The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-01-12
The Necessity for Legislative Reform.

Whatever may be, the party name, under
which the present Legislature was elected, or
whatever its constituent clements it certainly
owes some responsibility to the, people of the
State, and the public sentiment OF theciyilized
world. a.aa..J -. - Z .sy 80
Heretofore, the advent of its power has meant
high taxation, extrnvagant expenditure, and an
utter recklcssness of the public welfare. More
than this, the previous Legislature Was openly
and confesselly venal. 1t was against this con-
dition of things that the Reform Party protes-
ted. Its whole desire and purport, was to OBJ
tain. an honest and pure government for tie
State, q. constitutional administration of lis
affairs, and a degree Of financial confidence
which would invite capital and dcvclope t! e
various industrial, y agricultural, and cnnlnc'-
cial pursuits of the State, The objects to. lie
attained were worthy OF. the highest aspirations
of the patriot, and the most earnest efforts ,:of
the intelligence and education of the, common
wealth., But an election Law, without T. parallel
in the History Of all we'll regulated elections,
proved too potent, for right :. The real utter:
ance Of the ballot was suppressed. In shors,
fraud oycrrulcd the expression of the, real ser
timcnt of the State. This is not now denicc.
The press of the Republican party have, since
the election; condemned the law, and deman-
ded its reroai with as much vigor and earnest
ness as the Reform Party did during the can:
vass. That tile election law .bristles all over
With fraud is now admitted to be true, and ac
knowlcdgcd on all sides 4,
Under its influences, however, the election
took place, and the Republican party tri
uhphed. 1t has obtained the power over the
finances, the credit, and the legislation Of the
State But still it is alnenable to the public
Judgment, The Legislature, however, by what
ever party elected, arc but the servants of the
people, and must be held to strict accounta-
biity. During the canvass the leaders Of the
Republican party declared that, in caseof their
reelection, there would be, retrenchment and
economy in the finances, the reform Of all
abuses, and conservative administration of
the State Government. These promise have
to the ear, but broken to the hope.
Before the war three weeks annual. session
0f the Legislature, with a proper attention to
business, was amply sufficient for the adjust
ment Of all the affairs of State. Then mem
bers received but three dollars day.
The present Legislature, at a pay of six dol
lars per day to each mcmbor, met on the fourth
Monday in November. 1t adjourned for two
weeks, for the holidays, during all which time
the pay of its members continue, as if in actual
session. and it has literally transacted no regu-
lar business of Importance. 1t does seem as. if
with the majority the only desire is to draw out
by delay the session long enough to save suff-
cient for their support for the residue of the
year. In other. words, that the public treasury,
realized from the heavily earned taxes of an
oppressed people, is just so much matter of spoil
and private appropriation. ...
The Legislature has, since its session, it is
true, elected United States Senator, Judge
of the Supreme Court, and Judge of the
First or Charleston Circuit. Beyond this it has
not transacted any of the legitimate business
before it, with the exception of the Tax Bill,
and this, so far from reform, is more onerous
and oppressive than any previously passed. In
stead of mitigation, VIC have an increase of
taxation. The people are ground under the
forms of law to the very dust, when, as of old,
it was declared there shall no straw be given
you, yet shall we deliver the tale of bricks
while capital is prevented and labor depressed,
the public funds arc wasted, and the burdens Of
the Government increased Such condition
of things can, if persisted in, have but one end,
a common ruin and disaster. 1t never was in
of the public treasury 1t never was designed
that the Legislature should protract its session,
and adjourn Us it pleased so as to be maintain
ed for the rest of the year at the common e1
pcnse.
Such course is utterly inconsistent with the
general welfare. It is in tlle face not only of
sound policy, but of rigt. The worst of all
expressions is that which is conducted under
the forms of law No party can afford to de-
spisc this truth without openly avowing itself
to be the enemy of the State and the people
Charleston Courier.