Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-09-05
THE TRUE REPUBLICAN"
The Plea of the virtuous Boilers.
"a he peon1e of South carozina

The plea of the virtuous Boilers.
To the People of South Carolina
On the 18th day of October next, you
will be called on to elect the various ren
who shall fill the various Offices in the
State government for the next official
term.
The condition of the aflairs of the State
at this time causes the gravest 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 luan hatter himself,
therefore that his poverty renders tins
subject Of taxation one OF indifference 10
him
Besides the east 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 OF
bonds, the very interest OF which IS 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-
| bort after report, statement after statement,
| has been made by the financial officers Of the
| State, making false exhibits Of our public
| debt and 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 apprehensions 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 lavlshly
poured into tho treasury? To what objects
have we seen it appropriated by those
who under the law, are appointed to dis
ourse 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?
TIE answers to these questions are in
the mouths OF all The people. We are
| ashamed to be compelled to confess that
the State Government has failed to pro-
:ecs the citizens, not only in the enjoyment
Of those rights and privileges intended to
De 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
| allows tr be violated in the persons OF us
subjects; and il has been the strong arm
/ ii the Federal Government which has re
| ,ascd thousands CT meH, women and
children from q terror with which they
could not fail TO be filed by countless out
-ases perpetrated upon their friends, rea-
tives and neighbors by conspirators. whose
iect.s the world reads Of with horror.
The puzzle schools have been crippled IN
their work, and in many cases closed, be-
eadse their teachers applied in vain at the
State treasury for the small salaries Jus;
| IL due them and necessary to their daily
support
The inmat2S Of the Lunatic Asylum
must have been turned loose upon lie
community, but lor the humane efforts oi
is efficient Superintendent, who. pledged
lis private credit to obtain food nobody
would sell on that o. this great State.
Pie doors OF the Pcnitentiary may be
lung wide open any day, to allow the exit
ot Il band OF cJnvlcts, whom the wartiens
cannot iced, :,ocause there Is no money ii.
the State treasury 10 purchase food. The
Judges OF your courts have not been paid
their salaries for maMy. months, ahd are
compelled, inInost cases, to borrow money
. supply the wants Of themselves and
their families, and to be subjected to the
temptations :oa ofen placed by rich sultors
before q judiciary !rregularly or made
luately pals,
1t would ,c easy to continue at almost
nv length i, "nuMerajing VIII; has beeii
left undonc wAici ought 10 have been
lane. 1t is .Y,s:rr 10 say Thal has been
lone which ought to have been lett un-
lone. Jobs o.. every conceivable descrlp-
SION have been undertaken, the interests
.ol the State have been constantly and
system slically set aside to enrich those who
scruploi at no kilsl OF bribery OF corrup-
ton to secure such legislation as the Job
hers required
Public money has been s4uandercd for
objects OF 10 public lrmeit. The eXPen-
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 the House Of Representatives, Pur-
porting to be for expenses Of the late
session. to the amount OF over 81 100000,
nave already appeared at the treasury and
jcen paid ~ exchangyi for the notes OF
the treasurer. and it is estimated by those
in position 10 Judge wisely hatS2je,O 900
in "pay certificates is still ailoat III the
community, to De presented Whenever
:here 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-
sl(ercd sufficient 10 pay them.
Enormous sums have been lavished in
pretended support of an EARNED force,
which is notoriously non-exlstent
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 1ecn depleted The public
.rs familiar with the enormous extent OF
the bills for State printing. Formerly
this item of expense for session al the
Legislature was not one-itieth, certainly
not one-tortielll. OF what it has been du-
ing the ycar past But to catalogue the
buses existing in the executive and legis
.ative branches Of the State government
would not only weary our patience and
sicken our hearts, but one who should.at-
tempt to characterize them you'd bnggaI
.he English language in looking lor III
rns Yoh already know Them IN rr.>s