The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-08-23
THE WATCHMAN
WEDNESDAY,, AUGUST %
A, A, GILBERT "-tuiIUh
A Fiasco.


CONVENTION was certL.nly fash in the
nan. There was the usual evolution OF
gas, but if it has had any results, such
results were not Of any advantage to the
honest tax payers. 1t cried 'peace''
when there was no peace; and assured
of reform when no reform was or is
visible. It was nicely hoodwinked by
the wolves who crept into its couusels,
and it nicely hoodwinked the people OF
the State. The RAIDS plastered and
promised, and the Tax Payers Conven-'
tion and those it represented were
efectually sucked in.
Such seems to be the current OF SEN
timeut which comes to US in our ex-
changes, especially aud emphatically
uttered iu all conservative papers out
side of the State, and we give them as a
synopsis of the prevailing thought OF
the people. The following from the
Uuiouville Times states the case with
considerable emphasis, aud our extract
is by no means the sharpest part Of it:
aThe scenes of the Taxpayers
Convention, lately assembled iu Colum-
bia, were so marked and so inexplicable,
that their memory and mention must
mantle the brow of every true Carolinian.
One was the credulity aud fawning
exhibited toward the usuIpers and
oppressors Of our revercd Common
wealth.
The ether, the unheard Of and undig-
ni6ed, not to say unauthorized, in .
ritations to take seats and participate in
its business. extended promiscuously,
and even to the miserable lawyers aud
blackless Of the Blue Ridge swiudle,
that greatest of all the outrages upon
the tax. payers of South Carolina, linked
with ten millions of tribute upon their
labor, and no single salutary feature.
For the lawyer, as he was before he
received State bonds as bribes to betfay
friends and country, We would say with
an old English writer: "He was the
delight of the Courts, the oruamene of
the Bar, the glory of his profession, the
patron of innocencey, the upholder OF
right; the scourye of oppression, the terror
Of deceit, aud the oracle of his country
aud when death called him to the bar
Of Heaven by 'habeas corpus he found
his Judge his advocate, non suited the
devil, obtained liberty from all his
inSrmities, aud continues still one of the
long robe in glory" When this picture
was drawn, there we're no negroes. carpet
baggers or scalawags at the bar or on
the bench.
Behold now the consequence Of the
uumanly eredulity and criuging before
corrupt officials. Your treasury is
locked up by an alien miscreant, who
mocks you aud refuse to allow your
representatives. to go in and count your
money and examine your own books,
which ought to contain true account
of the receipts of your taxes, your assets
and your bonds, and what has been
done With them.
More startling still-and can any
thing be more melancholy and horrible!
the President of the Blue Ridge Rail
Road Company, (the monster ring Of
robbers native Carolinian, son OF au
honored sire, and himself having, in her
better days, borne high commissions Of
bis State, and sat in her halls of Leg
islation, holds four millions Of your
bonds, OBJ aimed by bribery and corrup
ton, by treason to you and alliance With
your INSCRIPTIONS enemies and he, too,
mocks your representatives and refuses
to tell them where these bonds are,
which have been issued in your name,
aud without your knowledge or consent,
and iaunts you, through Messrs. Porter
Il Conuor, your representatives, by
telling them these bonds care in safe
keeping" Whose safe keeping? The
safe keeping ofyour robber enemies, and
the enemies Of civil liberty and consti
tuional LAWN the safe keeping of
sharpers, tricksters, bandits, outlaws,
traitor"
Deaths,