The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-05-18

was the lacI, lHdC HOLaiilB Hdu peCiL uoie III
volving the credit of the State which was not
strictly authorized by law. And to satisfy the
committee they were invited by the Treasurer,
Comptroller General and State Agent, to
make thorough examination of their respec-
tive official accounts. 1t is very gratifying to
your committee to state that these officials
were present at the interview, and have given
free access to their offices and books, upon
which special report will be made by SUBJ
committee of this Convention.
The Governor produced the printed state.
ment of the funded debt of South Carolina,
which has been furnished to the members of
the Convention by the Comptroller General,
and remarked that he believed it to be sub
stantially true, and that he had not signed any
other bonds than those set forth in said state.
ment, and that none had been issued except
by authority of law.
g. With reference to the unnecessary multi
plication and increase of State and county
offices, he remarked that he was satisfied a
large number of officials could be proftably
dispensed with, and that if the Convention
would take positive action upon the subject, 1t
would probably have weight with the Legisla.
ture, and induce economical restrictions, and
expressed the determination to exert his inau-
ence with the General Assembly to effect that
obiect all Of which is more specifically set
forth in the report of subcommittee espe-
cialy charged with this branch of their instruc'
tons.
3. Upon the suggestion of your committee,
that one of the principal causes of popular
complaint and dissatisfaction, consisted in the
fact that many of the Trial Justices and other
officers and agencies of the law were incompe-
tent, and so unequaly distributed as to prevent
convenient and read y access, his Excellency
replied that he fully appreciated the force of
the remark, and knew that this was one of the
most fruitful causes of the difficulties which
have existed during the last six or eight
months-that, until recently, he had had trou.
BILE in finding proper class of men for Trial
Justices and other officers, and that he was
satisfied that much of the personal violence
and indifference to law was due to the
fact that the people have not the means of
enforcing the law within their reach.
4. In reply to an enquiry from your commit
tee as to his opinion of minority representa-
ton, the Governor was clear and explicit in
his endorsement of the plan, believing as he
said, that it would do more to destroy preju-
dice, prevent ill-feeling and educate the ma
jority, than any event which could occur-that
they would be the gamers should the Legsla-
ture. at its next session pass an act providing
for minority representation.
5. In regard to the election laws, the Gov
ernor was very decided in the opinion that they
should be amended, alleging as the reason that
as they now stand, distrust was created in the
minds of the people, and temptation offered
for the commission of fraud. He added that
at the next session Of the Legislature he would
urge change SO that the ballots could be
tba ,oo1lc
closed.
6. Your committee urged the inability of the
people, after paying the taxes now being col
iected, to pay second tax in November next
His Excelency said in reply, that it had been
several parts of the State, that for large class
of citizens, whose taxes were small in amount.
the month of November was more convenient
time of payment than any other; and he hoped
that to this class of our citizens the collection
of the tax at that time would not prove oppres-
sive. But yielding to the representation of
your committee, he requested them to report
to the Convention, that he would authorize the
Comptroller to suspend the collection of the
taxes in all cases where the payment thereof
was inconvenent to the taxpayers. That this
postponement shall extend to the first of March.
1872, and that the penalty for non-payment
should not be enforced in the meantime.
In brief. to recapitulate, your committee un-
stand his Excellency as having committed him
self to the following propositions:
l. That he has signed no other bonds than
those set forth in the debt statement made by
the Comptroller General, and that there have
been no fraudulent or illegal issues.
2. That the State and county Offices, both
elective and appointed are unnecessarily mul.
tplied, and should be reduced in number, and
many of them in pay.
8. That many of the officials charged with
the administration of justice have been incom-
petent and inaccessible to the people, and that
many of the disorders complained of in the
State have been created by this cause, and that
he will replace them with competent persons
whenever he can do so.
4. That he is in favor of the cumulative sys-
tenn of voting and minority representation,
and would be glad to see it made a part of the
law of this State.
5. That the election laws are defective, lead
to fraud, and should be materially amended,
and that he will exert his influence to that
end.
6. That he would have the collection of the
taxes of next November postponed until the
1st of March. 1872, and not enforce the pen
atty for non-payment until that time. =.
Your committee are aware of the wide
spread feeling of dstrust of the present ad-
ministration, and whilst they share to great
extent this common feeling, they think it
would be wise and proper that a cheerful re.
spouse be made to this effort of his Excellency
to secure retrenchment and reform in the ad-
ministration of public affairs.
There has been nothing in the different inter.
views between your committee and the Gov
ernor which leads them to believe that he de-
sires or intends to repudiate his assurances of
an earnest desire to correct many Of the evils
and grievances of which We complain.
That frauds the most fagrant, and corrup-
ton the most dangerous and demorallzing have
been perpetrated by many of the State officials,
your committee have no doubt but an investi-
CATION has scarcely been embraced within the
scope of their instructions, even if they had
had the power under the sanction of law and
the time to have done so.
In this connection, however, your committee
recommend the adoption of the following reso-
luton:
ResOzced, That his Excellency the Governor