Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-09-05
"THE TRUE REPUBLICAN"
The Plea of the virtuous Boilers.
To the Peopze of South Carolina:

will be called on to elect the various men
who shall fill the various offices in the
State government for the next official
term.
The condition Of the afIaTs of the State
at this time causes the grayest concern and
most serious anxiety in the minds OF all
GOOD citizens. Taxation unprecedented in
amount in the history of this State weighs
upon the people No man but feels the
burden; but however and by whatever
channels the taxes reach the treasury, they
come finally. in great part, from those who
till the soil, in the form OF reduced wages,
and the increased cost OF food, clothing
and other necessary expenses of com.
Portable existence. The hard hand of toll
largely pays the expenses OF the state,
though the money may be deposited IN the
treasury by those who own the capital and
the land. Let no inan tatter himself,
therefore that his poverty renders this
subject of taxation one Of indifference to
him
Besides the tast sums which have been
drawn from the people by direct taxation,
our rulers have been heaping other burdens
upon us and our posterlty. by enormous,
and in many cases fraudulent issues o1
bonds, the very interest OF which IS a sum
SO large that st seems impossible to pay it
Concealment of the real state Of our affairs
has been practiced to criminal extent; re-
port after report, statement after statement
has been uade by the tinanoial officers Of the
| State, making false exhibits OF our public
debt ami it was only when an outraged pub
| lie opinion demanded and compelled an in.
! vestigation, that our real situation was
developed, and was found to justify the
worst apprehensons which had been felt.
The public mind is too familiar with
the facts to require more to be said con-
cerning the bond frauds; but 1t is worth
while to consider here the question, what
has become OF the money SO lavishly
poured into tho treasury? To what objects
have we seen it appropriated by those
who, under the law, are appointed to dis,
burse it? Have the rights of person and
property, which is the special function OF
good government to guard, been secured
Have the children. of the people been fur
nished with the means OF that education
which alone can fit them worthiE to per-
f,rm the duties Of citizenship? Have the
humane institutions in charge of the State
been cared for? Have the resources OF
the State been developed, its industries
fostered, its present and future welfare
provided for with reasonable prudence?
The answers to these questions are in
the mouths OF all The people. We are
ashamed to BE compelled to confess that
she State Government has failed to pro-
:ecs the citizens, not only in the enjoyment
Of those rights and privileges intended to
oe secured by the provisions Of the State
and national constitutions, but even in
those more limited rights which no re-
spectacle civilized government on earth
illows tn be violated in the persons OF us
subjects; and it has been the strong arm
ii the Federal Government which has re
|. ,ascd thousands Of men. women and
children from 4 terror with which they
could not fail TO be tillel by countless out
-ases perpctrated upon their friends, rela-
tives and neighbors by conspirators. whose
deeds the world reads OF with horror.
The public schools have been crippled IN
their work, and in many cases closed be-
cause their teachers applied in vain at the
State treasury for the small salaries Jus;
IL due them and necessary to their daily
/ support:
The inma,2s Of the Lunatic Asylum
must have been turned loose upon lie
community, bat ior the humane efforts OF
Us efficient superintendent, who. pledged
Ms private crc,lit to obtain food nobody
w,ulJ sell on that OF this great State.
Pie doors OF the Pcniteatiary may be
lung wide open any day, to allow the exit
ot Il 1and OF cJnv!cts, whom The warocns
cannot iced, !,ocause there Is no money IL
the State treasury 10 purchase food. The
Judges OF YOUR courts have not been paid
vheir salaries :or malE. months, and are
compelled, inHnost cases, to borrow money
. supply the. wants OF themselves and
sheir families, and to be subjected to the
temptations ;oa ci,en placed by rich sultors
oeGoe judiciary lrregularly or made
luate!y paid
1t would - easy 10 continue III alllloo'
NV length i, enumerating what has been
left undoac w!iich ought 10 have been
lone. 1t is .Y,.;,r To say what has been
lone which ought to have been left un-
lone. jobs o. every conceivable descrlp-
:ion have been undertaken, the interests
0! the State have been constantly and
systen atically sci aside to enrich those who
sciupled at no kind OF bribery OF corrup-
lion to secure such legislation as the isb-
hers required
Pubic money has been squandered lor
Objects OF no pubic menes The eSpen-
scs Of some branches OF the government
have been so enormously increased as TO
astonish all who are not familiar with the
character of many OF those who fill impor-
tant positions in the State Government.
"Pav certificates" drawn by the speak
er of tie House OF Representatives, pur-
porting to he for expenses Of the late
session, to the amount OF over 81 100000,
nave already appeared at the treasury and
jeen paid or exchanged for the notes OF
the treasurer. and it is estimated by those
in position 10 Judge wisel y thatS250, 900
in "pay certificates is still qiloat III the
community, to pe presented whenever
there is any probability Of their being al
lowed. This will make the expenses OF
single session of the General Assembly
Yer Sl,250,000, on more than 400 per
cent. of the sum which was formerly con-
slllered sufficient TO pay them.
Enormous sums have been lavished IN
pretended support of an EARNED force, "
which is notoriously non-exisucnt.
The most corrupt practices have obtain
ed. in the making of contracts by State
officials. The contract with the Roberts
and other arms companies Of New York,
under which there was drawn from the
State treasury over 100000, while said
rms company received less than $4,000,
IS a type OF the manner in which the State
treasury has been depleted The public
.lre familiar with the enormous extent of
the bills for State printing. Formerly
this item of expense for a session et the
legislature was not one-ftieth, certainly
not me-tortietl. Of what it has been du
ing the vear past. But to catalogue the
buses existing in the executive and legls-
ative branches of the State government,
would not only weary our patience and
sicken on hearts, but one who should.at-
tempt to characterize them you'd besEar
sne English language in looking ior IL
. rus You already know them IN grn>s.
lou can hardly appreciate their enormit1y
in detail till you examine the facts and
figures. We alludc to but n few Of them
as specimens of the kind of expenses hat
nave brought the credit of South Caroilna