The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-20

From the Missionary Record-Colored 0rgan.l
The important developments In the affairs of
this State within the last few months prove
conclusvely that there is something wrong.
The undenlable racts that the Legislature has
made appropriations to meet the current ex-
penditures, and that the taxes have been
promptly paid by the people, and that yet
there is q 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 ina
can hope to succeed and retain credit while
its finances are so manipulated as to fall to
nav its employees; In every department tnere
Is complaint that there is no money ID the
treasures, either In State or county; In every
one the employees complain that their saa-
criminals, while the sheriffs are complaining
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
State moneys collected, but demands and re-
ceives 1t, so that In this department. the
moneys are not squandered. In Charleston
the auditor has certified to the collection of
two hundred thousand dollars paid over to the
State this year. Other counties have done
UTOUUTllOudICly
to pay the State debts. 1t may be answer.
ed that the Interest falling due on bonds Issued
has consumed this, to which we answer that
the Legislature made appropriations 10 meet
that Interest. which, If 1t had been properly
applied, would have met all the obligations OF
the interest.
We should be the last to question the integ-
rity of the State officials, but frankness and q
sr1se of duty demand that We cay 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 ior tnem; we
believed that we were doing o noble work for
good honest government when we hosted at
the head OF our paper the names OF the men
who now control the destinies OF this Stale,
and, we regret to say, have 30 Dadly managed
its affairs, that we are heartily ashamed OF the
work which we helped to do. We know that
the coored men of this State will have to bear
the odium of all the crimes or misdoings of
the whites who manipulate the finances of
this State, and we do not desire that the
innocent voters who know no more about this
wholesale mlsgovernment than 80 many child
ren, should be held up to the country as will
ing participants In these evils. Tne govern
men, placed there by colored mems uotes, and
they control everything in this State. If there
Is stealing being done, they do 1t; If there s
robbery of the State Of Its millions 1t is not the
NEGROES ,oho do these things. II there have been
over issues of bonds for any purpose we tell
the country that no negro has had any hand
In this matter. The Legislature passed laws
authorizing the Issuing OF certain amounts Of
bonds to meet the liabilities Of the State. II
there are over Issues, the State officers, who
control 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 were, so far as the State bonds has
anything to do with their augmented wealth.
These facts suggest to the people New De-
parture" here. With the credit Of the State
gone, with the treasury empty, with the re-
ported frauds In the Issue of bonds, with the
reputation or the class Of men who now guide
affairs, is it not the duty of the people to rise
up In their might and cast off the present in-
cubus, and select another class OF men to guide
the State, There must be q change, there
must be uniting Of all honest men OF every
class and race in this State for the mainte-
nance of honest government. These public
servants, proving false to their trusts, must
be put out of power, and honest men put ln
their places There are honest men IN both
parties who can agree to put down this whole
sale robbery of the people, and 1t is plainly
their duty to unite for the great object. !.