The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-20
.anoes OF THO Ta1.Payers. :.
Co1UAdIrA. 8, O.. May IL, 1871. )!

Co1UMB1A, 8. O., May II, 1871.
ThsfB can be no doubt that tho proper.
ty-owners Of South Carolina have many
real grievances ofswhioht to comPlaln'
on account of the rnannsrain whioh 'ne
finances Of the State have been aamihis-
tered, and careful inquiry satisnos me
that the charges OF corrupt pract.ceS
which they mako against the ot"e he-
oielaturo and many Of the State officers
ara 10 aome extent, true, although
greatly exaggerated. All people. from
the Governor down to private citizens Of
both partieG, white men and negroes,
agree that, with few exceptions, the
members OF the Legislature we're shame
fully venal, and sold their votes with
little pretense OF secrecy. This we may
pass over as ap admitted fact; but the
amount Of reilly bad legislation of which
they were guilty is not very great. The
State of South Cnroiinn Ia too poor to
afford much plunder. There are no
powerful RAILWAY companies or other
rioh and grasping corporations that Gun
afford to pay rouudiJ for Legislation to
promote their interests; and tho actual
amount of corruption money used at the
last session would appear ridiculously
small to the lobbyists who. manipulate
the Legislatures Of New York and Penn
syfvania. The measures for the passage
of which money was freely used were
the phosphate. bil', (which gave to q few
persons monopoly OF tho right to take
phosphate deposits, for, fertiiizing pur-
poses, from the rivers of the State. and
the Grsenyille Railroad: subsidy bill,
which passed the House after nm eIpen-
ditnre OF $50. 0e0,s but Which finally
failed to piss the Senate over the Go
vernor's veto. The chief sin Of the Lee
gislature WAS the extravhgance with
Which, money was spent for clerk hire,
| ,furhithre and incidental expenses. The
cost al the last session was nearly ten
times ns much as the average cost OF the
sessions before the war. As an illuatra-
|. fipn Of where the money went to, it liz
related that ono member bought pair
OF horses, and pnid the owner by giving
him an order on the Treasurer for pay as
committee clerk, and that others fur
nished themselves with gold watches and
chains. in q like manner inexpensive to
| themselves.
| But it is against three or four OF the
State officers that the anger Of the tax
payere is especially directed. When the
State Government went into operation
in 1868. the only capital of its members
was their influence with thenegro voters,
and they carried all their tangible for
times upon their backe. Now they live
in fine mansions, drive fast horses. buy
railroads, establish banks, and give every
sign Of possessing great wealth. In
! o0in nIioToiai 00n iuun nitios, WiioTo riches
are often rapidly acquired, euch sudden
rise to fortune would not attract 30 much
attention or suspicion; but to underataud
the effect it makes upon the public tenn
L A.
the people OF South Cnrolina are very
poor. that nearly all the fortunes once
possessed by them we're wrecked hy the
| are now reduced to actual poverty, and
that the old proud planters have nothing
| left but their barren acres, which scarcely
produce enough to feed them. In these
pinching days Of adversely, throng Of
| unknown men come out of the country
| of their recent enemies to seize upon all
the places in the Governments by the aid
of negro votes. No doubt largo share
OF the wealth of these men was acquired
by what would be looked upon in New
York as legitimate speculation. but here
few nuke such distinctions. The South
Carolina planters know little about spe-
oulating; their fortunes used to be in
lands and slaves. Wealth VAS slowly
acquired. aud was always an evidence Of
responsibility and good family; men who
made money rapidly were suspected.
and the speculative instinct was one of
the Yankee traits which they most do
| spised These planters now find them
selves poor. their taxes enormously in
creased. their State debt much aug
mented, and the State officers suddenly
risen from poverty to afllnepce. Their
wrath ID naturally great ut ull this
The tax payers do not rest their case,
however, on general assertions Of cor
ruption. but they make specific charges
| aguinst some Of the State officers. and
these charges are repeated and endorsed
by many respectable Republicans ont OF
Office. Perhaps the most serious Of the
charges refer to the public land. Bonds
to the amount Of 100000 were sold,
and the proceeds applied to purchasing
land for the State with the purpose of
re.selling it on long credit and III small
tracts to colored men, as charitable
undertaking. A Land Commissioners
was appointed. with numerous deputies.
1t turns out thnt the utmost value of the
land purchased is not 5000. 600, and that
all tue rest of the money went into the
1 - Al. ~