The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-10-31
To the Citizens Of South Carolina.
COLUMBIA, s. c., Oct. q

10 the ClI1Z6uS oi SoubA S@AoA
COLUMBIA, s. c.; Oct 21, 1872.
For the ht'i information Of the public and for
the purpose Of warning the taxpayers OF this
State against scheme which has been got
ten up by certain State officials, by which
certain men are to make large amount OF
money by defraudipg the people, wish to
address to you few words. A little more
than one year ago was appointed to the po'
sition of Auditor Of State, and since that
time Ihave endeavored to do my duty in
that connection to the best of my judgement
How far T have succeeded remains for the
people to decide. The fret action, which,
out of nay regular course of duties, l deem
ed It incumbent upon me to take, was the
prevention of the circulation Of the Blue
Ridge scrip. This was repeatedly told
BY the Governor, some one was going to DO ;
but after waiting until almost too late, l
learned that tho action of the Governor was
simply for the purpose of forcing John j.
Patterson, the President of the company, to
pay certain claims which he held against the
road, in the shape of note Of the company,
which he procured in way not likely TO
add to the reputation Of an honest man
Waiting, as have heretofore said, until al
most too late, for some one to take this mat
ter into the courts, finally instituted tne ;
necessary proceedings, with the sanction \ ns Of
tne Uofetuoi. ai'ol P,T -. -.
commenced and the usual necessary i9duce
mepe6o been Offered his E1celency, an effort q J,
was made BY himself and others intereseea' !
TO induce me 70 withdraw the sdit. $lg,0t0 IN ! !
cash was offsted dine By one party the day d,y
that the case came into court ana an noa lnul1
rect offer Of $25, 600 ia scrip was saose-
tqueatlyg made BY another party, IN case e', !
would withdraw the suit" This, OF course,
refused; and the matter has been bone OF
contention between us ever since. - 80.
An effort was made soon after the ad,
|journment Of the Legislature, and Continued
for some two or three months, to induce me
to levy o special tax to pay the interest upon
the entire bonded debt Of the State, legal
and Illegal, to be collected immediately
This / refused, although an inducement of
$2O, 900 in cash was offered me, to either
levy the tax or resign my position for the
purpose of allowing DR.. Neagle to make the
levy; and, at tho same time, l was informed
that Gov. Scott had promised Dr. Neagle to
remove, in case I refused TO make the levy.
/ again declined to comply with their wish
es. ...;;..,,.,,t -. ..,., .a.nn.. i;
Now, asecond effort has been. made to
force me to1eyy special tax to pay the in
tercst upon the fraudulent debt Of the State,
and to include levy Of three mills upon the
dollar to redeem $3.50, 900 Of Blue Ridge
sccrii,p--ope-aparter SCR, of the entire issue
which has, ;by decision Of his Honor Judge
A. j. Willard, Of the Supreme Court, been
decided unconstitutional and invalid.
Now, while / deem it the duty OF every
good citizen to pay all just and lawful taxes,
/ do. not consider it his duty to pay every
tax that may be imposed by unscrupulous
men, who chance to be in power. Nor DO
consider it the duty of any officer who,
through the force Of circumstances, happens
to Be the appointee Of such men, to blindly
follow their dictation, without regard to
right or wrong. So thinking, and acting as
L consider it the duty Of a good officer and
an honest maui have again refused to com
Eply with their wishes; and have this DAY
received an order removing me from office.
It is but just to myself to add, that was
informed by his Exeellency the Governor
that might retain the Office, provided |
would make the levy. His Excellency,
while insisting upon the levy of these taxes
informed me that he knew the money, j
collected, woald not be applied 10 the pur-
pose for which it was levied, but that was
none of our business; that it was our duty te
levy the tax; and he based his argument
upcn theesround that many. outstspdine
claims were now held against the State, Col
$4V,VOo, az he ninSeii in,ofneu n'eJ any