The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-09-13

Republican,, considerable injustice is done
his Excellency Governor Scott, and ON
attempt is made to throw odinm on his
official actions, in regard to subsidizing
the Republican press Of tho State.
desire through the columns Of your
paper to place the blame where the blame
belongs. The last session of tho Legis.
lature passed bill giving the public
printing to the Clerks of tho Senate and
House OF Representatives., aud the Go
vernor's approval of that bill was OBJ
tanned on the assnr nee that consider
able expense would be saved the State
under their management; but subse-
quent events have proved that, instead
OF an intention of economy, o "big job"
was intended. 1t is not my object at
present to say anything regarding the
gentlemen who fathered this job. bnt it
is sufficient to remark, en- pdSsant, that
they are we'll versed in political chica.
merry, aud have fathered many previous
jobs, which have resulted in the deple-
tion of the State treasury. After the
passage Of this Printing Bill, O company
was formed, called the s'Carolina Print
ing Company" Of which Mr. Josephus
Woodruff, the efficient Clerk of the Sc
nate, was elected President. Now, to
any fair-minded community. the fact of
a man in whom the Legislature had con-
hded the outlay of such an important
Item of expense as the public printing,
over which lie should have looked with
an eagle eye, being elected President, or
even having un interest in concern
doing this public work, whose bills he
would necessarily have to certify to as
being correct, on Whichpaymenti is made,
must attach something beyond suspicion.
The Carolina Printing Company. think
ing to make itself felt ns power, then
bought the Charleston Republican and
the Daily Union, the latter published in
this city; and things went on swimmingly
until time arrived when his Excellency
Governor Scott was forced, from motives
of expediency, in which the welfare OF
the State was deeply concerned, to refuse
to approve Of any more bills for the pub
lie printing. until the matter had been
laid before the Legislature for it's con-
sideration and action in the premises.
Upon Governor Scott taking this posi-
ton, and the Printing Company's job
being blocked, all manner of expostula-
tions aud threats have been resorted to
by them-among others, the discontinue
ance OF the Republican and Union, the
two leading Republican journals in the
State. When it is here stated, and suc-
oessful contradiction challenged, that up
to the present time, over 5000. 600 has
been drawn for by this Carolina Printing
Company, on bills certified to by the
Clerks of the two Houses. for work done
or said to be done. and large bills from
them still outstanding against the State,
when it is q well-known fact that from
$50, 900 to S60.00O ought to have been
the extent of printing obligations in
CURED, it cannot be wondered ut that
Governor Scott, having the interest Of
the State at heart, should refuse to ap.
prove my more bills until the matter had
been laid before the Legislature for
action.
In regard to the Charleston Republicnn
ceasing it's issue from the fnct Of not re-
coiving sufficient patronage for its sup
port from the State, there is not one
word of truth in it. Bills have been
paid for work done in publishing the
laws of the State, &c., the amount of
which was quite sufficient to have main
tanned that journal in financial comfort
for one year to come, at least; but the
bills were collected by the Carolina
Printing Company; the proprietor Of the
Charleston Republican, who, after pock-
citing the earnings Of that paper, refused
TO contribute dollar for it's support,
and allowed the drafts of its financial
manager to GO to protest. expecting that
Governor Scott would pay the unsettled
accounts, rather than see the paper dis
continue. Too much credit cannot be
accorded to Governor Scott for his
action in this matter, when it is consi-
dered what he will have to undergo from
the party lash. all caused by his honest
and firm resolve to save the State Trea-
sury from party of cormorants. anxious
and willing to suck the life blood from
the Treasury, and reduce the State to
beggary, oil for their selfish and sordid
motives of gain. It is not out of the
way to state an incident which occurred
on the presentation of one of the ac-
counts, over yard in length, of this
printing company, to the Executive De-
partment for payment. the amount OF
which WAS some $4,000. Governor
Scott stated that he was no adept in
printing accounts, and would submit it
to one we'll versed in snch matters, who,