University of South Carolina Libraries
COLUMBIA, 8. C. Fri lay Morning, February 2D., 1874. i im win i^ii?? mm?m-?? Dcntn or AV. II. JilcCuw, Kaq. Tbe baud of tho writer whoBe duty it ia to occupy these columns, is to-day paralyzed by grief tit the afllioting dis? pensation which bus bbfullen him und his househould in the end event which ocourred yesterday. It is unable to perform its office. The kiudly notice below ih furnished by one of the most attached friends of the dcoeused: It beoomea our puiuful duty to an? nounce the death, yesterday, of Mr. William H. MoCaw, under peculiarly sad circuinstunces. It appears that Mr. MoOaw. ou Wednesday night, was alone in his office in Law Baoge, engaged in writing his acoustorned Jotter to the Charleston News jmd Courier, when iu some manner lib/clothing caught fire. Unable to extinguish tho flames, he rushed down stairs and iuto the second story of .the adjoiuiug tenement, calling for aid. Messrs. L. E. LeContc aud J. Qnifmau Marshall, bea?ug hid cries, came to his assistance, und succeeded iu extinguishing tho flumes, but not nntil he had received fatal injuries. Urs. Durby, Qibbes and Howe roudercd all assistance possible, but to no pur? pose. The uufortuuute gentleman lin? gered until 2.30 P. M., yesterdiy, when bo breathed hie lust. Mr. MoOaw wus a native of Abbeville County, and had just passed the twenty eighth year of bis age. In his connec? tion with tbe Guardian, tho PH02KIX, tho South Carolinian and the News and Courier, be evinced u brilliuooy oi 'talent and a fearlessness and honesty of .purpoto that won the admiration and respect of all clusses. Mr. McCaw leaves a wife and three children and a host of friends. His nntimely death has spread a gloom over the entire community, niiiwiaiiaiiiaiwiiiir" i i ? ??????n?????"?"" The Taxpayers' Convention. THIRD DAY. The convention met at 10 A. M., Pre? sident Porter iu the chair. Additional delegates appeared and registered. Col. Lathers rose to a personal expla? nation, in regard to tbe non-political character of the convention, denying tbe allegations contained in the Union, of yesterday, as lo his connection with the hoods, &o. Col. Lathers asked permission to make a personal explanation. He re? marked that he observed in a respeota ble and conservative Republican journal of the city, this morning, that the edi? tors had been misinformed as to the his? tory of the sterling loan bill, and had, unwittingly, perhaps, done him injus? tice, iu connecting his name with that measure, as follows: "The sterling loau bill, whioh Judge Porter, in hit speech on Aionaay, suid was utuoug tue things defeated by the convention at its former session, was passed through the in fin? eries of ose of tbe lending spirits of this movement, Ool. Lathers. His voice, before committees aud with members, did' more to secure its passage than any? thing else." Iu reply to this grnvo charge, I have ouly to repeat the expla? nation made iu my speech to the Board of Trade in Charleston, which, with the Chamber of Commerae, initiated these conventions of tax-payers in 1871: "The sterling bill I found, when I reached Columbia, a few weeks since, already printed, and hearing it spoken of adversely, I examined it by the re? quest of a gentleman representing some New York bankers. I saw at once that if the bill oould be properly amended, so as to proteot the tax-payers against further issues, and aguinst an improper disposition of tho funds derived from the loans, and that all further issues of bonds by the Legislature should bs pro? hibited, unless the same should bo au? thorized by u two-thirds vote of the qualified voters of the State, and if u commission, consisting of the Governor of tbe State, the President of the Se? nate, and three distinguished bankers, one each in Charleston, New York and Londou, should be constituted n per? manent body of trustees to negotiate aud disburse the loau, receive aud apply the tuxes contemplated by tho bill, for interest and tho sinking fund, that such a biB would be the safest fiscal operation for tho creditors and the people of the Slate. "The Governor expressed himself gratified with the plan, und requested me to remain over another duy in Co? lumbia, till he oould get u meeting of tbe Finance Committees of the Seuutu and tbe House, which I met iu the ex? ecutive chamber, and after u long in? terview, I thought those gentlemen wore disposed to favor Lhu piojeui in all its details. The Governor secoudod the plan iu tbo most emphatic manner, us a necessity to sustuin the Slate's credit, aud rostore confluence) among tho peo? ple. Before closiug the interview, I re? marked that if the then ponding bill for lending the credit of tho Stnto to the . Greenville RuJroad passed the Legis? lature, thut the sterling hill would be worthless, us it could not aud ought not to be negotiated, because the State credit would bo utterly overthrown by 'bat class of legislation. Tbe Governor replied that if that bill passed he would veto it, as procured by fraud. "Subsequently the sterling bill passed tbe Legislature, but the important se? curity of a permanent commission wus left oat, and, therofore, I regarded thie bill as utterly against the public inter? est, securing neither the bondholders nor the tax-payers against the frauds which D3ny be covered op in its present form. , "After the passage of tho bill tho Governor wrote mo to Charleston; that he regretted that tho Legislature had omitted the important qualifications I had proposed aa amendments to the bill, but hoped I would aid him ia tbo negotiations, und ho would take care that houest und promiuout oitizens should have tho negotiations, und that tho proceeds should be honestly applied to the reduction of the public debt. I replied thut the bill in its present form would simply lead to more oreatiou of indebtedness without u certuinty ot tho proper application of tho funds, aud that I regarded the scheme as daugcrous to tbe. iuterest of tho tax-payers, for oven if the bonds coald l?o negotiated, which I did hot think they could, ex? cept at u ruinous discount, there was every reason to fear on improper appli-. cation of the money so raistd. "Finding that measures wero being taken to issue tho bonds, I prepared tho preamble und resolutions which form the basis of our lirst couventiou, und after cousultiug with leading goalie meu throughout tho Stute for th?tr ud vico, revision and co-operation, pro seutud them to a meetiug in the city of Churlostuu, which unanimously ap? proved aud adopted them, iuvitiug the tax payers of every County of tho Stute to send delegates to a State Couveuliou to be held in Columbia to consider this aud kindred subjects connected with their welfare. "Earn proud of this hotly, as worthy representatives of the intelligence and probity of tho State, uud I shall always value myself for any part I have had in initiating a movement so well calculated to advise aud administer moasurod of reform tu ourufllioted people." Thu other portions of the editorial referred to I puss over, because they nre but legitimate expressions of editorial opinion, with the simple remark, thut the spirit of the paper I had the honor to submit us u prepared form of a me? morial to Congress^ may or may not bo too spirited; but I disclaim all iuteutiou to criminate every judge and every member of tho Legislature, aud 1 think the languuge oanuot beur such a con? struction, because, as I said in my open? ing speech introducing it, I am uot without confidence iu a few of the judges and many members of the Legis? lature, of both parties aud of both races. I especially invoked charity to? wards the most extreme in fraud, as I desired their present eo-operution, us well us that of tbe conservative element of both parties, in the work of refoJin. But in dealing with our grievances, wo are compelled to suffer the'pruciical evils ugaiust which minorities have bepd' powerless, and which compels us to in? voke tho power of Congress and the sympathy ot our brethren of nil parties aud races in the Uuiou. Aud, geutlo men, feeliug the effects of these ruinous tuxes us a property-holder, and in sym? pathy with the ulurming impoverish? ment of our people*by actual spoliation, I would be quite willing to bccuuie the scapegoat of tho convention, and suffer muoh more misrepresentations, if by so doing I could carry ofl the sins uf the State Goverumeut, and relieve our un? happy people of burthens which threaten liioui witii pauperism. Mr. J. C. Davi.-?, of Liureu.w, was added to the Committee on Itutnigru Lieu, hud Mr. O. w. Dudley io the j^a.o cutivo Committee. Mr. C'uas. H. Muise, of Sumter, intro? duced the following preamble and reso? lution, which were referred to the Com? mittee on State and Municipal Tuxution: Whereas, the pull tux, devoted by law to the great cause of popular education, would, if pruperly collected, yield to tho treasury about $140,000; aud whereas, uut more thau one-third uf this amount was oollected iu either 1871 or 1872; therefore, Resolved, That tho Committee on Tax? ation be, uud aro hereby, requested to report to this convention a plan where? by tho collection of tho poll tux may be enforced. Mr. J. M. Williams, of Beaufort, in? troduced tin* following preumble and resolutions, which were referred to thu Committee ou Immigration: Whereas, our grievances are mainly attributable to the want of organiza? tion, and without organization it is im? possible to preveut the threatened con? fiscation of our property, uud our oouse queufc annihilation; therefoie, Resolved, Thut we, the representatives of tho tax-payers of this State, consti? tuting tho Tux-Bayers' Convention, do resolve this convention into a society, to he kuowu us tho Tax-Payers' Immigra? tion League. Resolved, That the delegations fiom tho respective Counties be appointed committees, uud required to organize County Booieties, as brAUches of this, tho central Tax-Bayers' Immigration League. Resolved, That it he referred to a com? mittee to report a constitution for this society. Gon. James Chesnut, Chairman, asked leave for the Executive Committee to sit during tho sessions of tho couven? tiou, which was grauted. Mr. Dunuovant, at his request, was relieved from serving on the committee to wait ou tbo State Treasurer, aud Mr. J. C. Sheppard, uf Edge?eld, Substitut od in bis stead. Gen. M. W. Gary submitted thu re port of tho Committee) ou [mmtgrutiou. It being the pleasure of tho oonveu tiuu to consider tho report tit once. Gon Garv addraasiid ??- ? ' ii cubji'ct gouerally. und advocated tho adoption of the report. Mr. Chut?eld argued thut tho truo object of this convention wus tho con? sideration of tho .subject of tuxation; uot immigration, however important thut subject might be iu itself; aud suid that in our'auxioty to import laborers, wo might got a population that would only add to bar'difficulties. Mr. J. M. Beuceol, colored, followed in the same strain, and argued that we i should not favor immigration at the ex? pense of the colored people, who are uoxioas to pat down taxation. Mr. M?>>0 sustained the report oi tbe committee. Mr. W. M.'Liawton introduced a re? solution, which was adopted, restricting discussion to fifteen minutes for eaoh speaker. Mr. Law on theu seconded tho re? port, nod sustained it by well-timed und prnoticul viewH. Mr. Ohatfleld theu rose to n personal explanation, und stutud that he was not opposed to immigration, but wished to excle.de discussions in reference to. questions of conflict of rucc?. . I Mr. Richardson, of Snmter, support-, ed the report, bat only on the ground of material development, aud was not in favor of ftlietuitiog those who might be our friends. , Mr. Williams and Mr. Trenholm fol? lowed iu tho samo spirit. Gen. Butler asked to have the report j read again; which was ordered. Mr. Tindul was willing to uccept the suggestion of Geu. Clary to strike oui the preamble. Ou motion of Mr. liiehurdsou. the President proceeded to put the question.' Mr. Dudley rcsj aud opposed the whole scheine, contending that indivi? dual aud voluntary efforts were butter tuuu the plau submitted, and offered u substitute, which whs hud on tbe table. Mr. 0. U. Simontou, of Charleston, introduced the following resolution: Resolved, That the report of tho Com? mittee ou Imruigrutiou be recommitted to tho committee, with instructions to erase from the report ull allusion to po? litical motivo or purpose. The resolution was adopted, und I he report recommitted. Tho Committee ou Expenses and Printing submitted a report, ussossii.g the delegates three dollars euch to de? fray tho espouses of tbe couvontiou, and leaving the cost of the printing and distribution of such documents as the convention may order, to be paid by the several County orgnuizatiouB, iu the ratio of their respective representatives in tho Legislature. Tho Executive Committee to whom was referred tho resolution of Mr. Butler, of Edgetiold, iu reference to the appointment, of a committee to preseul to tho President of the United States the address prepared ou behalf of tilt people of this State to tho people of the United Stute?, reported that thoy have considered the same, aud recommend its adoption 'by the conveutiou; which was agreed tu. Ttfe resolution ia ns follows: /Resolved, That a eommittoe of fifteen be appointed by the Chair to prooecd to Washington aud present to the Presi? dent the address prepured ou behalf of the people of this State to tho people of the United States, und request him to lny tbo same before Congress. Mr. P. S. Felder introduced a series of resolutions in reference to luxation aud the prosecution of faithless officials, which were referred to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, to whom were referred tho resolution of Col. F. W. McMaster, recommended their re? ference to the Committee on Stute und u&?ut?ipui i .u.miiii, vrliicu wus ugteeu to. ^ The Executive Committee, lo whom Lad been referred the resolutions of Mr. Keilt, of Newberry, iu reference to a petition by tho convention to the Con? gress of the United States, were dis? charged from their further cousidera lion, the subj ?cb matter having ulrcudy been referred to u committee raised for that purpose. AFTEl'.NOON SESSION. The couvenlion met ut 4. P. M. (Jen. Gary made tho report, us amend? ed, from the Committee on Immigra? tion, which was adopted. [We will publish tho report to-mor? row.] Col. Chas. H. Siniontou submitted the report of the Cjiuinittco on State and Municipal Taxation, which was unanimously udopted und is as follows: The committee ou the causes of the iucreusu of State and municipal taxa? tion and the mode and measure of re? lief therefor, to whom were referred sundry resolutions, beg leave to report: Tho committee, being composed ol members from every County iu the State, have had before them full aud do tailed statements as to the manner of assessing uud enforcing the enormous tuxes which our people have beeu called upou to pay. Neither space nor time will permit the recital of the particular facts which have been brought to the attention of the committee. . Id ull of tho Counties of the State the tax-payers are subject to tho arbi? trary regulation of tho County Auditor aud of the Hoard of Equalization, governed, in nearly every instance, by one motive only?the ruising of us much money as possible. Iu tho ma? jority of the Count ion, through the ac? tion of the County Auditor or tho Board of Equalization, under tho iuiluonoo, it is supposed, of the Comptroller-Gene? ral, property, especially proporty iu laud, bus beeu assessed at values far ex? ceeding those ruling ut any period in the history of tho Stale. Iu some of the Counties, notably iu tho Counties oi Marion, Chester, Uniou end Nawberry, the rate of taxation growing out of this assessment is really confiscation. These faots, uud others of like character, are within the kuowlodgo of every member of the convention. They go to prove tiiut tue great cause of the enormous in? crease in tho Statu uud municipal taxa? tion arises from the absence of any pro? per representation of tho tax-payers iu tho General Assembly of tho Stato. The prnoticul operation of our institutions has placed all powor in tho hands of those who pay uo taxes, and they have no interest in resisting extravagance and fruud. The immediate oausos of this increase in taxatiou ure to bo found in the law inder which taxea are assessed and evied, and the ignoranae, caprice, par? tiality and fraud iu which thu law is id ministered. The tar law of the State is cumbrous, obscure and intricate. Iu order to oom prehond it, ability of no common order is required. Its execution with justice and impartiality is impossible. It is Administered by uppoiutces of the Executive of the Stute?men selected, most frequently, from party considera? tions, with no regard qualifications for ofiico, whose interests lie iu tho in? crease of taxation, who uro in no souse responsible to tho tax payers, aud who bavo no motive to protect those inter? ests. The assessment* are made with? out method, without discrimination be? tween the productive and unproductive property, and iu many ca:-es without any knowledge oi tho property asset.j-ed, very frequently in secret; and the law seem; to ufTord no other rodress lor fraud, mistake or partially in tho ussei-.s nullt, except the uibitniry will vi the Comptroller General. Bu?, apart from uud above tbii, the increase in the burden of tnxttiuti is uwing directly and immediately to ibo extravagance, lraud and dishonesty which prevail to such uu extent among the State und County otliduls. The wasteful expenditure of the poldiu money by those highest in ituthoniy; the peculation openly practiced; the frauds perpetrated upon the ?tute Trea? sury by so many of tho State und County ofliceis; thu abuse uf the authority of the Legislature; the jobs of the many rings which hang around thu body poli? tic, make such inroads upon the finances of the State, that they cannot be met, except by enormous luxation. All the available assets of the Statu have been disposed of und wasted. Tho credit of the Stall has been utterly ruined, ami the ability of the tax payers to pay is the only source whence the public plun? derers cue draw their ill-gotten gains. Cortoption has so deeply tainted nearly ail tho departments of tho goverutm ut, that tho;-e oiliccrs who would be honest lind themselves powerless in resisting it. Extending through nearly every'Coun? ty, supported by so many who draw | from it their only resource, we readily j recognize the chief and present o tu.su of the evils which oppress ihe Stale, and which have brought tho tax-payors of tho State to I he limit of endurance. The reimdy, iu tho opinion of the committee, is within the reach uf the tax payers. The committee have full confidence iu the justice aud iu tho ability of the General Government. They entertain tho confident expectation that tho me? morial of this convention to thu Con? gress of the United States, and through Congress to the nation, will open to us a way of deliverance But whilst tho committee feel gre.-.tt confidence iu this opinion, they are also deeply impressed with the necessity for uetiou on the put of tho taxpayers themselves. Lively ifiort to secure tho restoration or tho enforcement of lin-ir rights withiu the Stuto aud through the machinery of tbo Stuto Government should be exhausted. There must exist thorough Organization, uud active, un? tiring at d disciplined iflbrt. Vigilance, Urmuus*, perseverauce, must cburneter izojuiti control tlieir conduct. N., ?^The committee respectfully recom? mend the adoption of the following re solutions: Resolved, That in this State, taxation has reached tho last point of endurance; aud that the tax-payers cannot contiuuti to bear tho excussivo burdens imposed upon them. Respired, That, the most efficient steps bo takcu fur organizing in every Comity, township and precinct iu tho State u Tax Bayers' Union, to membership in which each tax-payer shall he eligible; itho object of which shall be tho reduc? tion of tuxation to tbe legitimate amount uecessury for tho udmiuistrutiou of the government und tho huuest expenditure of tho money raised thereby. Resolved, That among its duties, the Tux-Bayers' Union shall keep watch upon the acts uf the State aud County officers; aud shall promote all proper legal measures fur repressing and pun? ishing fraud, oxtruvuganco uud mal? practice iu any of them. Resoleed, That this convention hereby request the Geuerul Assembly that they will ameud, simplify aud abridge tho tux laws of tho State; especially that they will so amend tho law as to secure Iii fair und equal iisscssmout of property, and to enable any oUizeu who has beau iover assessed to apply to the courts for redress beforo ho is forced to pay tho tux. s ?>Ttf*. Armisteud Burt submitted tho following memorial to tho Congress of 'the United States, which was adopted: 171? the Senate ami House of Representa? tives of the Congress of the United Stales: The memorial of tho tax-payers uud .other citizens of South Carolina re? spectfully bhowoth: Thut upou tho reoonstrtiotion of tho State Government, and tho admission of Senator* und ltoprosoutatives into thu Congress of the Uuited States, it ;wa'd doubtless inteudod by Congress, as ,it was expected by them, thut they would become partakers A tho rights enjoyed by citizens of tho Uuited States and of other State Governments. The history of tho country teaches that taxation without representation is ty? ranny; our revolutionary fathers com 'biuod to resist such tyranny; and wo fool assured that it was never tbo inten? sion of the sous of those tn<>u to allow this very system to be fastened upon .any of (heir follow-citizens. It has, nevertheless, oooio to pass that tho Go? vernment established in S.mth Carolina, under the legislation of Congress, has been madu tbe instrument uf efieoting {this monstrous oppression. That de? partment of tho State Government which exorotses tbe tuxiug power is ad : ministered by those who owu a mere fraction of tho property of the State. Seven years have elapsed since tbe ru coustmotion of tbe Stute Governmeut; and during that period, of tbe property taxed, a majority of the members of the Legislature owned no part whatso? ever, aud tho remaining members owned so little that their pay as members counterbalanced their entire interest as property holders. Tbo result is that those owning tho property bavo no voice in the Government, and those im? posing tho tuxes no share iu tbe burdon thereof; tho taxes bavo advanced yeaily until, iu many oases, they consume more than one-half of the income from the property taxed. The annual expenses of tl.'O Government have advanced from $100,000 before tho war to $2.500,000 at the present time. The following comparison of leading items of expend: ture will best exhibit the change: 18'?3-GG. 1873 Salaries.$ 70.481 G3 I '230,797 39 Public printing. 17,4-10 ?!U 331,915 tili Leg'lattvo uxpviue i 51.337 OU 291.339 47 t'utilic asylums- 25 8?7U? 128.432 11 Contingent laud... 6,003 99 73,033 75 Sundries . 83,113 31 298.G?3 35 $260,668 59 $1,356,210 73 Deficiencies ... 510.323 00 $260.663 59 11.896.511 73 These facts exhibit tbo unprecedented spectacle of a State in which the govern? ment is arrayed ueninst proper!}'. It has been op-.-nly avowed by prominent mtiubers of tbe Legislature that tho laxes should be increased to a point which will compel (he sale of tho great body of the laud, and take it away from the former owners. The fruit of this policy is hhowu in the fact slated by the Comptroller General iu bis official re? port, that for default in the payment of taxes for the year 1972 alone, 20^,523 acres of laud were foifeited to the Hi ate. And this result proves Ihe fallacy of the belief that the policy pursued procures the elevation <d the bluck population, und tbo acquisition by them of tho lauds thus virtually confiscated. The reverse is Ihe ueeossary result. Lends are una? vailable as security; mortgages iu de? fault of payment cannot sell; wages have declined; the cost of living is made greater by tin* addition of the tuxes to the price of commodities; t!ie poor are made poorer, and rendered every day more incapable of purchasing lauds, uud more hopeless ot rising above the condition of mere laborers. It wwuld have ameliorated the condition of your petitioners it" the effect of this policy bail beeu to create an active demand for lands ou the part of this large class of our population, lint while the.owuers arc, by oppressive taxation, driven to sell, others for tbe same reason are dis qualified from buying. The abuses in the Legislative Depurt meut, that have been, descfibed, are not confined lo the mere raising and ex peudiluro of revenues, but they per? vade the entire conduct of the depart? ment. Schemes have beeu devised for issuing Stale bonds und for contracting other loans, by which the public debt has in six years been raised from $5,000, 000 tu $16,000,000; und that without advancing any public work, adding one dollar to Ihe public properly or to the payment of the public debt. Large as the sum of the public debt is admitted to be, there is reason to believe it does not resell the trne umnnn** ^ !? fedue! impossible to ascertain the actual sun> v?f the obligations that have been issued. Schemes of public plunder have b.?i. opeiAy advanced by corrupt roeiuures, of which one single example will suffice. Two Clerks of tho Legislature, in their official capacity, made contracts with themsolves, us private persons, for the public printing. The appropriations made iu oue year for tbe work done und to be done, by thane two officials, amounted to $175,000, exclusive of $10l),()l)U for publishing the laws. Aud in the fiscal your 1873 there wus actually paid to them for printing $331,000, leaving a large sum still due to them by tho State. And this, notwithstanding tbe avowal of the two officials them? selves, that the work done was worth no more than $100,000; oud the testi? mony of others that its value was only j $50,U00. Tho stupendous fraud iu 1 voiced in this and similar modes of I making the legitimate objects of public expenditure tho medium of plundering the treasury, cannot bo better illustruted than by the following facts: Tho total appropriations for public priuting, I made by the Legislature of South Caro i Una, during a period of sixty years, ! from 18U0 to 1851), is $271,ISO. Luring ! tho last year tbo amount actually ex I peuded for public printing by the pr? sent Legislature was $331,015. That is $60,705 moro than it cost tho State for {"sixty years before the war. Y Committees have received largo sums \\i compensation for reportiug favorably ou private bills; and strong reasons exist for behoving that a large amount of State bank bin?, funded by the State to discharge her liability, have beeu re? issued by those entrusted by the Legis? lature with tho cancellation thereof. Iu the Judioiary Department, evih equally grievous bavo been produced under the present Stato Government. Tho Judges hold their offiaes for short terms. Their ccntiuuance in offico de? pends upon the caprices of tho legis? lators. Tho result is, thet tho duties ol their high ofiice uro discharged uudei iuiiucuccs and responsibilities necessa? rily adverso to the independent admi? nistration of justice. Tho jurors, more? over, are selected by three officials, ol whom two are the appointees of the Governor. Tbo consequence is, that the defeat of an obuoxious litigant may be made certain by the selection of tin jury. Or if no special object be con? templated by these officials, the choice is frequently made, simply for the BOial pay, of men who are unable to eithei road or write. In either case, the cuds of justice ure defeated. Iu the Executive Department, all these evils culminate. It is openly as? serted aud believed that offices are tin subject of barter; aud the manner ic which such offiotis uro administered proves that qualification has little infla enco in the appointments. In matters under the coutrol of a single individual, it in difficult to prove corruption; but there is one state of faota that always stands for proof. A large expenditure of money by an oCBoial, who is without any estate and receives but a moderate salary, establishes beyond a doubt that tbe money must come from some irregu? lar source. On this principle, the two Governors elected under tbe present Constitution stund condemned in public i opinion. To detect and pauish these crimes is impossible; tho Governor con? trols the uvenues of justice. Indeed, tho eutire t-ystem is one of self sustain? ing aud 8elf-protecfi?g corruption. Iu most of the Stales, there might be somo chance of redress through the bal? lot-box. But here, again, the State Go? vernment interposes uu iusupenblo bar? rier. Tbo elections are conducted by persous uppoiuted in the interest of the ullioiuls, and the returns are under the absolute coutrol of the parties iu power. Uuder such circumstuncea, voting is a form and elections a mockery. Suffering uuder such grievances, and despairing of relief from this govern? ment, your memorialists come respect? fully to your honorable body fur redress. Tbe government which thus oppresses us was virtually established by Con? gress; and while we belitve they did not foresee tho evils to which it has given rise, we cuuuot duubt that they will assist iu removing them, so soou as they are satisfied uf their existence. All that we h tve asserted is capable of proof; bat knowing us we do thut the evils of which we complain are certain iu their exist? ence, und are more likely to increase than diminish, your memorialists most earnestly usk jour aid in providing tho j^iper remedy.^ iTMu'^opies uf the memorial were or? dered printed, iu form to receive the signatures of tho members of the con? vention, und copies wero ordered to bs sent to the Governors of tho several States, und ulso to the President of tbo Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives of South Carolina. Mr. S. P. Chester introduced the fol? lowing resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That the President of the convention cause certified copies of tho report and fourth resolution reported to tho convention by the Committee on Taxation tu be transmitted to tbe Presi? dent uf the Senute and the Speaker of the House Of Representatives, with the request that they present .them to the bodies over which they preside. Resolved, That a committee of three he uppoiuted by the Chair to carry out the objects of tue resolution, and to ask of the General Assembly of South Ca? rolina its speedy aotion on tbe report. . Tbe following gentlemen were ap? pointed said committee: Messrs. P. P. Hamilton, D. P. Chatfield and W. W. Walker. Mr. Wood roll', of Spartanburg, offered u series uf resolutions, providing for a j committee to present tu tbe Legislature certain grievances, and calling for a regular registration of electors, the adoption uf cumulative voting, and tho election of Justices of tho Peace, ?fco., instead of the uppoiutmeut of Trial Justices, for which a substitute was re port?*d ! v the Exeenfivo fJoransifrofll 2.? folio ;s: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to memorialize the Legisln. I ture of South Carolina us to the present impoverished uud depressed condition of our people, which is purely the re? sult of legislation not adapted to onr real wants, and nsk the Legislature to adopt such measures as shall secure thi good feelings of all classes and restor. contideuce iu the Government. The re&olutiouB elicited much disc?. sion, participated in by Messrs. Wood? ruff, Screven, Moise, Gallnchat, John Wallace, Chatfield, Chesunt and Ker Hbaw. Bonding tbe disaussion, ou mo? tion of Gen. Butler, the convention ad? journed to 10 o'clock this morning, when, it is generally understood, Judge Aldrich will upeu tbo discussion of the sumo subject. The Railroad to Asheyxixe, N. C.? The Asheville Citizen, speaking of tho Act passed by the North Carolina Legis? lature concerning the Greenville and French Broad Railroad, says: "The charter has been amended appointing other prominent gentlemen of tho Coun? ties uf Henderson, Buucombeand Madi? son additional incorporators, and autho? rizing the organization of tho company whenever $100,000 bona flie subscrip 1 tiuus shall have beeu obtained. That amount has long ago beeu obtuined, so now nothing remains to be doue but organize autl go to wotk. Now, mo say to our South Carolina friends, at both 1 Greenville und Spartanburg, to prepare . at once to meet us. We state frankly 1 what our peoplo cau and will do, and all ' they can do; aud that is, to grade the ' road from Asheville tu Butt Mountain. If our South Carolina friends will come 1 up to tbo mark as their interests would I suggest them to do, and meet us at Butt Mountain, wo will guarantee that tho - cars from Asheville to Charleston will ? soon (comparatively) be running." ? -? ' War Parties of Savages.?Recent despatches from the South-west iudi ' oate a growing war cloud among tho ' Indians along tho Upper Red River. War parties oi Kiowas und Cumauches : are reported committing depredations 1 along tho Brazos aud tho Colorado, and 1 have extended their operations to tho ' head waters of the Jjueces, a di'itanao of ? nearly*400 miles from their reservation. ' Intelligence from Fort Clark states that 1 j settlers huve beeu murdered in that vi ' oinity, and Iu Baus killed iu tbo same " section left no doubt that tho murder 1 ers were from the tribes of Kiowas and I Comuuches. K. ok P.?Arrangements are being 3 made by several gentlemen to have a 1 lodge of Knights uf Pythias opened in Oamden.