The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-09-01
Communications.
[FoR THE LEDGER.

Mr.. Editor:-In submitting my views
upon the Presidential Election to "Many
Voters" Of the District, through the col
umns of your valuable paper, promised
to lay before them at another time, my
views upon the Bank, and the Free School
system, as it now operates. in this State.
You will, therefore, be so good, sir, as to
give this article placein your next paper;
The act of 1912, establishing Bank,
on behalf of and for the benefit Of the
State, and the act of 1888, renewing the
charter of the same, equally establish
the fact that the people of this State are
in favor of the eLnion of Bank and State.
These acts, as we'll as the several acts in
relation to the Bank, not only furnish the
most conclusive proof that the people of
the State approve of the connection which
has thus been established betwixt the
Bank and the State, but they even render
such a connection the settled policy of the
State.
The connection, however, which has
thus been brought about betwixt the Bank
and the State, and which has existed ever
since 1912, to the present time, period
of forty years, is not indissoluble, but de-
pendent upon the charter, which estab-
lished it, and which will expire in 1855,
and ctfcctually sever all connection in fI-
ture betwixt the Bank and the State, un-
less the charter be renewed.
The question then naturally arises, shall
we renew the charter of the Bank of the
State of South Carolina and preserve the
settled policy Of the State, or shall we dis
solve all connection in future betwixt the
Bank and the State, by refusing to renew
the charter2 ...
If elected to serve you in the next Leg
stature, and this question comes up,
shall most certainly vote for re-chartering
the Bank of the State, and for the follow
ing reasons: 't
lst. Because the Bank is an existing
institution, and ought, therefore, to be
continued, until some sufficient reason is
shownwhy it should not be-, .,..,..
2nd, Because no such reason has vet
been shown, as would justify its destruc-
ton. Complaints have been made
against the Bank; but these complaints
do not, to my mind, justify. such course.
Nothing short of necessity could atone for
such step. To repeal an act, is just as
much an act of legislature, rs TO pass an
act, and the same necessity should exist in
both cases. ... .........
But the Bank is the fiscal agent of the
State-the depository of the public mo-
ney-and for this reason its officers are
accountable for the manner in which the
Bank is managed. Complaint is suffi-
cient to justify suspicion, and whenever
general suspicion exists against the man
agement Of the Bank, the people have
the right to demand an investigation, and
if need be, they have even the right to
abolish the institution itself. To DENY the
people this right, would be equivalent to
denying the right of repeal. Yet no one
presume will be so foolish as to deny
that the same public opinion which passes
an act, has not also the power to repeal,
alter, or amend it. Much of the COM
plant against the Bank is owing, believe,
to the very injudicious course which some
of its friends have taken, in order to de-
fend it.
Not a few of its friends both regard, and
treat, as enemies, ,all those who desire free
investigation and thorough examination
of the Bank, and who believe it to be alb
solutely necessary in order to secure the
rights Of the people, and to protect and
preserve the Bank ITSELF that thorough
understanding should be had, and that the
peoples rights as well as the peoples
money should be protected and guarded.
So far, has this measure of defence been
carried, that man runs the risk really. of
being ostracized, if he dare to raise warn
ing voice to the people, of the dangerous
abuses of the institution. Accustom your
selves to look upon the Bank from the
very nature Of its connection as liable to
abuse, and the agents to 90 astray, and
tine rights of the people will be more likely
to be protected, and the Bank itself to
give satisfaction. Every effort on the part
of the Bank to eludescrutiuy, only awak-
ems fresh suspicious against it.
The next subject upon which my views
are asked is the Free School system as it
now operates in this State. ...