The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-07-03

an cxtrnvagant outlay in a State Capitol,
ard predicted that it would ultimately cost
million and half if not two millions Of dollars.
The circular was popular, but that portion otit
which related to the State Capitol was consider
cd u wild ard extravagant predictions; some Of
my friends advised me TO suppress it as far as
possible ard have new one printed. Simply
reducing the probable cost to the Capitol to
million or million and a half, did suppress it
rs far as possible, and had rew one printed
with the proposed alteration; even this was
considered an eXaggelation.
| Was net OIL the stump by candidate, then
member of the Legislature, that so denounc.
cd It, stating ti'at he was Oh the State Capitol
Committee, and knew that the cost could not
exceed eight hundred aud scventy-hve thousand
dollars (sS75,0O0J and that the Bank Of the
State would pay out of her profits every dollar
the three hundred thousand dollars wasted ty
the first Commissioners, with the Interest paid
OH the State Capitol Ecnds, issued for that
work Up to last November, the State had e1-
pcrLcd on the work over two millions Of dol
lars (2,oCo,ooU).
Four hundred thousand dollars (s4oO,o00l
were appropriated BY the last Legislature, and
four lunlrrd more will be called for next win
ter, and the roof is rot yet on the house. And'
yet 10 IMAM pretrnds to doubt the integrity,
racticabilitv or scientific skill Of Our architect,
or distrust the fidelity and good management
of the Commissioner in charge; yet all men
mist have come to the conclusion by this
time that the cost of the State Capitol is to
exceed the largest estimate Of the architect
TWO millions, (s2,o0o,oCo) fully fifty per cent.
Some of the most eloquent plcaders before
the Legislature for State MD for the Blue Ridge
Railroad, who Low Try 10 show that the Bank
oc The State is aLlc and wiling TO Fay the
l.omLs (prncipal aud intercst) which may be
issued lor that work, were foremost in the
ranks Of the auii-Bark party in ls4s and 1850,
and were equally us Jealous and powerful in
their appeals TO the Legislature 10 prove that
tic Bank of tie State was rotten TO the core,
and l,;t for every collar which the Bank pro-
csscd 10 have raid of tic publicAebt, the State
had furnished her with two dollars to pay with.
Such men cannot he regarded in the light of
statesmen but mere politicians-spec!a. plead
rrs.
In the absence Of wish to create distrust-
tul douLts in tic minds Of men with regard to
all estimates for the cost OF public works, or
or Il moment 10 tlistrrst the well known skill
Of Maj. Gwvun, who has charge of the Blue
Ridge I.ailloa.I, think all prudent men ought
10 lcck forward 10 a much larger sum for the
completion of this work than the estimates Of
its .argline ard anxious friends.
The subject Of taxation is a matter Of deep
interest 10 Us ALT is one of great complica-
tor, about which We may hold disputations
till Loon,sLay without arriving. at satisfactory
comclusol*. High or low taxcs must Of nccesi
xi,y be govcraed by the proIigacy or economy
. vi our rulers.
; The reckless and extravagant spirit manifest
: cd of late years in South Carolina, is certain
" calculated to alarm all refecting'men.. Mil
lions Of dollars in State bonds are now-placed
, at the fingers crd Of our politicians, to be
|, thrown al fbii,tn into any enterprise that eo'
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