The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-30
THE PEOPLES MONEY,
nfR. TREASURER P1RKER'S ACCOUNT
OF BIS STERARDSHIP.

AfR. TREASURER P4RKER,S ACCOUNT
OF BIS STEWARDSHIP.
Curious Observation-Disclosures Ec-
centrIcities Viewed Through Party
Spectacles-A Rich Mans PIea-FoIiti-
cal Tagarfes-The Charleston News
Responsible for all our Money Trou-
bIes-A Prediction that ttBetter Times
are Coming''-Treasurer Parker Will
ling TO Continue his Labors for. the
People and the Party.
Mr.. State Treasurer Niles G. Parker, now 8
prominent Radical candidate for reelection,
addressing public meeting at Columbia on
the 5th instant, In defence of his official acts,
said
Feuo,o. .citizens-I accept your kind invita-
tioa to address you on this, occasion with un-
usual satisfaction. We are soon to enter upon
q political campaign, fraught with questions
of the gravest importance TO the masses OIL the
people of this State, and of all the Statesi
questions which underlie our liberties as cli.
zens, our prosperity and progress as a Com
monwealth and member of the Union. In
deed, the battle has already begun. The
sharp fire along the skirmish lines Is already
heard. The leaders of the great parties
which are to contend in fierce, but peaceful
battle, Tor the ascendency aud control OF gov
ernmentsl affairs In November next, are al.
ready marshailing their hosts. The free citi-
zens of the Republic are taking position, ar
ranging themselves on one sl,ie or the other
lor the contest. It Is with great pleasure,
therefore, that, ut the very beginning OF this
struggle, 1 embrace this opportunity to speak
In defence of the great principles of the Re-
publican party which has trlumphed 30 glo-
rlously during the last ten years, and wrought
such astonishing changes and reforms 10 the
interest of free and honest government. l
have been member and an earnest supporter
OF the Republican party since. lis organlza-
Lion. Indeed, instructed In my youth In the
great principles of civil liberty, was aRrpub-
llesn before there was Republican party,
and when that party rose to power out of the
hollest convictions of free people, and the
advocates of human slavery and despotic
government sought the destruction of the
nations life to perpetuate that slavery. join
ed the hosts of the nations defenders, and for
four years stood shoulder to shoulder with the
friends of the Union and liberty to beat back
the insurgent tide of slavery and secession.
Those were the days which tried mems cour-
age and mems principles; and while many OF
you, and most of my fellow-members OF the
Republican party In this State were helpless 10
do anything for your own freedom, or Tor the
safety of the nation, 1t will ever be among the
proudest recollections of my life that, as
patriot and a Republican, fought for your
liberty and my liberty, for your rights and my
rights, for your country and my country.
As one of, the fruits OF that Victory which
Providence vouchsafed us, the governmental OF
this State is to-day In the hands Of the people:
The imperlous slaveholdng ring, who bound
all II burdens OF life on the back of the black
man, and shut out all the poor white men
from participation In the State Government,
these have been oVerthroWD, the franchise
extended to all, and all made eligible 10
Office. 4g l-1s 80.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR sELF-DEFENoE.
But not only am glad of an opportunity to
speak for our party, but embrace the oppor-
tunity to make shat defence Of myself and OF
my administrations as D. public officer which
the occasion demands. In fact, IL will be ex-
pected In any speech that may make to con-
hne myself mostly to the department OF the
State Government OF which have had charge,
Nor have any option but TO make my re-
marks personal to considerable extent. 80
fierce, malignant and unjust have been the
attacks upon me thatI am compelled TO an
swer and relute these calumnies at the very
outset OF The Campaign. ] do this. not SO
much for ny own saker as IN the INTEREST OF
the party represent. AS an omcer ana rep
resenlaLive OF party I am public properly;
on tho Republican State Government, and all
the slander and odIum cast upon my name
weakens and iojures the party represent.
II is therefore due, not only to myself, but
TO the party, and the whole people OF the
State, that come squarely 20 my defence,
without reserve or prevarlcalion. Whlle, !
have no taste for public controversy, aoo Wnlie
nv forte Is TO work rathor than to talk, this 1s
one of the .oncasluns when have no right to
remain sAent. In this matter I am. confident
that, II cannot silence every false and SLAM
derous tongue, can at least satisfy every can
did and reasonable man that, whatever may
bs said of the State Government as whole, l,
at least, have been faithful TO the high trusts
and responsibilities of my Office.
have discharged the duties of my office With
fidelity, consclentlously, and with such ability
as | could command.
make this further declaration, that the
books, papers and records, and all the affairs
OF the office, are second to none, 10 or out OF
the State, In neatness and accuracy. NO one
can deny this. But / am not going to leave
the matter here. will show yon what others
say about it, and leave you to Judge for your
selves.
NUMEROUS EXAMINATIONS.
The first General Assembly that met In Co.
lumbia, after The organization of the present
STATE GOVcTumcuI IL ouiyf Aoooi Pehooee - -"
reuulrIBg an annual examination oil my ounce,
and o report to be made of such examination
To the General Assembly.
In obedience 10 that law, committee COM
posed of one member Of the Senate ana TWO
OF the House of Representatives have annual
Iy performed the duty assigned 10 them.
These various reports are included In the fol
lowing communication.
When the minority report of the Ku-klux
committee was submitted to Congress, IL con.
tanned the statement that q large amount OF
money had been paid out Of The treasury oil
Soutti Carolina, for which there were no
vouchers. Immediately wrote the following
letter, which was published In the Washington
Chronicle, giving The whole statement oil facts
relative to the condition In which legislative
committees had found the affairs Of my office:
COLUMBIA, February a. 1872.
Editor Washington Chronicle, Washington,
D. O.:
MORT of the committee Ito Inquire into the
condition of the late insurrectionary States
contains The extraordinary stale ment that
81. .20s 677 81 had been paid out OF the StaCe
treasury OF South Carolina, for which Lnere
were no vouchers. AS this statement is pelng
extensively copied by the newspapers tnrougi,
out the country, deem 1t time that IL snoulo
no longer be- allowed TO go nncontraolcte1.
The following extracts from reports OF tne
various committees that have ut diferent tlmes
examined the books and accounts OF the treas
ury Office, will show the talslty OF the stale
ment
REPORT OF CoMMrrTEE APPOINTED AT SPECIAL
SESSION, 1868.
uThe committee appointed at the special