The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-11-08
6 )LUMBIA. S. c.
Wednesday Morning. November s 1877
The State Government and the Stat.
Flnances

than aught else in South Carolina at this
sime, it is the spectacle of q broken down
State Government. The ediice, pol,ti
cal and financial, is tottering, if not
virtually fallen. The Federal bayonet
prevails in niue counties Of tho State.
The State Government stands in ac-
know!sdSed impotence. The once strong
arm of South Carolina falls nerveless.
Kt cannot enforce the lawu It is weak
from corruption. Odr State is q pro-
vince, and the Governor is not as strong
as Roman Pro- CONSUL, and we are not
surprised. Three years ago we declared
that, come Grant or come Seymour, the
State regime would fail. Three years and
ono half ago, addressing Thaddeus Ste
yens, chairman of the committee OF
reconstruction, in the basement of the
United States capitol, we told him that
his scheme of government for South
Carolina and tho South, would break
down from Inherent weakness-would
cot endure long, because it contravened
the eternal laws of God-bccause it was
nnwise, unjust aud illogical.
We ask now, has not all this come to
pass It has. Wepoint to legislative
majority covered oil over with the foul
spots of corruption-to members thereof
whose hands have again and again closed
npon open or concealed bribes. We
point to set Of swindling State and
County officials, who have not stolen as
much as the Tammany thieves. only be-
cause there was not SO much to steul.
We point to judiciary that, in the
main, falls far short of those judges who
wore the once stainless ormine of the
State. We point to IN Executive, weak,
vascillaiiDg, treaoherous and nerveless;
who has, bnscly surrendered his trust,
sonnived at the foul proceedings against
our people, and given the State over to
the rule Of the sword. We point to the
admissions by Radicals themselves, that
the State Government is weak and cor
rupt. We point to our own observation
and experience. And, lastly, we point
to tho present condition of tho State
finances. Where is the once unsullied
credit Of the State? What has become
of the moneys OF the Stats? Why is it
that now there is not, AS we are inform
ed, IL dollar in the Treasury? How is it
that heavy claims are now pending
against the State? How is it that the
educational interests of the State have
been so shamefully neglected.? And,
what rnmor comes to rs now from New
York, where, for a month past, the
whole Stnte Government have been seek
sng to bolster up sinking cause?
What. We repeat. is the rumor? Neither
more nor less than this: THAT THERE HAS
BEEN AN ovRR-IssUR OF STATE BONDS TO
THE EXTENT, PERHAPS, OF $40. 900. 900.
True. Governor Scott, Treasurer Niles
G. Parker, and Mr.. J. B. Dennis, Chair
man Committee on State Accounts, pub
ish card denying the rnmor, but ad,
mitting what they could not deny, that
over 800, 600. 900 bonds of the State have
been printed. They attempt nm expla-
nation which, we confess, we cannot un-
aerstand. But we may we'll ask, who,
in South Carolina, would repose conf
denoe in the statement of this trio? We
say it coolly and deliberately, that, in
she opinion OF many witnesses in this
State, there are not in South Carolina
three more unreliable and unscrupulous
officials.
In our judgment, the half has not
been told of this State regime. OF
eourso, all is right, remarks the organ
here. OF course, all is wrong, says
truth. And now we say to the good peo-
pie Of South Cnrolinu--to all the honest
elements We have OF white and colored
alike-Democrats and liberal Republi-
oans-what are you going to do about
shis9 Will you submit to thieving off,
sials, or will you move. as in New York,
10 put swindlors and public pInnderers
in the penitentiary, where they belong?
Cannot all the good men of the State
mite to phil South Carolina out of the
rtA -.