Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-23
RErRIRUTIaN.

The warfare against Radical corruption
In South Carolina, has been attended with a
degree OF success which must be gratifying
not only to the honest citizens Of the State,
but to all friends Of pure government
throughout the Union. The report of the
committee appointed TO investigate into the
overissue of bonds by the Radical Execu-
tive, has been adopted by the State Legis-
lature. The concluding paragraph Of that
report is as follows: .-.- t -~
''Your committee having reported the
facts and the law under which the bonds
have been issued, and feeling satisfied that
the State has been defrauded by an over
issue of S6,3l4,0 900, would therefore respect
fully recommend that this House take the
necessary steps to hold accountable those
persons who have violated the laws and
ruined the credit of the State"
The report was not adopted without q
long and exciting contest. The Radicals,
thoroughly drilled in the intricate maneu-
vres of their party, and having Office, plum
der, and (some of them) even liberty to
lose, resorted to every dodge that scheming
brains could devise to reject the report.
After some sharp skirmishing, they obtain
ed a ruling of the chair to the effect that
as the Recommendation of the committee
was that certain proceedings should be Ia
ken against certain officers, and as the only
steps that could be taken would be impeach
ment, the motion to adopt the report meant
Impeachment, and could not be carried ex-
cept by a two-third vote of the
House. Several members were alb
sent at the time, and this decision was
virtually barrier raised to prevent the
adoption of the report. An appeal was
taken from the ruling of the chair. After a
stormy debate, lasting the greater part of
the day, the appeal was sustained, and the
report was adopted. Mr.. C. C. Bowen, the
chairman of the committee, Immediately
followed up this success by introducing res
olutions impeaching Gov. Scott and State
Treasurer Parker, Of high crimes and mis-
demeanors in office. Up to the present
time no vote has been taken on this motion,
several members being still absent from the
House. In the meantime every effort has
been made by the friends of the administra-
ton to blacken Bowen's character, and rep
resent his motives in the worst light. This,
however, is a work of. supererogation-as
well seek
1T srTo gid refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow"
Bowen's character is beyond the reach Of
SANDER, and the attempts of his enemies to
make it appear worse than it really is seems
like "wasteful and ridiculous excess" in
deed. He is doubtless infuencedby mo-
tives of personal malignity in his crusade
against The Governor and State Treasurer,
but it is fortunate for the people of South
Carolina that he is. Through this
falling out among tine Radi-
cal thieves, the honest citizens
of the State may obtain a restoration of
selfgoyernment. There is little doubt that
Scott and Parker are guilty of all the frauds
charged against them, and, if Mr.. Bowen's
word can be taken for anything, those who
are so active in their defense, are no better.
II is charged against them that they have
been bought mp by the Governor, and the
fierce opposition which they have all along
offered to every attempt at investigating the
affairs of the State government, gives an
air of probability TO the accusation.