The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-05

read the fashion revelations Of Jennie June.
The sophistries of Attorney-General
Chamberlain.
The Reform party demands change OF
government, because the Scott Ring have in-
creased taxation, piled up the State debt
mountains high, and, by their shameless con-
duct, brought q blush to the cheek of every
honest man in the State. The Scott Ring,
on the other hand, take up the gauntlet and
declare themselves ready to stake their po-
litical fortunes upon the financial record of
their party. The main assertions OF the
Scott Ring were exposed, and their mis-
statements pointed out, in the public prints.
It became necessary to make out better
case than was shown in the official records,
and Mr.. Attorney General Chamberlain, an
adroit pleader of bad cause, was put before
the public as the champion Of the financial
policy OF the administration. 1t is admitted
that he did his work well, and his speech
delivered at Chester is accepted as an OIL
cial exposition OF the financial condition OF
the State, and OF the value and cost OF the
services performed by the ruling party. The
best foot is put foremost in this speech,
which is circulated oil over South Carolina
as a campaign document. We have the
right, therefore, to require the Scott Ring to
stand squarely upon the record as presented
by Mr.. Chamberlain; aud we may fairly
claim that demolition Of his ingeniously
contrived financial fabric is complete on
swer to the plea that the Scott Ring have
given the State wise, honest and economi-
cal government. This is no unreasonable
demand, and we contend that General Con-
ner, in the speech printed in another column,
shows, by official statements, the incorrect
ness OF Mr.. .Chamberlain's assertions, and
proves the literal correctness OF the charges
of extravaganza brought against the Scott
party.
General Conner after showing that the
average annual taxation in the State, Tor
ten years ending in 1859, was S43l, 1899,
and in 1869 wss 81: 10000 - more than
three times as much-poiuts out the fact that
the total appropriations for State and county
purposes for the years 1858 and 1859 were
81, 55l, 6O7, and in 1868 and 1869 were 3d.
43l, 460-nore than double. MIR. Chamber
lain will not deny the accuracy OF these
figures, yet he argues that "the taxation in
slS6S was only S13G,0OO more than in 1859"
To Justify this statement, Mr.. Chamberlain
deducts, from the total taxation OF 1865
sum OF $3.50, 900 for accrued interest, claim
ed to be churgeable to preceding admins
trations. This sum was appropriated Tor
payment OF interest, but no: one dollar acas
oaid from the toreS; the whole amount, as
the reports show, was paid out OF the pro-
ceeds of the bonds sold or pawned by au-
thority OF the Legislature for that purpose.
Here, then, to begin With, is an error, or
misstatement, of quarter OF million dol
layS
In reviewing the expenditures of 1850 and
1869, Mr. Chamberlain makes several de-
ductions from the latter, on the ground that
sin 1859 and 1860 that interest was paid
t.,oholy By tie Bank of the State" This
statement convicts Mr. Chamberlain OF gross
negligence, or Of bold attempt to deceive
the people, for General Conner shows that
in both 1859 and 1850 large SUMS acere raiS-
ed by ta:ration for the payment OF interest
on the debt, and were expended for that
purpose Mr.. Chamberlain does not stop
here. He detlucts from the current expenses
for 1869 nearly half million dollars for ex
traordinury expenses aud interest, aud theu
sets down S6l7, ,67S Us the real expenditure
for that year, as against s54s,2 in 1850.
General Conner shows that, in this Stale
ment also, Mr.. Chamberlain is at least con-
spcuously lnexact. Assuming, therefore,
the orrectness Of Mr. Chamberlain's figures,
General Conner proves that the expendi-
lures Of the Scott Ring government far &c
ceed those Of any other administration.
But MIR. Chamberlain's figures are not cor
rect Deducling from the expenditures OF
1850 extraordinary expenses similar to those
deducted BY Mr.. Chamberlain from the ex-
penditures OF 1868 We find that the real cur
rent expenses were in 1860 sl56. 642 LESS
THAN THE SUN AT WHICH Mr. CHAaBERLAIN
PUTS THEM. Moreover, the sum of
s424 424 deducted Us paid to b. H. kimp-
ton must be regarded with doubt and sus-
picon. This was no old claim Nor do
the accounts of II. Il. Kimpton and the