The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-08-03

The question was then taken on the amend
ment to the amendment.
On this the yeas and nays we're called, and
are as follows
Yeas, AZ; nays, As; absent and not voting, %!
Adopted.
The bill, as amended, was passed to q third
reading, and ordered to be sent to the Senate.
W. j. McKinlay, from the Committee on
County Offices and Officers, reported back the
Senate bill to fix the amount Of official bonds
Of certain public officers.
The bill WAS put upon its second reading.
Bosemon moved an amendment, to strike
out in the fourth line OF Section the word
'.forty" and insert in lieu thereof ninety"
W. J. McKinlay tcolored) said it was well
known that under the old regime the bond OF
the Treasurer Of the State was $4,000, and
that he was permitted to handle and control
much larger Sums. The present bill proposed
To reduce the amount to $4,000, but at the
same time surround the Office with such re-
strictions as would prevent fraudulent use OF
the funds Heavy penalties wsre not only
named, such as fine and imprisonment, Dut
another bill was under consideration in the
Senate which created other and stronger safe
guards, so that it would be eminently pruden-
tial to postpone this bill in its present shape.
DR.. Bosemon (colored) said that his reason
for offering the amendment was not thas' it
would keep q man honest, or for the purpose
of throwing o stronger safeguard around the
Office. but because he desired 10 maintain the
pre-tige OF the Republican party. If in former
times the Treasurer of the State was compelled
to give bonds in the sum Of $4,000, as a
matter of pride he desired that the present
Treasurer should be required to do the same.
He was too good Republican to desire to see
the respect due to the Office lessened by
any departure from the time-honored custom.
NJ. r. Tomlinson said he was SORRY to be
compelled to take what he telt would be an
unpopular position and run counter to the
warm personal feeling that bad been excited
on this subject; but sense OF duty demand
ed that he should favor the amendment OF his
colleague, changing the amount of the bond
from $4O, 900 to $780, 900. Reduce the bond aud
blow would be struck at the credit OF the
State, the effect OF which might never be re-
moved. The intelligence had already gone
North, that this proposition was pending, and
letters received entreat that policy so muir
be adopted. It was true that the gentleman
elected, IN. G. Parker,) could not give the re-
ouired bonds, but that was matter which
should have been looked after before he was
nomip lied, for the safety Of the Republican
party depends upon the protection OF the great
interests conided to its care, and among these
interests none were more important than the
preservation of the public credit. There we're
plenty Il men in the party who could have
given the required bond. and from this class
the Treasurer should have been selected. The
State Of Ohio imposed upon its Treasurer o
bond of one million of dollars, and there was
no reason why the Treasury OF South Carolina
should not be protected in such o manner as
| to ensure the public faith and credit:
w. Whipper said it was with little hope oi
counteracting the influences at work that he
spoke in favor Of the amendment. Whatever
might be the decision Of the House, he desired
to enjoy the satisfaction IF having opposed j
change Of the bonds OF the treasurer even one
cent. While entertaining the kindest feelings
personally for the person elected, he felt salts
| fed that he could not be inducted into the Of
t fioe. " with It'll or without bonds, without material
injury to the credit Of the State. He mad al.
ready rendered bonds which we're of "straw,
| and however lamentable the fact might be, 1t
had gone int o history. Without charging dis
honesty on the treasurer elect, what did such g
thing look like? II was an attempt to place
an utterly irresponsible man at the head OF the
| treasury Of the State, and whatever course
might be pursued with reference to this bill
! the Legislature was Individually responsible
| for it. He knew how thoroughly the House
| had been tampered with and appealed to, but
| this was question which involved tho verI
existence Of the party. He was willing 10 GO
as far as any man in reducing the bends O
officials, bnt did the members desire to have il
said that the man they elevated to the treasury
of the State, took control OF the Office witt
straw bonds, which it was necessary for the
Governor to annul2
a. j. Ransier said that he, too, favored the
amendment. large portion Of the N en- whc
had been elected to Office could not give bonds
legislation might remedy this evil; it was 8
poor mans party; but when IN individual
elected to 30 important position as Treasurer
| Of the State has, by one act, already impaired
the credit Of the State and aroused the sus.
picion OF capitalists, for one he would rather
sacrifice the man to the party than the party
to the man. Uneer the circumstances which
had already transpired, he did not believe
that the reduction Of this particular bond
would work any good to the State. and, conse-
quently, no good to the party. They wanted
the confidence Of capitalists; without it the in
terests Of the State must suffer, and the party
| itself be injured.
On motion of T. Z. Sasportas (colored,
further consideration was postponed until
Monday at II A. NJ.
The House then adjourned.