Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-05-18

Ucclu lHlS tIdHs-tItip!i 60 uiiN'siiN
without legal authority, and as exhibiting
IN irregulality and. capacity for fraud
which merits lis stern condemnation.
The Executive Committees report was
adopted, recommending that the Attorney
General prosecute parties who overGrew
MONIES under the name Of the Third Con-
gressional District Investigating Com
mittee.
Colonel Simons, from the Special Com
mittee. reported that the Governor agrees
to postpone the penalty on the November
tax, until March, 1872.
Gen. NJ. C. Butler, from the Commit
lee of Eleven, submitted the following
report:
The committee to whom was referred
tae resolution Of tine Convention, " that
81 committee Of elevon be appointed by
the Chair to confer with his EXcellency
Gov. Scott, in pursuance OF the fourtn
resolution OF the Chamber OF Commerce
and Board OF Trade Of the city OF Charles-
ton. and report to this Convention In
writing or otherwise" beg leave to re-
port that they have had an EXTENDED
to the resolution Of instruction, ellcltlnS
the following results:
It was stated to the Executive by your
committee that they visited MN, no! as
partisans of any political party, but SIM
ply as representatives OF the tax payers
Of the State, to ascertain in what manner
ehey could cooperate with hlm IN cor
recting many Of the prevailing evils now
causing popular dlscontent, ana 10 optaiii
from him an official statement OF such
facts and suggestions as would promote
confidence and secure retrenchment and
economy in the administration OF the
state government. The Governor, in
reply. expressed his qualification that he
was afforded an opportunity to lay be
fore the representatives OF the tax payers
of the State the facts in his possession,
and such information as would meet the
views of the committee. He observed
first with reference to the finances OF the
state. that. Notwithstanding the rumors
that an illegal and irregular manlpula-
tion of the public funds had taken place,
it was the fact that nothing had been done
involving the credit of the State which
was not strictly authorized by law. And
70 satisfy the committee they were lnvlt-
ed bv. the Treasurer, Comptroller Gene.
ral and State Agent, to make thorough
examination of their respective official
accounts. 1t is very gratifying to your
committee to state that these officials
we're present at the interview, and have
Given free access to their Offices and
hooks. upon which special report Will
be made by sub committee OF this Con-
ycntion. The Governor produced the
printed statement of the funded debt OF
South Carolina, which has been furnish
cd the members of the ConV Vention by
the Comptroller-Ge General. and remarked
thnt he believed it to be substantially
fr,1e. and that he had not signed any 9th
or bonds than those set forth in said state
ment. and that none had been issued ex-
cent by authority of law.
With reference to the unnecessary mul-
tiplication and increase of State and
County offices, he remarked that he was
satisfied large number of officials could
be proftably dispensed with, and that II
the Convention would take positive ac-
tion upon the subject, it would probably
nave weight with the Legislature anu
induce economical restrictions, ana eX
pressed the determination to exert ms
influence with the General Assembly 10
effect that object; all of which is more
speciallv set forth in the report OF a sub
committee especially charged with TINS
branch of their instructions.
Upon the suggestion of yonr commit,
tee. that one Of the principal causes OF
popular complaint and dissatisfaction con-
sisted III the TACT that many OF the Irial
Justices and other officers and agencies
of the law were incompetent, and SO un'
equally distributed as to prevent conVe-
nj .nt and ready access; his EXcellency
reolied that he fully appreciated the 1orce
OF the remark, and knew that TINS was
one of the most fruitful cause; of the dlf-
Gcnlties which have existed during the
last six or eight months; that, until re
Gently. he had had trouble III finding a
proper class of men for Trial Justices
and other officers, and that he was salts
lied that much of the personal violence
and indifference to law was due to the
fact that the people have not the means
of enforcing the law within their reach.
In reply to an inquiry from your com
mittee as to his opinion Of minority rep,
re esentation, the Governor was clear ana
explicit in his endorsement Of the plan,
believing, as he said, that it would do
more to destroy prejudice, prevent i'll.
feeling and educate the majority, than
anv event which could occur-that they
would be gamers should the Legislature
at its next session pass an Act providing
for minority representation
In regard to the election laws, the Gov
ernor was very decided in the opinion
.hat they should be amended, alleging
q the reason that as they now stand,
distrust was created in the minds OF the
ncoplc. and temptation offered for the
commission of fraud, He ADDED that at
the next session of the Legislature he
would urge change, so that the ballots
could be counted in public aS soon as the
polls were closed.
Your committee urged the Inability OF
the people, after paving the taxes now
being collected, to pay a second tax IN
November next His EXcellency said in
reply. that it had been represented to
him by well informed citizens in several
paris of the State, that for large class
of citizeus, whose taxes were small Ill
amount, The month OF November was a
nlore convenient time of payment than
any other; and he hoped that to this
class OF our citizens the COLLECTION OF the
saX at that time would not prove oppres'
sive. But yielding to the representation
OF your committee, he requested them
70 report to the Convention tiat he would
authorize the Comptroller to suspend the
collection of the taxes in all cases where
the payment thereof was iiconvenlent
IL the tax-payers. That this postpone
nent shall extend to the first of March,
1872, and that the penalty for non-pay-
ment should not be enforced i'll the mean
time.
In brief, to recapitulate, your commit
tee understand his EXcellency as having
committed himself to the following pro-
positions:
l. That lie has signed no ether bonds
than these set forth in the debt statement
made by the Comptroller-General, and
shat there lave been no fraudulent or il
legal issues.
,. That the State and County Offices,
both elective and appointed, are unne-
cessarily multiplied, and should be re-
d'lced in number, and man. OF them in
pay.
3. That many Of the officials charged
with the administration OF justice have
oeen incompetent and inacce !siblc to the
people, and that many Of to disorders
.amplaincd of in the State have been
rca:ed by this cause, and that lie will re-
D lcc them with competent persons when
t,,er he can do so.
{. Thai he is in favor of the cumula-
i've sva.em OF voting and minority rep
rescntatioii, and would be glad to sec it
made payt Of the law of tl:!s State.
5. That the election laws arc defective,
lead to fraud, and should be materially
amended, and that he will exert his sirtlu-
ence 70 that end.
6. 'That be would have the collection of
ne taxes OF next November postponed