The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-22

ism everywhere will be vindicated from
completely with the vampires who
have so basely prostituted Republican
power in the Southern States.
[From tho Columbia Phoenix.1
THE REFORM MOvEMENT..ITS
CAUsK-.ITS CnARACTER-.ITS OBJ.
JECT-.THE QUESTION OF A NOMI-
NATION.
We propose, this morning, review
and an analysis of the movement for
reform now on foot in this State. We
shall deal with tho subject fairly and
soberly, and thus make our case before
candid public. We hold that the
movement for reform has its origin in
the popular appreciation of the cor
ruptions, frauds and misrule connected
with the present regime. In the first
place, the Chief Executive Of the State
has failed to discharge, with proper
spirit aud impartlality, the duties of his
high Office. His financial self aggran-
dizement has been inconsistent with
the high tone that the Executive should
illustrate. To invest largely in the
bonds and stocks of the State, when
they could be bought for small amount
on the dollar, and then, By legislation
of his recommending, to appreciate these
securities, is conduct utterly at variance
with the true ethics of q Governor of a
State. If it is claimed by the Govern
or's partizans that public good has
been done by tho appreciation of the
State securities from twenty to thirty
cents on the dollar to eighty or ninety,
it would have been we'll could they have
added that this was disinterested finan-
ciering on the part of the Executive
We are aware that some latter day
moralists hold that Gov. Scott had as
much right as any private broker to
speculate on the securities of the
State. We are aware that these same
moralists contend that the Governor
was only smart, and not censurable.-
But not so do we understand it. Not
so did people understand it formerly in
South Carolina-before official honesty
and tone were at discount. And we
are sure that every high minded man
will agree with US in the proposition,
that no officer of the State-be he
Treasurer, Comptroller General, Gov
srnor, or any other oficial-has any
right to use his official opportunities in
order to make money for self and friends
out of public securities. This is gross
violation of official deoorum, is a dan
gerous precedent, and should be held
and rebuked as gross abuse Of Office.
Aud we charge his Excellency with
thus abusing and lowering, and utilizing
for self the Office he holds, and we place
our allegations upon the basis of state
ments which, as a journalist, we have
received aud do regard as we'll founded.
Again, Gov. Scott has been entirely
wanting in the elements Of impartiality
as an Executive. He seems to have
forgotten that he is Governor of the
whole people, and, in playing the par
tizan aud demagogue, has sunk the i'm
partial Chief Magistrate. Looking to
his appointments, it will be found that,
with few exceptions, they are taken from
the class of his partizans, however in-
efficient, corrupt and ignorant. Now
no reasonable man wants the Governor
of South Carolina to be partial Ex-
eoutive. We would not have such an
officer a white mans Governor or black
mans Governor; but we would have him
the fair, true, high-toned, impartial
Executive of the whole people, and
thus disoharging his high functions, to
promote, by his administration and in
fuence, the harmony Of the State and
the welfare of all Glasses of the people.
But such a man Gov. Scott has not been
and we charge him with this deficiency.
We arraigu him for his partizaDship,
but this is not all. We hold Gov.
Scott responsible for an inAammatory
role. In a time Of profound peace,
when good men were seeking to secure
public harmony, Gov. Scott delivers HIM
self of a violent harrangue in Wash,
ington, INDUCES in imperial talk, and
proclaims that he--the Governor OF
South Carolina. deems the Winchester
rifle the best lao. Is it strange-is it
unreasonab nable-that good men have
come to the conclusion that reform
is demanded in this quarter /? But look
at the acts imputed to other state off,
cers-look to the Sampson mattor-to
the Land Commissioner swindle-and
consider if there be not necessity Of
reform. And look to the present Legs
islative Assembly. Consider the we'll
known bribery and corruption that have
taken place in that body, and made
South Carolina politics shame and
bye word abroad. Consider the gener-
al tone aud practice of the South Caro-
lima officials. See how South Carolina
bound and PROSTATE, is fastened upon
by greedy rings and dishonest officials,
and made to bleed, and bleed, and bleed.
See how tho public funds have been
shamofully misused and corruptly
squsndcred. See how tho poor are thus