The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-13
SOUTH CAkULINA.
Closing Session or the Taxpay-
ers' Convention.
A Plan Of Reform Agreed Upon for Submis.
sion 10 the Legislature.


COLUMBIA, 8. c., May IL, 1871.
The Taxpayers Convention met this morning az
eleven O'Clock, Governor Porter in The chair.
General Chestnut, Of the Executive Committee, re-
ported that the taxpayers deem 1t their duty to de.
clare that the sterling loan, and other obligations
hereafter issued are not held binding, ana they
recommend the people to resist the payment or en-
forcement of any tax to pay the same by oil legit
mate means.
It was resolved that committee OF five be ap-
pointed to con er with the represent atives OF tho
Fire Loan Securities, with view to an early liqu
dalton Of these obligations. and to repair the
damage to the good faith and honor Of the State
resulting from their reputation by present state
authorities.
Mr.. Aldrich, OF the same committee, moved to add
the name OF General Chestnut TO Porter ana Conner
in the Blue Ridge Railroad proceedings.
MIR. Prescott moved that these gentlemen be in
structcd to report at once. In supporting the
amendment, Nj Prescott said that II the action OF
yesterday on the subject OF the Blue Ridge. meant
anything, It meant that this body, with legal exis
tence, proposed to take into its charge the public and
private interests Of The State. This was step full
of danger. The corporation referred TO was an en-
terprise connected for nearly half century with
the interests Of the State. yet the passage
of the resolution would do more to destroy
those interests than any event which could occur.
COuVcHtlUu uSSuiIlcu Luut IcgSs
lauon was invalid, and to that extent dlscredited
the bonds OF the roads, because they would be put
upon the market with 'dsapprovai Of the tax
payers" written across tbenl II practi-
cally says TO the world, ,You take the
bonds with the risk OF lawsuit" Spectators
will necessarily buy at deprecated value, and the
people will eventually have to redeem them at par
Mr. prescott reviewed the history OF the Legislation
connected with the Blue Ridge and Greenvilie roads,
SAVING that whatever discrediv attaches to me
the must Blue answer Ridge Tor wsTs ce ane
The mortgage gwen to The State before the
Infinitely better security than . statutory lien
| watch only applied 70 the thirty two miles In the
pe Hs , WAS ,e p0r ea s e9
/ lature would be sustained by law, and under the
circumstances 1t would be unjust for the Convention
\ TO adopt the resolution without amendment.
| Mr.. 4. +. Marley OF Darlington. replied, and &C.
verely alsclaimed being an opponent or paid par.
| tisan OF any corporation. Gentlemen assumed that
! tins body was not TO meddls with private con-
1 Germs, but when private individuals connect
| themselves with s'upentous public frauds 1t
was the duty or the convention to ex-
pose them. Corruption would not exist
| were 1t not for corruptors-were none engaged IN
bribery the Legislature would not have occasion to
complain so much at present. It was an unhappy
mad been instrumental in obtaining public plumber.
! He SAID he would not discuss the object OF the
tbs fraud BY which the OBJECT was u erected. Men
VINO induced fraud We're not to be trusted with puO.
lic funds ana NE ne spirit Of Justice would Gen3unce
road declared, in the presence OF the committee,
that he had come 70 Columbia With hall milion OF
| A gentleman from Anderson complained
that me a as1lSn Of the ConyenlSn w0S!a
| the resolution intended to do, ana It was
| mistake TO suppose tnat sympathy for any
neas as sa for amy aOS0a Caro-
fnian to go before the LEGISLATURE, com.
persons, and nold out broes 70 secure any boom
whatever; and the voice q n9 people would be
neP ns s wSs S sSTSp9
Mr.. Scott Of Columbia, offered a resolution tina,
the Governor and Attorney General secure from Mr..
Hampton pond sa!icieutto protect the interests OF
"A recess was takcs1i. ',''s' ', .' y .-s1f
On Resembling. General Butler, from the
s setting forth 'a - ia.eryis ,a win shs
been done involying the credit q the State; that
they nssysd the Of the copSeer to be
a aS Of law; O nss o' Ssas sa,sss
with, and tina, he expressed his determination to
urge upon the Legislature the necessity OF enecting
competence inoccessibilty OF officers OF the law
10 be fruitful caus Oi recent difficulties; that he
endorsed the plan q minority repIessn aiion; that
finally that ne wonId suspend forced collection OF
press the belief that The Governor win not repadate
| his assurances, and conclude with the following
sS TOO Ss 70 as s.
vision FOR nformers and that the Attorney General
treasury Tia. bs appointed to Cooperate Win
the legislative committee now investigating 'he transactions
The report suggests first, additional legislation to
plate companies, the amount Of royalty thus
far pad ~ being only, slsoS This may
10 the State. Second, to stop drawing money
the order OF the Speaker or President Of the Senate
IN advance Of an appropriation. Third, to reduce
coroners Fourth, to enact law limiting each ses-
SION to thirty days. Fntn TO enactiaws prohibiting
audited by County Treasurer, and to publish In the
nearest newspaper the quarterly receipts and ex-
70 the Adua a SEVENTH to give
each public officer out one salary; eighth. to abolish
the commission 10 codify the laws
Mr.. Trenholm, from The committee OF eleven. SUBJ
the grand tS,a, q DEP, i xsd At So the
Rs NV MOS 9a' 81 as S5 Ssss ~ " i ASH
te III @ nsI for nos
above sl,soo,ooo pledged as colaterals until
OF this sum be applied TO the payment
q KS Ie S s@bss S Hon Is III! yeHS @
ac5 condition an Immediate and considerable ad-
vance ana iaeIitles Tor holding them OH the mar.
ss appeaT na s 'ne Of
ays e s ne am oVsr s
6i one HILTON, but state tnat nine hundred thou
sand have been returned. The arrangement of
having financial agent New YORK produces
an uniavorabe impfeSsion because the DIM
Guilty or Keeping his and the treasurer's
account IN correct accord seems very great
discrepancy Of some thousands appear, but the
report states that nothing appears on i,y accounts
TO inpeach their correctness though the door Is
wide open Tor error AMI disputes. Tue committee
stale that compensation for the FISCAL agent
Is not yet determined; hence me isil
interest cannot be calculated. sun, IRON the best
evidence adduced, the Interest appears 10 rate 1917
per cent per annum. The committee be-
iievc retrencnnient may be effected. and
that II the shortest avenue OF
cape from financial difficulties. Less than
S6so, 600 VIII pay the interest on the Cola FUNDED
debt and 81. 900 should deay the interest or all
expenses. The examination OF kemptou's and
others account in detail found 10 be Impossible;
I.iIff lea m AZ I'M