The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-09
WIPE our THAT DEBT.
What Mechanic Thinks of the Illegal
Issues.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.


CHARLESTON, June 8, 1870
Having noticed that the columns of your
journal have been rendered to the public for
the expression of opinion in regard to the city
debt, and having read the article Of Justice"
under the caption of 'Thc Reputation
Scheme" &C., &C., 1 beg leave to offer the fol-
lowing remarks in reply to said article: am
glad to notice that 1t is admitted by ''Justice"
that few citizens did oppose the subscriptions
to railroads which brought this heavy debt
upon the city, land one citizen alone dared
appear openly to question the right OF the
Council to make those subscriptions 1t Is
also admitted by Justice" that "ln 1854, after
the subscription TO the Blue Ridge Railroad
had been made, but before certificates were
issued, this gentleman applied to the courts
for an Injunction to restrain the City Council
from Issuing these certificates, on the ground
of want of authority" and at this important
point the memory of "Justice" falls him.
Let me refresh his memory. The case
was tried before Judge 0'Ncale, If am In
formed correctly, and decided BY that judge in
favor of the City Council. An appeal was
taken to n higher tribunal. but before the case
came to trial, the same Judge (O'Neale) who
had decided the case in the lower court, was
upon the higher bench, and the appeal oil
course was thrown out. "Justice" further
says: :Pendlng the case the Legislature met
and passed an act not only comforting such
powers under certain conditions, Twill Jus
tice have the fairness to take the trouble TO
publish what were those certain conditions,l
but ratifyng all subscriptions which had al
ready been made, and that the act may be
found in the acts of Assembly, 1854" Let me
ask sJuslice" how many Of the poor people
of Charleston who work day by day at the
workbench, or drive their teams from morn
till night for the pittance which hardly keeps
body and soul together, have time or facility
to hunt up .sActs OF Assembly," But let 1t be
known TO them that after this action of Council
subscribing to these railroads, member OF
Council deeply interested In this railroad scheme
offered this bill In the Legislature, ratifylng the
acts of Council in these subscriptions.
Justice may we'll say that lone citizen
alone dared appear openly to question the
right of Council !" for in those days the people
who elected their masters dared do nothing
but vote for them. Who will deny this state
ment When was the voice Of the people
listened to? What did 1t amount to? Just
nothing at all. The people Of this city and of
this State, before the war, were led by the nose
by their monied masters, and had no rights
that were respected If one man, or few
men, had independence to oppose any such
wild speculation rs the subscriptions to their
railroads. he was hooted down, and the Ques
tion asked: Who is he ?--where did he come
from? If he differed from them, his opinion
was worth nothing. This was heard Oh all
sides, and the very people thus led by their
moned masters joined in the cry. But now,
slrs, 1t is different All things have changed,
and the voice of the people, crying out against
the acts of these unlawful speculations, will be
listened to. The shackles that bound the peO-
plc are broken. Broad street spectators are
no longer their masters, and the people will be
burdened no longer to pay the interest upon
tins unlawful debt. The business man invests
large amounts in manufacturing In this city
his home, whether by birth or adoption-and
loses all because the city is groaning under
debt which drives away all capital. and leaves
sswhole fields of valuable building lots in the
very heart of our city vacant and uninprovcd
City stock is taxed at its market value, but
the mechanics workshop and tools, benefit
to the public, are taxed at much more, aye,
nearly double the amount for which they would
sell; and the whole City of Charleston must 80
to ruin, and all industry cease, to pay those
holders of city stock, anlaohdly issued, which,
in all probability, in many cases, was bought
at thirty cents on the dollar "Justce' speaks
of sthc late meeting Of certain taxpayers,
taken in connection with the apathy
of Council on the subject, &C., &c. What
does Justice" mean by the apathy Of Council?
What can they do but get up another scheme,
which will secure the payment Of the interest