The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-12-21

upon them, and the best method If sup.
plying the inevitable fluids Is Ills. only
open question.
What, then, is that method? After
mature consideration. your nemoruliAts
determined that the iss'ie OF city bonds
was not only the best. but that it is
the only scheme by which this honorable
and legal obligation, incurred. as to the
City Hall. with the popular consent,
the application to the Legislature for
po ver to issue bonds, not to the amount
of $500, 900, III this EDITORS protest, edi.
torinls and speech proclaim, but to the
sum of $475, 900, taking his estimate Of
the present city debt to be correct
1926, 600. Now, the reasonable oalcula.
tion is, that S475,000 of city bonds,
issued under the provisions aud safe.
guards Of this projected law, bearing an
interest Of eight per centum per annum,
with prohibition against any increase
Of the city debt for twenty years, would
bring, in cash, about $3.50, 600, of which,
the contracts for the erection of the
City Hall and market would absorb the
sum of $l5G.600, leaving in the City
Treasury a balance of 1928, 400. But it
is not contemplated to exhaust this
authority ut once, but only to exercise
it to the extent of the present and proxi-
mate necessities of the city, growing out
OF subsisting contracts; aud the question
is. will tho Legislature come to the help
OF the City Council of Columbia-your
memorialists-and entrust them with
this authority. Whether Col Thomas
has or has not confidence in the present
City Council, they are inoliued to be-
lieve, is q matter about which the Gone.
raj Assembly will not be much exer-
cised. That body, they are persuaded,
will not be deferred from aiding the
City Council in the administration Of
our city affairs. by giving to them every
necessary aud proper power. notwith-
standing he may have brought against
them malignant party accusations. Per.
haps he may find, without much trouble
In the search, some who might have the
hardihood to defy the great pori of say
ing to the Legislature that such accusa-
tlons are false accusations and ground.
less SANDERS, and, unfortunately for
him, such rash individuais might be be.
lieved.
Your memorialists further show, US a
sound reGsoii why this additional trust
should be con6ded to them, that Colum-
blu is increasing in wealth and popuia-
ton with gratifying rapidity, aud re-
spcctfully call attention to the important
fact that the Legislature, by a recent
Act, extended the territorial boundaries
thereof; and the new territory thus at
tached is now being settled by class Of
our people just emerged from domestic
servitude. who are justly ambitious of
tho comforts and responsibility Of homes
OF their own, and, as Taxpayers and COR
porators. are legally entitled to all the
| ND
OF the municipal government to provide
They are entitled to water and lights, to
safe public streets aud walks, and the
care OF the city police; to afford oil
which: considerable sums of money
must be raised otherwise than by ordi-
nary taxation. Laborers must be en-
ployed, in addition to the regular street
force, and tho right of way purchased
and paid for, before street can be
opened.
Your memorialists have thus far left
undone their duty i'll these respects, be-
cause they were destitute of the neces-
sary funds. But no good citizen ought
to object to the use of the contemplated
bonds, ut proper time, and to a proper
extent, for those purposes; for, unless
the means can be thus obtained, the
object Of our territorial expansion cannot
be accomplished, and the General AS
sembiy will have placed under the go-
vernment OF the oity body of territory
and population on which it cannot be-
stow the necessary protection, Justly
due, in return for the burdens of taxa
| ton.
Your memorialists reply to the charge
of q secret issue of city bonds, made by
this editor in his paper and speech, and
rehashed in his protest, that this reso-
luton of the City Council of Columbia,
directing the Mayor to issue the bonds,
was passed. after debate, at meeting Of
the said City Council, open to all men;
and that such issue of bonds was known
to be contemplated and intended. as the
solo means of procuring the necessary
funds fst the erection of the City Hall.
They, therefore, respectfully assure the
General Assembly that the allegation of
fraudulent secresy, in the issuing of the
said bonds, urged by this licensed edito-
rial libeller, is wholly untrue.
Your memorialists further show to this
General Assembly, that tho whole course
of the editor OF tho PHOENIX (the origi-
nator Of the protest) toward them, since
they entered upon the administration of
city affairs, has boen unjust and parti.
san. They have done no public act
worthy of his distinguished oommenda.
ton. When thoy took charge of city
affairs, i'll May, 1870. those affairs had
been permitted to fall into utter confu-
sion and ruin. They found it without
money Or credit, and, worse than all,
without laws. without q place in which to
hold their meetings, or in which to con.
fine offenders. whose offences we're
guessed ut. and whose punishment was
left to ignorant discretion. They were
amazed to find that past due bonds and
interest coupons had accumulated to q
very large amount. to pay which no sort
of provision. or effort to that end. had