Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-04-29
state Securities.

State Securities
Noaone can deny but TINT the bonds Of the
State have rapidly risen in value during tho
lust year! Is this improvement due to an
increased confidence in thsprcscnt admipistra.
tfqp, pr thaeneSgy Iaud pfosp@ity of Qarscit
izehst tyin Ito fade Jos csery difficulty. 1Ys
know it is klasoAed forth ByAhs oppositiM
prsFsa as leihgs speakiSs testimony Is favH
}ofahe radical party, but - il NOT due tolother,
influences The condition Of tho State at
the close Of tho war was deplorable. Broken
in spirit and fortanes, without local govern.
mcnt or organized labor, thoro was momen-
tary despair before reaction took place Tho
status Of che State was doubtful aud the pro.
priety of reputation was freely discussed -
After constitution was formed and civil law
c.established, this feeling Of dependency gave
place to a determined effort on the part Of
our citizens to repair their shattered fortunes.
The disastrous results in our farming opera
tions for the two years succeeding the resto-
ration Of order will not soon be forgotten -.
The drought and unreliable labor left tho
planter a,yield scarcely sufficient to meet the
expenses incurred in tho production of the
crop, and the production of breadstutfs was
incapable of supporting our population. Our
people were fed from the charity Of the gem
eral government, and SO great was the scarcity
of provisions that the Legislature proposed
that the State stretch its credit by becoming
apublio almoner. Under these circumstances
the payment of the interest Oh the State debt
was deforred, the holders of interest due
being authorized to find their coupons. What
more could be done7 Will any one possessed
of the ordinary feelings Of humanity condemn
the course pursued under tho circumstances.
In 1868 Providence smiled upon the efforts
of the farmers aud large crop was harvested.
At the beginning of our material prosperity,
the present administration was inauguratcd
and the first rise in the value Of the State
bonds grew out of the Act passed to provide
tor the payment of the interest on them
The intention to do SO was clearly expressed
by the preceding Legislature in authorizing
the funding of tho interest. Our State debt
was small and as our growing prosperity be-
came known, our ability to pay, and conse.
quently our credit improved. The increased
confidence in the pcrmancncy of the present
government and the continuance of peace has
had its due effect is approaching, just os the
previous uncertainty and confusion had an
influence in deprecating them. Is the pres.
cnt administration entitled to the credit or is
it due to tho people whose energy, industry
and economy have enhanced the prosperity of
the State and developed anew its material
wealth ? Everyone knows the present ad-
ministration have increased the number and
salaries Of officers and triplcd the former cx-
penses. Arc high taxes, multitude of ofli
GERS and a corrupt Legislature the true essen
tials to good crcdit?N Tho fact is the present
regime is an obstacle to the true credit of
tac State. The rise in our bonds only shows
that the spirit of our people has lifted them
above the many difficulties growing out Of
tho present governments The plume they
are trying to appropriate is q stolen one In
claiming the credit not due them, they are
playing the jackass in the lions skin.
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