The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-12-21
COEUM.BIA. G:
Thursiay, sGOr;nihs psos$bsr 81 '1s7l.

COLUMBIH j. =
Thuriiay szornins December 81 i,,'ls7l.s
.i'aal 1Ret FaIsnaori.I.F .FS 9 s==575;
Our readers will hnd else where the
Memorial Of the Mayor and Aldermen
OF the City of Columbia TO- the General.
Assembly OF the State Of South Caroli-
ma, praying tho passage of o. Bill author
izing The issue 81 Oity Bopds." In its
malicious abuse of the purpose Ah1|
spirit. Of the motives and ,asts Of the
editor Of this journal, in its weak
points and transparent deoeptions, In ito
miserable appeals to Tho passions and
prejudices Of the oolored members OF
the Legislature. we might let the memo
rial speak for itself, aud it would itself
utter it's own condemnation. But whilst
We smile ~ it's assault upon this journal,
We shs!! notice Il. And, -aret. we pre-
sumo we are not mistaken when we say
that the memorial. although signed by
the Mayor, bears unmistakable marks OF
tho peanliat Literature Of the City Attor-
ney. James p, Tradewell, Esq. He, it
is understood, is Che pen Of the Council,
as he is also much OF its brains. And,
as ex-Meyoran ala 6er,of long stand
ing at the bar, no doabts the City Attor-
ney is prepared to make good case for
the Council-if anybody can. AS oiti-
zen. we met the City ,Attorneyas citizen
before the public meeting of' f'6itizens and
taxpayers. He now moves to another
field, where he expects to have the ad !.
vantages of locality and audience, and
there renews the fight under the auspices
of Mayor Alexander and all his Council.
And what's his case, or the case of the
Council? What's the great misrepre-
sentation with which we are charged?
What does it amount to? That, in. the
abstract We took Of the bill. upon, the,
nse sdfsjtl 4os copying for about ten NIL.
nutes, vss understood that the $500, 600
OF eight, per cent. 4city bonds'1, involve
the absorption of the present bonded
debt oflfhe oity: to the amount Of Sa16..
600; whereas il isfalleged that that debt
is proposed to be allowed to Yemain
where tits, and that, therefore, tho pro-
posed bill involves the issuance OF hnt
$475, 600. Let us inquire how this az
fects the points made by US. The pre-
sent debt Of. the cityoi $s25. 900. at six
and seven per cent. would involve an
annual interest say Of $21, 1875. The In
terest. on f$475, 900. at eight per cent; /;
would involve an annual interest Of
$3s. .O00.2 Adding these two interest
amounts, and We would have $59, 125.
which the city would have to meet every
year. To this add the $8e, 900 for cur.
rent city. expenses. and we have $50, lbs,
&c meet zhioh we would have the ta.es,
etc.. Of the city. estimated .at 1886. 900
per annum. ~ tasi sa..: 80. e.
Thus it will be seen, that the corteo-
ton does lot-heip the cause Of the cdun.s
Gil, and does not materially affect our
argument. The fact Of the matter is,
that we have stated what is substan TALLY
the case, and the memorial itself virtu-
ally confirms all that we have said, or
the protest OF the taxpayers sets forth.
Neither in thspablic forum. nor in the
Legislature, nor in the courts, can the
City Attorney make good his defence,
But~whatJ after all, Is the point for the
Legislature to consider7 The City Ooun.
oil contend that they have now two CON.
tracts on hand. Involving 8l56, 800, viz:
the market. Bis. 600. and the City Hall;
$13s, ,O0o.,,a1, Let US say that the matter Of
those contracts is now in legal hands,
and will soon come up before the courts.
We have every confidence that those
contracts will be adjudged null and void
on account Of. fraud; will be proven con-
ceived in iniquity and brought forth in
sin. Pending this. the Legislature may
well pause before giving the City Coun!
oil Authority to, issue bonds with O mar
gin of evsn $475. 900. The Legislature
may we'll pause before placing at the dis
posal of this Council any funds at all.
as experience has showed and sworn,
facts prove that they are unsafe oustodi:
ans OF the oity's finances. .'i5-, ~
We have very little to say about the
Mayor, whose name is signed to this
memorial, in which 30 much Of .vpl.
gar abuse is lavishad upon us. Ger:
tain it is that Mayor Alexander. whilst
he can do us no injury, has done the
city much evil II But Why nood suy one
be surprised p Has he not abandoned
the friends OF his former and better days,
to take his earthly part with strangers
and renegades and misguided colored