The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-16
Tho Triangular Fight.

i
The public have now fairly before them
the letter OF Secretary OF State Cardozo and
the replies OF Treasurer Parker ana doV-
| ernor Scott. These are worthy OF scrutiny;
especially that the public may not be tempt,
ed to apotheosize any set OF high officials
who at this late day, shrek wildly Tor re-
form. They deserve q certain recognition
Of their tardy boldness; but they must re-
main on probation for at least one term oe,
fore receiving any Of the confidence ol '"e
taxpayers OF the State. An old rogue may
make The best thief-catcher, but it IS not
wise to put the burglars "next friend 10
charge of the strong box.
Stripped OF it's verbiage and constitutional
aroument the letter OF Mr. Cardozo Is a
formal charge that, under cover OF law au'
thorizine the conversion OF the outstanding
public debt, the State officials have created
new and fraudulent debt of Sc, 397.
To this charge Governor Scott makes no re-
ply. Mr.. Parker rests himself upon the Vail
dating act Of last session, which act declares
the bonds spoken OF by Mr.. Cardozo to De
"lepal and valid" This Validating act is
believed by lawyers OF high standing to be
null and void; in any case, its passage was
plea of guilty on the part OF the Financial
Board. Mr.. Cardozo is not entitled to any
especial thanks for this particular disclos-
ure. The number OF conversion bonus ls'
sued was shown in the official reports
already printed. A scatbing analysis OF the
| whole bad business was contained In Mr..
Corbin's Greenvlle speech. Why, then, did
Mr.. Cardozo write his now familiar epistle
Because he is candidate for office, and
desires to shift every particle OF blame from
his own shoulders to those OF Messrs. Parker
and Scott.
With an eye single to this laudable pur-
pose, Mr.. Cardozo AYERS that as early as No
vember, 1870, he suspected that something
was wrong. Neither Mr.. Parker nor Mr..
Chamberlain could give him comfort. But
be scaled three and haR million OF sterling
honds: and afterwards sealed $3.50, 900
of conversion bonds. Since October, 1911,
however, not bond has he sealed. At the
same time he explains that his refusal 10 go
on sealing, and his general watchfutness'
have saved millions 10 the people. 1t is true
that he admits taking the great seal OF The
L -v.sftt .
but this he did ut The enlreaty OF Governor
Scott and Treasurer Parker. 1t is rather
curious that Mr.. Cardozo did not grow sus-
picious until November, 1870. BY that
time, according to his own showing, he had
sealed more than SIS, 100000 OF conversion
bonds. The Comptroller's report for the
year ending October 81, 1870, showed that
only comparatively small amount OF bonds
and stocks had actually been converted.
Why did not Mr. Cardozo write his letter
Then, instead OF now Why did he,
later on, seal three and u half million OF
sterling bonds and $3.50, 600 additional
conversion bonds? Perhaps the letters OF
Governor Scott and Mr.. Parker may give a
sufficient answer TO these questions.
Governor Scott says emphatically that
Mr.. Cardozo was always ready to seal the
bonds; that he sealed them before the Gon.
eg.nor signed them; that there were always
q million dollars OF these sealed but unsigned
bonds in the Treasurer's hands; that the
sterling bonds were sealed surreplitiously be-
fore they were signed, and OF necessity with
out the Governors knowledge. Governor
Scott denies that there was any idea OF
negotiating the sterling bonds. Mr.. Parker
declares that what Mr.. Cardozo says upon
this subject is pure invention, and that he
was never asked to seal more than the three
and half millions, which he did seal. This is
awkward; the more particularly as Governor
Scott locks horns with the Secretary OF State
upon the question OF taking the great seal
to New York. This was done, it seems,
without the knowledge of the Governor, and
at the instance of the Financial Agent. One
would like to know what mileage and per
diem Mr.. Cardozo received. Finding him
self in dilemma, MIR. Cardozo appealed for
aid to Governor Scott, who gave him, to his
own shame, an ante. dated order authoriz.
ing the removal Of the seal.
This review OF charge and couuter-charge
might be continued further, but it is useless
to waste time in endeavoring 10 reconcile
the conflicting statements of falling-out
officials. II you believe Governor Scott and
Mr.. Parker, the letter of Mr.. Cardozo is q
bid for the Treasurership-what is true is
not new, and what is new is not true. If
you believe Mr.. Cardozo, both Scott and Par
ker are double.dyed villains. In this strait
what are decent citizens, who are not office
holders or ollice-seekers, 10 do? Only one
thing: Put no .taiM in any Of the creao !!
Admit his good intsntions, admit that he
was shared out when the plunder was dlvi-
ded, the letter of Mr.. Cardozo nevertheless
shows that he is as unfit as the unlittest for
the manipulation of the money bags. The
man, if honest, Is too easily duped. and what
has been done before can he done again.
The while taxpayers, if they have any self
respect, dare not and will not support any