The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-08-22
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Another Carpet-Bag scheme
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Another Carpet-Ksag scheme
of Plumber
The public are naturally indignant at
the detected Warrant Forgery fraud and
cannot contempla with patience the
which would have resulted,
if the plot had worked out according to
the designs of its concoctors. Yet it is
morally and practically no worse than the
general system Of Radical legislation in
the Southern States under carpet-bag
rule.
The only difference is in the degree of
crime and the manner of It's execution.
Cunningham q CO. proposed TO carry
on their scheme in the dark and circulate
without the form of law, irresponsible
paper for which no valuable consid-
Grafton had been rendered. The officials
have been operating openly and manu-
featuring obligations in the name of the
people and imposing burdensome taxes
without rendering an equivalent. 1t Is
as much crime TO force the people to
pay for services which were pretended,
but never performed, as to rob them of
their earnings by recourse to the arts
practised by the Cunningham gang. The
name of the crime is different; but the
thing is essentially the same.
Every earpet-bag governed State affords
an example Of what we are describing.
Thirty millions OF dollars of bonds have
been created in the name of the State of
South Carolina by the adveDturers-and
the money has been realized from the is
sue just as Cunningham q Co. expected
to reap large sums from their operation.
In South Carolina not mile of railroad
has been built-no public Improvement
has been advanced-and there is nothing
whatever to show for the money that has
been obtained by the fraudulent issue of
paper except the oyergrown fortunes of
the carpet-bag officials and their associ-
ates They came into the State as poor
as church mice when the rule of the bay
onet commenced; and without any other
visible means of subsistence but their
salaries, they are sporting fine houses
buying uptown lots-and owning fabu-
lous sums in money, State, county and
town scrip, and other values.
We have mentioned South Carolina :
but all the Southern States in which the
carpet-bag carnival has been celebrated,
afford examples of the same kind. A
few days ago, the Legislature of Georgia
after deliberate consideration of the ques-
ton of the validity Of certain bonds ere
ated under the Bullock (carpet-bag) Ad
ministration amounting to 81, 800, 900,
ostensibly for the benefit of the Bruns-
well and Albany Railroad Company,
declared them null and void, in the House
Of Representatives, by vote of 13G to
IA The transaction was decided to be
a fraud on the people and will be cancel
led by their legitimate representatives.
In our own State of Mississippi the
public robbery has been no less fiagrant.
When it is considered that the property
basis Of the State is but one-fourth what
it was before the war, and that taxation
is from four to six times as heavy-the
increase of burden and the extent of the
robbery, can be readily estimated. In
every department Of the State govern
ment, expenditures have been increased
from two to four hundred per cent. And
the conclusion is inevitable that the peo-
pie are plundered of whatever sum is
taken from them in excess Of what is alb
solutely required to defray the expenses
Of the government economically admin
istered For these crimes-which are
none the less robberies for being legali-
zed-there will be a fearful reckoning
before the tribunal of the people, at a
day not distant.