The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-24
TIE p-orCE OF THE PRESS.
A First Step.
fErorn the Columbia Phoenix.


What is the first step? We throw out the
suggestion. Let public meetings be held. at
] some early day, at Columbia and in Charles
ton-as being convenient and accessible-for
the purpose of raising committee, who shall
be charged with the prosecution of The otti-
cials connected with frauds and misapplica-
ton of the public funds. This committee
would further be authorized to employ coun-
sci to assist them in the investigation and to
carry on the prosecution. The expenses of
this movement must be met by popular sub.
scriptions This we believe to be the first
step to be taken. We earnestly impress upon
our people the necessity Of some such action.
The effort will be made, when the Legislature
meets, to cover up the putrid corpse OF the
public credit, and make it seem to live.
Shall the Taxes be Paid or Not
[From the Edgefeld Advertiser.l
The two great public questions that agitate
our State Just now are: Shall we pay our
taxess And shall we not repudiate all State
bonds issued in fraud? AS regards the first
question, our county treasurer Is now calling
again for the payment of taxes; and notwi'h-
standing that we have already paid oalr state
and county tax this year, and that Governor
Scott promised not to force the collection OF
another tax this year-which promise he Is
now shamelessly disregarding-ye if it is az
convenient for us to pay taxes now as 1t Will
be early next spring, we see no particular
good to result in postponing the matter
And furthermore, we are assured 10y
the county auditor ana the county treasurer
that the taxes now assessed against the tax
PAYERS of this county amount 10 but little
over half Of those assessed during each OF the
last two years. And if this be the case, per-
haps it would be well 10 pay up said lax for
1871 without delay-before the Legislature
shall have time 10 add an additional per
cent. to the assessment of our equaliz ttion
board. There is a law that taxes must be
paid 10 support the government, and perhaps
instead of bringing The government to dead
lock by refusing to pay these taxes, II were
better and safer 10 bring the corrupt officials
before the bar of legal justice, and there Silt
and punish their misdeeds.
The Cry OF Repudiation.
[Fiom the Newbe :ry Herald.I
Reputation is being cried, and there is rea.
son for it. For what with the thieving and
lying, and over-issuing Of spurious bonds, the
State is literally made bankrupt by its unwor-
thy cnstodianS. There never was better occa-
sion for It, But let it not be said that the hon.
e.t people, however much they are down.
trodden and abused, advocate wholesale
measure of this kind. There are honest deb's;
these should be met squarely, but not cent
beyond that. Let the debts Of the corruption
lists and thieves go by the board. The hands
of the thieves must not be held up and
strengthened, else they will get only the
deeper into the pockets of the people. AS
stated elsewhere, let the executive committee
meet and bring into judgment the guilty ones,
and advise what is best to be done. There is
a little life in the old land yet.