Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-02-29
How South Carolina has Been
Robbed,
[By Telegraph to the Tribune.1
WASHINGTON. Feb ID 1872


Robbed,
by Telegraph to the Tribune.l
WASHINGTON. Feb. IA, 1872.
The subcommittee on debts in the
Rebel States makes very startling
exhibit of affairs in the Insurrection-
airy States, notably in South Carolina.
The report begins by stating that the
committee has not confined itself to
tie answers of State officials, but has
consulted intelligent citizens of all
parties. The committee has examined
all sources of information, from the
American Almanac to the Report of
the Commissioners of Agriculture,
and the Census of 1860 and 1870, and
also, records Of the War Department.
The Report says: Estate officials gen.
orally have been courteous and atten-
tive, and many have rendered us
great service; but our investigation,
as to some States, has been made
more difficult by inattention and neg
lect Of State officers, and in several
States the inquiry ordered by the
Committee has been resented as an
Infringement Of State rights and Of
fetal dignity. Ex-Governor Bullock,
of Georgia sent letter, more remark
able for argument against our pro-
ceedings as a breach of State rights
than for the iaccs furnished, and Gov:
ernor Reed, Of Florida, declined to
answer at all, although he has for
warded to member of the Sub. Com
mittee several copies of his message.
He protested against the invasion of
the rights of the State of Florida.
Generally where our enquiry had
been resented, evaded or ignored, we
have discovered reasons for conceal
ment, which convince US that officials
are more concerned about their own
dignity than that of the State. In
South Carolina the State Treasurer
has neglected all enquiries; the Gov
ernor has answered promptly, but
sent us such contradictory statements
that we can give little weight to any.
The worst condition of affairs was
found in South Carolina, and to the
finances of that State the Committee
devotes unusual space, and the most
extraordinary evidence is shown of
knavery and corruption.
After citing a portion of the mes
sage of Governor Scott of January 9,
1872, Mr.. Stevenson says: "This may
explain the increase Of debt, ard it is
probable that money could not have
been otherwise procured. Yet we
cannot agree that it Was proper to
submit to such disastrous and degra-
ding terms continuously, for three
years, had the credit of the State been
unsullied up to 1860. It might have
been expedient to make light loans
on almost any conditions to preserve
her good name, or great emergency
might have justified such terms tenn
porarily for limited amounts; but for
estate to go. upon the street as q
mendicant borrower, and remain there
Luffeted from broker to broker for
three years, raising money to pay old
aid dishonored debts at cost of So
i'll renewed obligations for every dol
lar paid, seem to us indefensible. 1t
is not justified by showing that it was
legal, Tor by the fact that citizens Of
the State conspir,d to destroy her
credit in order to overthrow the Gov7
ernment. A public officer should take
such course only on legal compul-
sion to preserve the existence of
tate, and there was no such necessi-
ty in this case, which was mainly
that of borrowing money to pay old
debts, and damaging t..e credit OF the
State, and weakening the Government
by every loan. 1t would have been
better to have levied increased taxes
to meet actSal emergencies. But tax
alton seems to have been avoided as
if to conciliate, and that levied was
hardly sufficient to pay the ordinary
expenses Of the State, economically
administered. On the subject Of cor
ruption, after stating the extravaganza
Of the Legislature, the writer makes
this extraordinary statement, the
proof of which. however, is contained
in the body of the report. Even the
recent investigation by Joint Com
mittee of the Legislature to detect
corruption, is followed by charges,
sustained by proofs, that members OF
the Committee and men connected
with the Legislature were more anx-
ious to make illegitimate profits for
themselves than to perfol m their duty.