The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-15
iEgoM OR owS .REPoRTER.l
COLUMBIA, May u.
rho nnnrantinn met at half.nast ii 0'clocb

/
by Mr.. James A. Hoyt, Of Anderson, that.a
special committee OF seven be appointed "tc
transmit the report as q memorial to the Leg
islature on TIE subject of proportional repre-
sentation. accompanied by such suggestions
as they may deem advisable, in order to Sc
cure the passage of law, at the earliest prac'
ticable moment after the Legislature is con,
yened, that the system Of cumulative voting
may be made applicable to the next general
election, and that the principle may be en-
grated in general upon our system oi
suffrage the chair appointed the following:
James A. Hoyt, D. H. Chamberlain, NJ. w.
Gary. E. j. Scott, W. II. Wallace, B. Il. vii.
son, y. Gourdin.
THE STERLING FUND ELL.
Hon. James Chestnut, from the executive
committee, made the following report, which
was adopted:
The executive committee to whom was re-
farred certain resolutions in reference TO the
sterling loan, and obligations which may here
after be created, beg leave to report that they
have considered tie same, and recommend
their adoption in the following form:
Resolred, That this convention, represent
ing the property-holders and taxpayers OF the
State OF South Carolina, do hereby deem lt our
duty to declare, that the so-called sterling
| loan, or any other bonds and obligations,
hereafter issued, purporting to be under and
by virtue of the authority Of this State, as at
present constituted, win not be held binding
| on US: and that we recommend 10 the people OF
| the State, in every manner and at all times,
to resist the payment thereof. or the enforce
ment OF any lax to pay the same, by all leSiti-
mate means within their power.
Resolued, That we deem 1t our duty to warn
all persons not to receive BY way OF purchase,
| loan. or otherwise, any bond or obligation
| hereafter Issued by The present Slate govern
| ment. or by any subsequent government. IN
which the property-holders oil the STATE are
not represented, purporting to bind the prop
erly or plecge the credit OF the State: and that
all such bonds or obligations will be held to be
null and void, as having been Issued IN fraud
and In derogaIon of the rights Of that portion
of the people OF this State upon whom the
public burdens are made to rest.
Resolved, That committee oi nVe De ap-
pointed by the president OF The convention 10
investigate and report a plan to restore the
credit Of The State, and to confer with tlle rep,
resentatives of the Fire loan securities" oil
the State, which have been practically repu-
dated by the State authorities with a view 10
repair the damage to the good laith and honor
of the Commonwealth, by influencing an early
liquidation OF these obligations.
The president appointed the following COM
lnittee: Messrs. T. Y. Simons, Of Charleston ;
]. Chestnut, of Kershaw; F. F. Wafley, OF
Darlington Gabriel Cannon, Of Spartanburg,
and N. c. Butler, of Edgedeld.
TIE COLLECTION OF TAXES.
The same committee, to whom was referred
the resolution of Mr.. Adams, OF Richland, in
reference 10 the collection Of taxes for the year
1871, beg leave respectfully to report that, haV-
Ing already considered and reported upon the
subject matters therein embraced, they ask
leave 10 De discharged from their further con-
sideration. The report was adopted.
A STATEMENT OF TIE SITUATION.
The same committee, to whom was referred
resolution to appoint committee Of five TO
prepare a report Of the condition of the State
now and since the war, beg leave to report,
that they have considered the same, and re-
commend that the committee be raised for
that purpose, and that the following gentlemen
compose the same, viz: Messrs. a. p. AID
rich, Arnistead Burt, J. l.. Manning, NJ. c..
Butler, w. D. Porter. The report was adopted.
THE BLUE RIDGE INVESTIGATION.
Judge Aldrich moved that the name OF Hon.
James Chesnut be added to those Of Messrs.
Porter and Conner in the Blue Ridge Railroad
proceedings, 'to take such steps as are neces-
sary to prevent, by due process OF law, the
consummarion OF this fraud upon the proper
ty-holders OF the State. ("
Mr.. VIM. Henry Trescot, Of Anderson, and
the solicitor OF the company, moved that said
committee be instructed to report at once.
Ia support of his motion, Mr.. Trescot made
speech setting forth the causes and charac-
ter of the legislation, and defending the road.
Mr.. F. F. Warley replied, making an eloquent
and powerful address 10 the convention. de-
nouncing, not the road, but that spirit OF cor
ruption which. emanafing from South Caro-
linian who had shared with many others the
honors of the State, haG sought to commit a
fraud upon the people and bribe the Legisla-
ture. Mr. Warley continued:
All that was sought for by the amendment
of the gentleman from Anderson was an early
repurt, to the end that the board Of direction
might negotiate their bonds in New YORK at
once, but the object OF the resolution was 10
sLrangIe the fraud, to render The bonds un
saeable and notify the financial world that
the neope would by all means resist the cor
rupling combination which seeks 10 dispose Oh
millions OF The public money without account
ing lior its expenditure. a fearful impression
prevailed that those who commenced lie cor
ruptiUn would sell the bonds, and pocket the
noney. Men who could induce legislative
frauds. and boast that they have bribed MEM
bers OF the General Assembly, as had been
done bv the president OF the Blue Ridge Rail-
road before the executive committee, We're
not fit to act as custodians Of the public
funds. The aclon oil tie convention was III
tended 10 condemn and defeat their pur-
poses. 1t had been said that it would help
The stock -jobbers in New York. Better
that, than the stockholders at home, who, for
getting their mother Stale, have combined to
aid in her destruction. So lar rs he (lhe
srpakerl had been instrumental III bringing
| the matter To The attention OF the convention,
| t had undergone review, not merely because
| millions oil dollars were involved in The sWln-
our own people, by those oil our own household
who pride themselves on the honors which are
| now being withered by the hot breath OF theiI
| own corruption. II was easy to see how men
| coming from abroad might enter the leglsa
| tive hail and dispense money among those
| whose character they could not understand
but it was Sad and degrading spectacle 10 see
South CarO!inan knowing as he dld lna1
| the poor negro, elevated iOr the moment tc
| the place ol a lawmaker, was weak III mlnC
| and moIals-approach the cOntdng creatures
| some Of whom, perhaps, had been his own ser
| wants, and whisper In their ears, with all tht
art of a tempter, that they should connive witt
| him IN The perpetratl0n ol fraud on his OWL