The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-22
The Debt to Dr.. Heag,e.

three notes of s25, ,oe0 eaob. ana with
suoh notes negotiate 3 loan to ply the
debt to DR.. Neagle, which they say fell
due on the 4th instant. It is an impor-
tant inquiry for the citizens of Colum.
bia, who have to foot the bill, what has
become OF the money! At citizens
meeting in Wardr4. Wednesday evening.
a colored man, Jack Bell. in his attempt
ed defence of the present city admiuis-
tration. says You (meaning the white
people, charge that these men are cor
ript. II they have stolen, why do you
not prove it in the courts and prosecute
them? or words to that effect. This the
Union applauds as very smart, and
doubtless believes to be curreot in prin-
ciples. Carried to its logical results,
suoh a proposition con moan nothing
else than that every man in the commu-
nifty. who is not penitentiary convict.
is at and proper person to be entrusted
with the peoples money and the oon-
dact OF their public affairs.
It is simply absurd, and is nothing
more nor less than the rogue's constant
plea, and with which he consoles him
self and is emboldened to further thefts.
'"Lknow am rogue: other people are
satisfied OF it, too; but they can't prove
1t, and I am safe from punishment;
which is all care about" 1t should bs
remembered that public officials are SER
wants OF The people, their stewards or
agents, and it is for them to give an ac-
count Of their stewardship full aud
minute showing of tho manner in which
they have managed the peoples affairs.
and especially what disposition hos
been made of their money. II they fail
to do this, they must be presumed to
have acted dishonesty; and at any ratio
should not be the recipients OF further
trusts. We are not without legal proof,
even as to one act Of fraud on the Part
of the present Oouncil-that is the City
Hall contract. The damnable rascalty
there Is patent, and it is simply sicksn-
ing to hear any man who has pretence
of deoency about him. defending or ex-
cusing any man that had part or parcel
in it.
Here comes now the $75. 900 said to
have been borrowed from J. L. Neagle
to build the City Hall. Not over So. 600
has been expended on the hall, if that
much, and yet we are told that the
money is all gone. Not in 30 many
words. but it is proposed to borrow
money on $4,000 OF notes of the city
to pay Mr.. Neagle The city has a.
ready paid, or contracted to pay, u
heavy discount to DR.. Neagle. These
notes of the Mayor will again, as q mat
ter of course, have to be discounted; !;
and then the bonds OF The city will after
wards have to be heavily discounted to
raise the funds to redeem the notes. If
the transaction was oven an honest one,
such financiering is enough to damn any
set OF public officers in the world. Here
is an attempted fraud of over S5O,OUO,
in one job-prevented only by the prompt
action OF some public spirited citizen.,
and as plain as daylight. Again, S75..
OG0 borrowed, and no accounting for ils
expenditure. Again, $3.50, 900 udded to
the debt, or sought to be, aud soon will
be, added to the debt Of the city, in the
face OF their own declaration that there
is upwards of $4,000 realized from
taxes over and above expenditures, and
yet we are asked for proof 10 convict
before these men are to be distrnste1.
Men OF tho same stamp and charact. r
are again nominated for Office through
the credulity of the colored people.
The difference between Carpenter and
Hoge and Wigg and D.nny is merely
that between jackass and mule. They
are very much alike, only Carpenter aud
Hoge are little moro 80.
A REoUEsr-STop THIEF
have been, for the lust four days, rite on
the street to the effect that certain pur.
ties (whose names We have heard) Iuye
OarDofr0ta6 fnrOory IN <f,o