The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-12-01
a sor.Aer- Man speaking o.t

Northern Man Speaking Out.
-. November az, 1871.
FRIEND S.: I notice that the PHOENIX
keeps up hot-shot fire into the ranks
of the South Carolina plunderers, which
must soon make an ugiy breach in their
clumsily y-contrived financial "wo,ko. Z"
They will learn ere long that "corrup-
ton wins not more than honesty" and
that there is penalty attached to crime,
from which, sooner or later, there is no
escape. The great object OF the conspi-
rators, since they are overtaken in their
frauds. viii be TO shirk responsibility.
For instance, the Financial Agent will
make an extraordinary effort to show
that he was simply the agent OF the Go.
vernon, and acted only as directed by
that functionary. while he, in turn, will
charge it upon the Treasurer, Attorney
General, or some one else, and if all of
them are surrounded and Gagged, they
will raise the old stereotyped cry OF
black mail. Mr.. Kimpton knows very
we'll that he was not obliged to do an
illegal act at the bidding of any man, no
matter how high in authority, and if lie
has done 80, he did it upon his own re-
sponsibility. 1t il said that South Ga.
roliDa, the Governor, and others ia au.
thority. are largely indebted to him; but
whether the latter are Indebted to the
State through him, or to him individu.
ally, an examination of his books is the
only way to ascertain.
1t il only four or five years since Mr..
Kimpton failed in business, aud com
promised with his creditors at fifty cents
on the dollar. This fact Of itself fully
lustifies prompt and rigid examination
into his financial dealings since by those
who are confronted with frightful State
debt. contracted through his agency.
In brief. if he means honesty, he will
invite investigation-aye. insist upon it;
and, further, he wilt aid, as far as in
him lies, those in whom your people
have confidence in the examination of
his books and accounts. The reports of
Gov. Scott, Parker, Neagle and the Le-
gislature will not. cannot help him. He
must stand or fall upon his own showing
OF facts and figures. and that showing
must be made. and. ought to be made,
satisfactory to the taxpayers.
Before this reaches you, I presume
Governor SCOTS message will have been
spread before your Legislature, read by
the people and commented upon by the
press. How he will get along with the
financial branch OF that document, am
little anxious to learn. lam charitable
enough to believe that the Governor has
been deceived about the disposition of
many OF shose bonds. That much mas
been done in that direction, without his
knowledge or sanction, is, to my mind,
clear; and believe q full and fair in
vestigation will show it. There are
things done in these degenerate days
which neither Horatio nor the devil ever
dreamed OF! particularly in tue finances
of South Carolina.
Governor SCOTT, General Dennis and
Treasurer Parker made the State debt.
AS reported in the New York World q
short time since. about SO, 600. 900. Mr.
Parker, few days since. put it down at
$l2, 900. Governor Scott is left to
guess at it in his message. and to make
the thing as sure as he Cap, may write it
down BIG, 600, 900. more or less! What
says MIR. Kimpton? Is it 8, IL, Is or
rs millions? Pray, speak rish. out, and
let the people know thu worst; for ''to
this complexion it must come" There
are parties in New York who hold so
large an amount OF bonds that they may
raise the money to pay the interest next
January on those not hypothecated,
which would galvanize sufficient life into
them to secure rich harvest for the
manipulators. in case they were fortunate
enough to unload. Who knows but that
some OF the ring, who are now endeavor-
ing to show clean hands, may not be in
that pool? Stranger things than that
have happened.
m5ome must watch whilst others sleep
Thus runs the world away"
Therefore, WATCH.
Institutions and individuals, who have
bonds hypothecated with them. are very
uneasy, ssaure YOU. II they are no,
redeemed. it will be q sad affair for the
people OF your State. I will not say
how much the State is liable for; but, if
it is less than $40, 600, COO, am mis-
taken.