The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-06
Governor soot.'s Opportunity.


The Consolidation Bill, lit receives the
approval of Governor Scott, will drive the
last nail in the coffin OF the Blue Ridge
road-the road upon which Charleston has
spent a million of dollars, and which has
always been pet project with the leading
minds of the State. 1.
Two years ago, when. the Blue Ridge road
was asking for help from the State, it was
estimated that the completion OF the line
would involve an expenditure OF $1,000, 900
or IS, 600, 900. What it Lad obtained from
the General Assembly@-was- o guarantee Of
the bonds Of the company to the amount OF
81, 600, 900. OF these s4,OOO,0Oe, three
fourths, or SO, 600, 900, were required to he
sold at par. When these bonds were put in
! possession of the company'it was known, on
all sides, that they would not suffice, under
the most favorable circumstances, to COM
plete the liue. Subsequent changes OF
route have allowed the estimates to be re-
duced F; yet it is now admitted that to finish
the road will take, at least, four or five mil
hon dollars in actual money. Under these
circumstances the company logged quietly
along, spending a little of their means and
making some headway. The work was to
go on slowly, and it's active prosecution was
to be deferred until better times. This. we
take it, was sound policy-nay, the only
policy which could be prudeatly adopted.
But the Consolidation Bill works revolu-
ton in the whole plan, and, in plain Eng
lish, proposes to bleed the Blue Ridge road
to death. for the Jeneft OF the Greenclle
Ring.
The Bill to begin with, repeals the prbyiso
Of the act Of 1868, that the s3,oeo, 900 Of
bonds should not be sold for less than par
This makes the bonds marketable and it is
evidently in contemplation to place them, or
their proceeds, at the tender mercies OF the
GreenviIle Ring. This Ring have no means
OF their own. They, and their company, are
bankrupt. They will spend upon the Green
Vile road as much Of the Blue Ridge money
as may he needed for paying their own
debts and putting their soad in order. They
may then, if they choose. use the remainder
OF the Blue Ridge money in working .npon
the Blue Ridge road.
The proposition, then, is simply this If
what remains Of the original $4,000, 600
| in bonds is wholly insufficient TO COM
plete the Blue Ridge road, what chance is
there that those bonds will pay the debts
OF the Greenville Ring, repair and equip
their road costing say $4,000, ,Ooo,) and
complete tie -Blue Ridge road besides ?
The thing is an absurdily in one aspect
and swintIe in the other.
As the Greeuville Ring failed to tlch
50. 600, 900 in their own name, they now lay
vie,ent hands on the bonds guaranteed by
the State to7' tie Blue Ridge road. alone.
They make it certain that the Blue Ridge
road will never be built. More than this:
their consolidation bill deprives the State OF
its first lien upon the Greenyile and Colum-
bia and Blue Ridge roads, and gives in its
place a subsequent len, which will not be
worth the paper upon which it is written.
We believe that the Consolidation Bill will
pass the House US easily as it passed the
Senate. 1t might, moreover, become law,
Notwithstanding On Executive veto. Yet
Governor Scott has the power to strangle
the bill. The State Constitution provides
that 'tif bill or joint resolution shall not be
returned by the Governor within three days
latter it shall have been presented to him,
Sundays excepted, 1t shall have the same
'force and effect as if he had signed it, ,ualcsS
''the General Assembly 6yAeir adjournment
sprevent its return, IN arhtch case it shall not
"hepe such force anel effect, unless returned
within two days after their next meeting"
The General Assembly adjourn TOMORROW
sine die Governor Scott Can, therefore, de-
feat the bill by holding it in his possession
until the adjournment, which must take
place Within The three days allowed to the
Executive for approving or returning the
bill.
We ask. Then, :hat Governor Scott poc'ie:
the Consolidation Bill, 1iirsL, because ii de-
prives eStato of all the security which it
enjoys as protection against any loss which
might arise, through ats endorsement OF the
hon4s OF The lGreenSilleS and Blue Ridge
roads, ard, second, because it. gives the
funds Of the Blue Ridge Company to the
Greenviiie Ring without any guarantee tEat
even one dollar of those funds will be spent
upon the Blue Ridge road. We have had
reason OF late TO commend the iaancial pol
icy. of Governor Scott. 1t is now IN his
power to make this session OF the General
Assembly pass without the suotracting Of
one dollar from the assets OF the State, as
without the addition OF dollar to The pub
lie debt.
WE regret TO sre that all three Of the re-
Gently eiectefseuators- of Charles
tnn Rppktnan of (naoruatopp ,n,i II lt;,,