The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-10-07
S. c.
Friday Morning, October Z. 1870.
General Connor's Financial Speech
MIR. Chunbcrlain'a Figures.

ct Camden On the finances OF the pre-
sent State administration, and his re-
view of Mr.. Chamberlain errors and
omissions and Misrepresentation, is one
Of the most telling arguments yet made
in behalf of Reform. It is an argu-
ment that addresses itself to the solid
men of the State. to the business men OF
the State, to the taxpayer and the pro-
pcrty-holder, and II this does not arrest
the attention of those disposed to be
apathetic as respects their political du.
ties, we do not know what would arouse
them from their lamentable indifference.
Well does General Connor say, and
we quote his words with all possible en-
phasis:
"With this, close my review of the
financial administration of Governor
Scott. I have examined these accounts
carefully, and have stated, or havo on
deavored to state, the results fairly. 1
have made no statement that is not sus-
tanned by the official documents. II
there is error, it is, therefore, suscepti-
BILE of easy and immediate correction.
$50 far from the accounts justifying
the encomiums that have been paid to
the wisdom and economy of the Scott
administration, they are mutely eloquent
of official ignorance and extravaganza,
of wasteful expenditure, Of criminal
negligence, if not hagrant corruption.
Large sums paid for trifing services,
debts paid and the proper credits not
given, and half million of dollars
twice paid for the same debt.
"To the property-holders and tax-pay-
ers, commend careful study and in
vestigation of these accounts. To them
the subject is one of vital Importance.
holders aud business men is to droid poll
tics, and all political questions. They
rather pride themselves upon being ut
terly Indifferent to politics, and one of the
objects I have had in making this exam
ination Of State expenditures is to show
to them the price which they pay for
that indifference. IF they refuse to make
their areight felt in important political is
sues, If The Intelligence, capital and CHAR.
ncier of the State Shun all connection aciM
poliics, political control of the State aciR
inevitably fall into the hands Of those acho
are ignorant or corrupt. All aciN suffer
from, i'll government. E'rery interest aciu
feel ii, but the areigAt Of the burden aciu Jall
upon property"
Let us now briefly review General
Connor's address, and point out some of
the points that he makes and sustains.
General Connor commences by asking,
is the State prospering? Is she spend
ing more than she makes? For this is
the test He declares, first, that ta.cation
has increased more than Mree5old since
Gorernor Scott assumed control Of tie
State. He shows that for the ten years
ending 1859, the average annual taxation
was $43l, 800, whilst in 1869 it was over
S1,5O0,O00, more than three times as
much.
AS to appropriations, he shows that
for the years 1853 and 1859 the total
amounted to S1,551 ,607.7S, whilst in
1S6S and 1869 it rose to 50, ,431, 1859. 90
,}an excess of $1,879, ,S61.22. In other
y words, the appropriations we're more than
double in 1868 and 1869 over those of
1853 and 1859.
] General Connor next gives compare
tive view of the appropriations for the
years 1858 and 1868, and for 1859 and
1869, to show more clearly the sources of
expenditures. The exhibit shows an
excess of 1868 over 1858 of $1,175,
422.22. and an excess of 1869 over 1859
of S704, 439. General Connor next pro-
ceeds to consider the statements made
by Mr.. Chamberlain in speech made
by him at Chester, and which has since
been circulated by the radical party as q
campaign document. General G. first
assumes that Mr.. Chamberlnin's figures
are correct, and upon that basis proves
that the expenses of the present admi.
nistration have been extravagant and
largely in excess OF any previous admi-
nistration.
But this is not NIL. General Connor
conclusively proves that Mr.. Chamber
lain's figures are grossly inaccurate. On
this point the details are 80 numerous