union, as well as those whict seceded from it, whenever publii policy, in tho opinion of the party ii the ascendant, may so demand; and in a word, no othor law romains bu might. The sacredness of contracts which is maintained l>y thc Oc&stiiu tion, will uo longer be protected ty that venerablo bulwark, and when ever repudiating demagogues shal desire to take advantage of the pres sure of heavy taxation upon the peo pie, tho national debt can be cancellec outside tho Constitution, as well a any other obligations of honor an< good faith. The .supremacy of tb peoplo cannot be doubted, but it i no derogation to the people to sa; that they aro not supreme over th pledges of their own national cove liant; or, if they ?re, they can them? selves have ho confidence in their own virtues and competency for self government. We trust that the popu? lar voice in the coming Presidential .election will vindicate at once; the Constitution of the United Stattfand, the character of ita people. i:? ' Expiration ot" Tarma of Office. Gen. Canby has replied as follows to a communication from Gov. Orr, relative to the time .at which he ia to vacate his office : HEADQ'KS 2D MILITARY DISTRICT, CHARLESTON. May L 1868. His Excellency James L. Orr, Gover? nor of South Carolina. SIB; I have the honor to acknow? ledge the receipt of your communi-1 cation of tho 27th ultimo, making I tho inquiry aa to the tim? when "the duties of the provisional officers of the Exeeutive Department of the present State Government will termi? nate, and' when the officers elected under the new Constitution will qualify aud enter upon their duties;" and to state, in reply, that the fifth section of the law of March 2, 1867, "to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," directs that when the Constitution shall have been ratified bY the people of tho State, and "shall havo been submitted to Congress for examina? tion and approval, and Congress shall have approved the same; and when said State, by a vote Of its Legisla? ture eleeted under the new Constitu? tion, shall bave adopted the amend? ment to the Constitution of tho United States proposed by the thirty ninth Congress and known as article fonrteen; and when said article shall have become a part of the Constitu? tion of the United States, said State pball be declared to be entitled to representation in Congress, and Se? nators aud Representatives shall be admitted therefrom, upon taking the oath prescribed by law." * * The sixth section of the same law enacts, "that until|the people of said rebel States shall be by law admitted to representation in the Congress of the United States, any civil govern? ment which may exist therein shall be provisional ouly, and in all re? spects subject to the paramount au? thority of the United States at any time to abolish, modify, control or supersede the same; and iu all eioc ? tions to any office under such provi I sionnl governments, all persons shall be entitled to vote, and none others, who are entitled to vote under the fifth section of this Act; and no per? son shall be eligible to any ornee under any such provisional govern? ments who would be disqualified from holding office under the provi? sions of tho third article of said con? stitutional amendment." Jt will be seen that the Govern? ment organized nuder the new Con? stitution remains provisional not only until Congress shall have approved that Constitution, but until the Le? gislature shall have adopted the amendment to the Constitution of the United States known as article fourteen, and that article shall have become a part of the Constitution of the United States, and the State shall by law bo admitted to representation in Congress. It ia very desirable that the organi? zation of the new Government should take place as soon as practicable after the approval of the Constitution by Congress, that the retirement of the old and the installation of the new executive officers should take place at tho same time, and in a formal and regular manner. It is presumed that Congress will act speedily upon the question of approving the Constitu? tion that has been submitted, and that it will fix the date wheu the exe? cutive offioers elected under it shall enter upon their duties. If this should not be done, the duty of fixing the dato will devolve upon the District Commander; and I propose, in the order announcing the results of the election, to designate the tenth day after the approval of the Constitution by Congress, as the day on which the duties of the pro? visional officers of tho Executive De? partment of the present State Go? vernment will terminate, and when the corresponding officers elected under the new Constitution will enter upon their duties. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWARD CANBY, Brevet Maj. Gen. Commanding. Important Military Order. The following important order, No. 80, from District Headquarters, was made public yesterday: I. The Constitution adopted by the Convention assembled in this city, under the authority of the law of tho United States, of March 2, 1867, "to provide for the moro efficient govern? ment of the rebel States," to frame a Constitution for the State of South Carolina, having been submitted to the people of the said State, and having been duly ratified; and the Convention having, by an ordinance adopted oft the 16th day of March, 1868, provided that the General As? sembly, elected under the provisions of the said Constitution, shall as? semble in the city of Columbia, on the 12th day of May, 1868; the pro? per officers of the provisional go? vernment of tho State will make suitable arrangements for the accom modation of the said General Assem? bly. And for the purpose of defray? ing the necessary expenses of hall rent, furniture and contingencies, until the . General Assembly shall otherwise provide, the BU m of $2,500 is .horetfar appropriated ,from any moneys fn the - Treasury of the State of Booth Carolina, not otherwise ap? propriated. flt. Tb remove any doubts as to the proper construction of Sections 14, 15 and 16, of Paragraph II, (Appro? priations,) of General Orders No. 139, dated December 3, 1867, the Treasurer of the State of South Ca? rolina is hereby directed not to make any payments from the Treasury of the said Stats on account of any ap? propriation made, or fox any service rendered, or for any debt otherwise contracted, prior to the 30th day of Juno, 1865, unless the same shall hereafter be authorized by proper Icgiaiisiive authority. III. Upon representations that since the late oleo tiona many laborers have been discharged from their em? ployment because they exercised the right of voting, or because they did not vote as their employers wished them to rote. Commanders of Post? are directed to use the authority con? ferred upon them by the first para? graph of General Orders No. 53, dated March 20, 1868, to require that when snch persons become proper objects of public charity, the Com? missioners, or other municipal of? ficer?, having the care of the poor, I shall make the same provision for them as for other objects of public charity; and, if necessary to that end, the Commissioners aro autho? rized to levy such additional poor taxes as may be required. Like representations having been made with regard to planters and other persons who have received ad? vances from tho United States under the provisions of the circular of Fe? bruary 27, 1868, the Assistant Com? missioner for the State will, upon satisfactory evidence of the fact, withhold all further advances Lo "ch planters and others who havj bean guilty of such practices, and u*ke measures to secure the reimburse? ment of the money value of the ad? vances already made. The officers and agents of the Bu? reau will, in all tcases, give their aid in procuring employment for labor? ers who have been discharged; and to all such, when able to rent landa and to work them on their own ac? count, advances may be made in con? formity with the provisions of the circular of February 27, 1868, and General Orders No. 28, of the same date. MASONIC SUPREME COUNCIL, TUIRTY THIRD DEGREE.-The Grand Council of the Southern States and Territo? ries in the United States will, we learn, conveno in this city to-day, in the new lodge room, recently fitted up over Holmes' Bookstore, corner of King and Wentworth streets. This Council embraces in its jurisdic? tion the Son them and North-western States, California and the Territories. The Supreme Council for the North? ern jurisdiction of the United States embraces the Northern and Eastern States. The Southern Supreme Council was established at Charleston in 1801, and is composed of the most learned and distinguished Masons of the States within its jurisdiction, and according to its constitution cnn never consist of a larger number than thirty-three, and no one is en tided to membership unless unani? mously elected. It is expeoted that there will be a large attendance of the members at this meeting, as many questions connected with the welfare and advancement of the Masonic fraternity will be presented for consi? deration. The Grand Council is the highest body in the brotherhood, and its sessions are held bi-ennially, the last being held at Washington in May. 1866. The following are the present of? ficers of the Southern Supreme Coun? cil: Hon. Albert Pike, of Arkansas, Sovereign Grand Commander. Hon. W. S. Bockwell, of Georgia, Lieutenant Grand Commander. Hon. A. G. Mackey, of South Ca? rolina, Grand Secretary General. Hon. 13. B. French, of Washing? ton. Hon. Giles M. Hillier, of Missis? sippi. Hon. Henry Buist, of South Caro? lina. Hon. E. H. Shaw, of California. Hon. Howell Cobb, of Georgia. The body has much important business to consider, and the session will probably last a week. {Charleston News. The fire at East Berkshire, Ver? mont, ou Wednesday night, swept everything before it. within certain limits, not a building was left stand? ing. Thirty buildings, including mechanics' shops of various kinds, a hotel, stores, offices, residences, a school-house, a church aud barns were detroyed. BILLIARDS. IN compliance with tho request of many lovers of the game, my SALOON has been RE-OPENED. A BAR is connected with the Saloon, at which Seeger' UNADUL? TERATED LAGER BEEB can always be obtained; also, WINES, BRANDIES, etc.* May 1 G. D1ERCK8. Xjooal XtoTTou?iv. Tho proprietors of the Exchange ' Restaurant will furnish clam chowder for lunch to-day. W. T. J? 0. Woodward, Esq., ageut of the "Groat Sea-board Iu lttftd Air Line," and also of tho ''Great' Southern Freight Line," ia in Columbia, and stopping at dicker? son's. Mr. T. M. Pollock will furnish his patron's with excellent okra soup for lunch, this morning, from ll to 1 O'ol?ok. By-tbe-way, the lovers of that healthful beverage-lager beer will find that Mr. P. keeps first quali? fy lager, in a patent refrigerator, so ^h?t J? jsp?tTrs l-.um ?he cask icy cold. Try it Nxw NOVELS.-We have received fin m the publishers, through J. J, McCarter, Esq., copies of the follow? ing works: Not Wisely, but Too Well. A Novel. By the author of ? "Cometh up as a Flower." New York: D. Appleton & Co. Price 60 cents. This work will attract attention and admiration from the tasteful manner in which it is gotten up clear type, neat print and cut leaves. The story is pleasantly told, and the advice most excellent. Jeanie's Quiet Life. By the author of "St. Olave's," etc. New York: Harper & Brothers. Price 50 cents. No. 312 of Harper's Library of Select Novels. A pleasing love story; but in which, unfortunately, the lovers are somewhat disappointed in their hopes und expectations. The American House, Boston, has recently completed the addition of forty family rooms in suites, com? prising parlor, bed-room, bath-room, .Vc, all furnished in thc most elegant style. The American, under the skillful management of Mr. Lewis Rice, has long been known as one of the best hotels in the country, and the excellence and liberality of its arrangements have gained for it a wide and justly merited popularity. Travelers and tourists who have oc? casion to visit Boston will find the house entirely refitted and refur? nished with every luxury, comfort and convenience. With tho mo&l complete passenger elevator evei constructed, an excellent cafe, spa cions billiard halls, and the most central location in the city for busi ness or pleasure, it will more thai maintain the popular favor which i has so long enjoyed. COURT OF APPEALS-Tuesday, Maj 5.-Thomas Lyster & John C. Lyste: vs. Robert C. Hamer et al, was re sumed. Mr. Sellers concluded hi argument for defendant, commence? yesterday; Mr. Warley read writtei argument of Messrs. Townsend <! Hudson for complainants; Mr. Seller in reply. Kenneth & Gibson rs. South Caro lina Railroad Company. Mr. Talle; was heard for appellants; Mr. De Saussure contra, until the hour c adjournment. MAIL' ARRANGEMENTS.-The pos office open during the week from 85 a. m. to 6 p. m. On Sundays, froi 4\)4 to 5i.< p. m. The Charleston and Western mai are open for delivery at 4}.j p. m., au close at 8)4 p. ni. Northern-Open for delivery i 8}.j a. m., closes at 2.45 p. m. Greenville-Open for delivery 5} p. m., closes at 8 p. m. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Special a1 tention is called to tho following ac vertisoments, published for the fin time this moruing: Rice & Sou-American House. T. J. Gibson-Country Flour. H. E. Scott-Nomination, Sic, Commissioner's Sale. Fourth Ward Democratic Club. ' Riohland Democratic Club. Crawford & Friday-Hay. Meeting Richland Lodge. United States Iuternal Revenue. Municipal Election for Columbia. uurtw Al ?S?.30 PER BUSHEL. PLANTERS aro informed that have received notico of a coi signmeutof ten car loads of SOUN! TENNESSEE CORN. I will deliv? the same at, the South Caroliua D< Eot, on the 11th instant, at $1.20 pc ushel. Address 8. H. SPENCER, . Agricultural Warehouse, May 3 6* Columbia, S. C. DEMOCRATIC BARBER SHOP. THE undersigned having opened shop in the rear of Thomas I Gregg's Crockery Storo, (entrance o Taylor street,) respectfully sol ici I the patronage of the public. April 30 THOMAS WETHERS.