The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-19
RING RULE AT THE SOUTH.
THE PLUNDER1NG GARPEE-BAGGERs.

THE PLUNDERING CARPEE-BAGGERs.
n Bit of Radical Testimony-How ,uth
Carolinu has been Kobbed-corrup-
ton I'm the LegIslntuxe-The 'FOrty
Thieves
Correspondence OF the New York Tribune]
WASHINGTON, February IA.
The subcommittee on debts In the rebel
States makes very startling exhibit of affairs
In the insurrectionary States, notably in South
Carolina. The report begins by stating that
the committee has not confined itself to the
answers Of Stale officials, but has consulted
Intelligent citizens OF all parties. The COM
mittee has examined all sources of informa,
tion, from the American almanac to the re-
port of The commissioners of agriculture, and
the census of 1860 and 1870, and also records
of the War Department. The report says:
Stale officials generally have been courteous
and attentive, and many have rendered us
great service; but our investigation. as to
some States, has been made more difficult by
inattention and neglect OF State officers, and
In several States The inquiry ordered by the
committee has been resented as an Infringe
ment of State rights and official dignity. Ex-
Governor Bullock, of Georgia. sent letter,
more remarkable for argument against our
proceedings as breach oil State rights, tnan
for the facts furnished; and Governor Reed, OF
Florida, declined to answer at all. although ne
has forwarded TO o member OF the suD-com-
mlttee several copies Of his message. BE
protested against the invasion of the rights
of the State of Florida. Generally where our
inquiry has been resented, evaded or ignored,
we have discovered reasons for concealment
which convince us that officials are more con-
cerned about their own dignity than that OF
the State, In South Carolina the State treas
urer has neglected all Inquiries; the Governor
has answered promptly, put sent US such con-
Trajectory statements that we can give little
weight to any. The worst condition Of affairs
was found In South Carolina, and to the
finances of that State the committee devotes
unusual space, and the most extraordinary
evidence Is shown of knavery and corrup-
ton.
After citing a portion Of the message of Gov.
Scott of January 9, 1872 Mr.. Stevenson, says
This may explain the increase OF debt, and
1t is probable that money could not have been
otherwise procured. Yet we cannot agree
that 1t was proper to submit to such disastrous
and degrading terms continuously for three
wears, had the credit Of -, State been unsul-
lied up to 1860. 1t nigh. Lave been expedl-
ent to make light loans on almost any condl-
tIous to pres erve her good name, or great
emergency might have justified such terms
temporarily for limited amounts; but for
State to go upon the street as mendicant
borrower, and remain there buffeted from
broker to broker for three years, raising money
10 pay old and dishonored debts at q cost
of three dollars In renewed obligations for
every dollar paid, seems to uS indefenslble.
1t Ia not justified by showing that 1t was
legal, nor by the fact that citizens Of the.
State consplred to destroy her credit In order
officer should take such q course only
on legal compulsion to preserve the existence
of State, and there was no such necessity In
this case, which was mainly that OF borrowing
money to pay old debts, and damaging the
credit OF the State and weakening the govern
ment by every loan. 1t would have been
better to have levied increased taxes to meet
actual emergencies. But taxation seems to
have been avoided as If to concilate, and that
levied was hardly sufficient to pay the ordfna-
~ expenses ofthe State, economically admin
istered. On the subject of corruption, alter
stating the extravaganza OF the Legislature,
the writer makes this extraordinary. state
ment, the proof of which, however. is con-
tain..,in the body of the report. Even the
recnnt Investigation by joint committee OF
the Legislature to defect corruption is follow
ed by charges, sustained by proofs, that mem.
bers OF the committee and men connected
with the Legislature were more anxious TO
make lllegitimate profits for themselves than
TO perform their duty.
II is charged and In evidence that there has
been corruption in the Legislature In connec-
tion with acts comforting or extending corpo-
rate privileges, and that bribery has prevailed
to such an extent that legislation has been
controlled by band, composed Of members
of both political parties, and Of both colors,
fho nrfu pyh0
would not permit such measures to pass until
they we're satisfied. To show that the report
is not whte-washed document, as has been
reported, 1t is only necessary to Insert the
following paragraph:
1.-THE worst feature of corruption In south
Carolina Is that members of both parties and
men of all classes are involved In 1t, and
is the safeguard of popular government,
seems wanting or dormant. Even the old
aristocratic class, to whom We had been
taught 10 attribute sentiments Of chval-
ric honor, have not scrupled to bribe
officers. In the operations Of the land
commissions, the vendors. were generally
ola citizens Of the planting class, who held
more land than they could utilize, and me
frauds committed In the sale OF their lands
were with their consent and to their advan-
tagp, by bribery of the officers by the land
holders The evidence before the committee
shows that General II. c. Butler, who was the
INDEPENDENT candidate for Lleutenant-G Cover
nor Of the State In 1870, and native of the
State, has given some valuable testimony. He
was q major-general OF the rebel army,
large planter, lawyer. and leading citizen
of high standing. He stated under oath,
while The committee was sitting In South Car
ollna. that II he had land to sell and could sell
It by buying State senator for five hundred
dollars, he would do 30. DR.. R. NJ. Smith, of
SpartanOurg County, an old citizen, Demo-
cratic member of the Legislature, testified be-
fore the said sub committee that he could see
no wrong In bribing public officer, and COM
pared the transaction TO the purchase OF mule.
After citing certain testimony 10 establish
his statements, Mr.. Stevenson goes on to say
It Is sufficient tor citizens of other States to
realize such prevalent corruption, affecting
all classes OF society, bringing to the same
level patriot and REBEL white and black, the old
citizen and the new. Probably one cause contri-
bu.ipc to produce this result Is the condition
of civil war which has prevailed In the State,
In which the power has been almost eXclu-
sively the hands Of one class and the prop
erty 10 the hands OF the other.
While open hostilities have generally and
continually existed, there has been mutual
enmity more bitter than usually accompanies
f1aerant warfare. Hence, some OF the men In
office NAV have regarded what was taken from