The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-05-18


saying we should inquire who the corruptors of
the Legislature are?
What next?s We find the Blue Ridge Rail
road coalescing with the Greenville and Column
hia Railroad Company road which at that
time had record that the very sulphurous
stencbes of hell itself could not render it more
dark or disgusting. :.
The stock of the Greenville and Columbia
road is centered in the hands of a few men.
We find the Blue Ridge road coalescing with
this company, who were trying to destroy their
own. We find them coalescing for what pur.
pose? For the passage of an act of proposed
consolidation. Read this act, and see what it
proyes. It first enables the Greenville and
Columbia railroad, that delectable ring of high
officials, to negotiate S1,5O0,00O bonds, and
enables the Blue Ridge Railroad Company to
sell their stock for what it will bring. You
will recollect when the bonds of the Blue
Ridge Railroad could not be sold for less than
par. What do they do? They 60 to work and
concoct this extraordinary act, and, gentle
men, to some of you, who have been familiar
for many wears with legislation in South Caro-
lima. in connection with those illustrious men,
the HAYNES, McDufies and Calhoun, say to
YOU, read this act, and you will pronounce 1t
the most surprising piece of Legislation, that
ever came to your knowledge. The result will
be, not good, but portentious with evil: What,
gentlemen of the Convention, what is to be
the scheme by which the Legislature is to have
plausible excuse for the passage OF this act,
concocted by these two interpretations! Let
us 90 before the Legislature, say they, and say
that we want to consolidate our corporations,
and let US ask the Legislature to DO something
for this consolidated incorporation, that they
could not do separately. The language of the
act in that s'air yiew'' of these things, etc.
The proposed consolidation of the Blue Ridge
and Greenville and Columbia Railroad Com
panies enabled the former to sell their bonds
fer what they could get. Gentlemen, where is
the wrong now? 1t is in the scheme whereby
these men have combined their interests, look
ing to the defrauding of the people of the
State.
A law without penalty amounts to nothing.
and in this act there is no penalty. But, mark
you that whereas the gift, was IN view OF q
consolidation, the penalty could not attach
after the consolidation. 1t is an established
fact. that this consolidation will never take
place, and that that very company to-day is
preparing to sell itself to the South Carolina
railroad.
/ do think, that Just here: before | close, it
would be we'll to consider if these incorpora-
tions, either of them, continue to this time to
manipulate the funds of the State of South
Carolina. do know that the bonds OF South
Carolina were hypothecated to enable these
parties to meet their payments on the stock OF
the Greenyille road. Our bonds have been
hypothecated to meet the liabilities of these
persons who have purchased these bonds, and
10 place them in the high position OF It's stock
holders. Was there no one in the Blue Ridge
Al l-oo,y opytbipu of their trans
actions? Why, sir, the history is too we'll
known to prove that those high in Office were
bound up in it, and peculiarly interested in it,
and are to-day. They knew of these facts.
don't care anything about your modes Of
financiering. He who spends the money of
another without anothers permission, is a
thief. By the passage of this act, by which
they secured much, the Greenville and Colum-
bia Railroad secured more. / am told that
/ ought not to talk SO much about this, as
there are only fifty.six miles of the Blue Ridge
Railroad in the State; but, sir, he who will
steal pin, will steal fund. Fraud does not
consist in the amount which is stolen, it con.
sist In the principle violated. Why was it said
that the lien of the State was above any other
lien. if it was not to mislead the public?
If ] have spoken earnestly in regard to this
matter, have SO spoken because of my feel
ings. If have used language which sounds
harsh, it is because would endeavor, in some
shape, to express the utter adherence and
contempt feel for the acts which are commit.
ted to stave off some anticipated danger. l
cannot think that anything justi6es doing wrong
that right may come. l cannot bide that the
rich man in his glory, the mighty man in his
power, should be passed by with smile, while
his tool is made to go to prison and to associ-
ate with felons, And if, sir, | have seemed to
exhibit zeal, it is because l would save the
State, not from the hands of those who having
few dollars get more: but from those who
having money spend it to get 1t back increased
by the earnings of the laborer-men who think
they ought to escape condemnation because
they are growing rich. claim no exemption
from personal responsibility.
Messrs. John L. Manning, ". L. Bonham
and a. Burt were added to the Executive
Committee.
Mr.. James a. Hoyt, introduced the follow
ing:
Resolred, That the report of the Committee
on Election and Suffrage laws adopted by the
Convention, be placed in the hands of special
committee of seven members of this Conven-
ton, whose duty it shall be to transmit the re-
port as memorial to the Legislature on the
subject of proportional representation accom-
panied by such suggestions as they may deem
advisable in order to secure the passage of a
law at the earliest practicable moment after
the Legislature is convened, that the system Of
cumulative voting may be made applicable to
the next general election, and that the princi-
pie may be engrafted in general upon our sys:
tenn of suffrage; and further, that this special
committee be instructed to use their best exer-
tions in favor of the passage Of thus just,
wholesome and equitable provision, SO as to
bring about full and complete representation
of ali the people, and the protection of their
rights and interests of persons and property in
every respect.
The Convention then adjourned till 10 A. NJ.
Friday, May II.
FOURTH DAY.