Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1871-11-23
Black mans Plea for his Race Against
the Ring.
rFyou, The Missionary Beoord-oblorod orgDnl


of this State within the last few months
prove conclusively that there is something
wrong. The undeniable facts that the Leg
islature has made appropriations to meet
the current expenditures, and that the tax
es have been promptly paid by the people,
and that yet there is want of funds, to.
meet the legitimate expenses Of the State,
shows record which is not enviable. No
man of honesty can afford to shut his eyes
to the glaring misapplication of the funds
of this State, as shown in the inability to
to meet the current expenses. No State
can hope to succeed and retain credit while
it's finances are so manipulated as to fail to
pay it's employees; in every depart ment
there is co mplaint that there is no money
in the treasures. either in State or county; In
every one the employees complain that their
salaries are not paid; the jails are crowded
with criminals, while the sheriffs are COM
nlaiping that they cannot meet the current
expenses, because of the want OF money IN
the counties to pay them. Yet the people
have responded well to the taxes demanded,
and have paid up. The State treasurer
does not give the county treasures any
chance to sp eculate on State moneys COL
lected, but demands and receives it, so that
in this department the moneys arenot squan-
dered. InCharletson the auditor has certified
the collection of two hundred thousand dol
lars paid over to the State this year. Other
counties have done proportionately well, and
yet there is no money to pay the State debts.
1t may be answered that the interest falling
due on bonds issued has consumed this, to
which we answer that the Legislature made
appropriations to meet the interest, which,
if it had been properly applied, would have
met all the obligations of the interest.
We should be the last to question the in
tegrity of the State officials, but frankness
and a sense of duty demand that we say the
truth. We by race are identified with the
great body of voters in this State who have
elevated the present State officials to their
present places of power. We voted and
worked for them; we believed that we were
doing noble work for good honest govern
ment when we hoisted at the head of ""r
paper the names of men who now contrU
the estinies of this State, and, we regret to
say, have so badly managed its affairs, that
we ale heartily ashamed of the work which
we helped to do We know that the col
ored men of this State will have to bear
the odiun OF AL the crimes or misdo ngs< of
the whites who manipulate the finances of
the State, and we do not desire that the in
nocent voters who know no more about this
wholesale government than so many. child
ren, should be held up to the country as
willing participant in these evils. This
government of South Carolina is il the
hands Of ,chite men, 1,!t""d there ty co'orod
men s rotes, and they contfoi every thing in
this State. Ifthere is stealing being done,
they do it; if there is robbery Of the State
of its millions it is not The negro ooho d0 these
hinqs. Ifthcrc have been over issues of
bonds for any purpose we tell the country
that no negro has had any hand in this mat
ter. The Legislature passed laws authoriz-
ing the issuing of certain amounts of bonds
to meet the liabilities Of the State. If there
are over issues, the State officers, who con-
troll this matter, have done the wrong to the
country and the people Of this State.
The colored population are as poor to day
as ever they we're, SO far as the State
bonds has anything to do with their aug
mented wealth. These facts suggest to the
people New Departure here. With the
credit of the State gone, with the treasury
empty, with the reported frauds in the issue
of bonds, with the reputation Of the class of
men who now guide affairs, is it not the du-
ty of the people to rise up in their might and
cast off the present incubus, and select
another class ofmcn to guide the State?
There must be a change, there must be
uniting of all honest men of every class and
race in this State for the maintenance Of
honest government These public servants,
proving false to trust, must be put out of
power, and honest men put in their places
There are honest men in both parties who
can agree to put down the wholesale rob-
berry of the people, and it is plainly their
duty to unite for the great object.
THE STATE CAPITAL,