The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-11-16
The Charleston Press and our State Finances

The Charleston Press and our State Finances.
In relation to the reported over issue of South
Carolina bonds, the Charleston Courier takes
strong. ground in favor Of repudiating every
dollar Of the debt .fraudulently contracted: By
the present administration. It says; 1;,.s
tNo man of common sense can believe that
the fraudulent debt which it has been attempti
+ ed tonfasten upon this State ought ever 70 Be
bpaid5 Republication istthe Highest of moral
duties when that reputation is directed against
q debt conceived in sin and fostered in iniquity
debt which, If acknowledged, would bankrupt
our people, and enrich the hordes of adcentt-
rers who, having drifted into thisiState on the
waves of revolution, have spent their time
among us in the profitable business Of plumber
ing our people,. We owe it to ourselves, we
owe it to our families, we owe it to- our State,
and to those who will come after us, to decline,
in any shape or form, at any time, or under any
of the debt which Robert K. Scott's Admins
tration has fraud1lently contracted IT was
done without the authority of those by whom
the debt must be paid, if paid at all; in fact,
was done without the consent of any one, ex-
cept the New York and Columbia financial
"Ring." The only remedy is reputation, to
which our people should, in our opinion, pledge
themselves; not as we have said before, of any
honest debt of the State, but of those debts
which Scott and his associates have, in viola
ton of law, of morals, and Of decency, at
tempted to fasten upon our much afflicted State.
There is no other remedy, and to fail to repu-
diate is in the first place to offer premium to
fraud, and in the second to bankrupt the State.
"We are not surprised that Governor Scott
approved of Martial Law as a Republican,
We have no doubt that he would like to have
enough of Martial Law to enable him, if possi-
ble to prevent the reputation of the debt of
Messrs Scott, Kirpton & Co., which he desires
to fasten upon the State of South Carolina. AS
a Republican he desires to place South Carolina
in position from which she will never be able
10 recover, in order to accomplish his own pur-
poses. Luckily for the State there is still one
remedy left, which remedy cannot be prevented
even by the cry ef, Ku .Klux, and the remedy is
REPUTATION" -. s.......,.f ...
Per contra, the Charleston Neus takes mod
crate view of the situation, and advises against
rash conclusions. We make the following ex-
tract from its leader on this subject:
'Now, examining the four points which the
World makes, and admitting both the power
and the unscrupulous character of the State
officials, we do not see that we have any cause
for wild alarm. The attention which is direct
ed to our financial affairs will make it easier for
the taxpayers to compel the production of a
true exhibit of the State debt-an exhibit made
by gentlemen who know their business, and
whom, not being connected with the State
Government, the people are willing to trust
And we shall fnd it less difficult than ever be-
fore to give effect to purely defensive measures
to the protection of the property. holders of the
State. This is as far as it is prudent to 90 at
present. There is cause for vigilance and firm
ness. but not for panic. We are not ready to
assume for the sake of political effect, or as q
newspaper sensation, that there is q fraudulent
issue of $2O,00O,OO0 of State bonds. There
NAV be an over-issue but it Is not $4,000, 900,
nor fourth of that sum. Nor do we believe
that the State owes Mr.. Kimpton $4,000, 900;
nor can we admit, just yet, that the expenses
of the last session of the General Assembly
were $SO00OO, when we know that only S4OO, :
900 were asked for, and that only S135, 600 were
actually appropriated.
"We have not, we repeat, particle of conf
dence in the State officials but it is best for the
public interests to move with calmness and de-
liberation, and upon full knowledge of the
facts. When we know the whole truth-and
we may count upon knowing it before long-it
will be time enough to talk of resorting to the
last measure of defence open to plundered and
not over-wealthy people"