The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-05-11
From the Gtarleston Daily Republican.
The State Finances.

Senator Whittemore writes to Representative
Hurley concerning the Committee appointed
by the General Assembly to investigate the FL
nances of the State. His letter and MIR. Hur-
ley's comments We publish below: The public
will read with satisfaction the pledge given that
no "white washing" report shall issue from that
Committee that there shall be full exhibit
of all the financial operations of the State
through her several agents, the Treasurer,
Comptroller General, and Financial Agent; an
exhibit the people can understand; or, in the
language of .Mr.W Whittemore, "a complete ex-
pose, let the shoe pinch where it will" He
speaks the right words when he recognizes the
right of the taxpayers to know what has been
done with the money they have given their
Government, and for how much of debt they
are held responsible. Not only have they this
right, but it is time, high time that they had
the knowledge which is promised in this cor
respondence. The people rightfully demand to
see their books-and to question in the closest
way the book-keepers. If these records shall
prove clean, if it shall be shown that these
clerks have kept "the whiteness of their souls"
the people will say "Well done, and Amen"
In this view these should court, not shun, an
investigation.
We are glad to publish this correspondence; |;
for-however unjustly-an opinion had gained
lodgment in the public mind that the Legis-
lature had appointed this Committee when in
an idle and aimless mood; and that nothing
thorough would be done by the latter. The
proposal that the Chamber of Commerce and
Board of Trade cooperate in this examination
shows that some of the Committee, at least, are
in earnest. These Boards should promptly act
upon the suggestion, selecting as their repre-
sentatives men in whom the people have the
fullest confidence.
CHARLESTON, S. G., May 8, 1871.
Ib the Editor of the Republican:
SIR: I desire, through the columns of your
journal, to lay before the people of this State,
the following letter, coming as it does from "a
man more sinned against than SHINING" 1t
speaks for itself, and as member of that COM
mittee desire to say that l endorse every word,
and am prepared to give the "facts and figures"
as they are, and would that the suggestions
namely, for the Chamber of Commerce and
Board Of Trade TO appoint a suitable clerk and
competent expert to sit with the committee
and keep an accurate and faithful report of all
| matters of interest to the people of the State
how, when and where their money has been ex-
pended. By doing this all clamor will cease,
and the shoe will pinch just where it ought to-
not on the taxpayers, not on the Legislature,
but on those who have been using the public
| funds to prostitute the newspapers of the coun-
try by saddling of their thefts on the should
ers of men who are in no wise responsible. Let
the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade
| furnish the men, we will furnish the facts. Bet
ter thousand times that the party should per-
| ish than that it should be made the cloak of
frauds, such as has been perpetrated on our
people. Respectfully,
TIMOTHY HUXLEY.