The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-29
COLUMBIA, s. c..
Thursday Morning, February %. 1872.
The Rooonstruoted Governor.

ragged South Carolina to hope that her
day OF deliverance may come after
awhile, in the fact that one by one her
sister Southern States are being rid of
their ohiefest oppressors. Holden, of
North Carolina, has been successfully
impeached-ha fed his country for his
country's good, and taken refuge in the
oity OF Washington. Bullock, Of Geor-
gia-perhaps the deepest~dyed villain of
all our reconstructed governors, if such
rascality can rightfully admit OF degrees
of compsrison-could not and did not
even make show of defence. but igno-
miniously fled his State, when he be-
came satisfied that he would be called to
account for the many crimes he had
committed. Next comes Reed, OF Flo
rida, who will, doubtless, follow soon in
the footsteps of his illustrious fellow
thief, Holden. Scott is still left. South
Carolina seems specially singled out to
endure to the fullest and bitterest extent
the degradation of having disreputa-
BILE individual for her Chief Magistrate
This shame is due, beyond oil doubt,
simply to the fact that there is larger
colored majority in this afflicted State
than any Of the others. We do not
mean to charge that our colored peopl&
willingly and knowingly prefer corrupt
man to preside over the affairs OF State;
but their eyes are more easily blinded
than the educated of the white race;
and, besides, having no political expe-
rienoe, except what they have learnt
under the teachings of Scott & Co.,, tLey
have misunderstood, and, therefore,
failed to perform, the duties that have
devolved upon them. It may be health
full for them to observe and reflect, how
ever, that alone in the State where they
have absolute control have suoh officials
been allowed to retain public Office. In
the case of Reed, of Florida, it is re-
markable to observe the similarity of the
crimes he has committed with those of
the South Carolina Governor. They are
much smaller in degree, but identical in
kind and character. The charges against
Reed are as follows:
"First. an over-issue of S528, 900 of
State bonds under ACT approved Janu-
ary %. 1870; second, fraudulent con-
spiraoy to issue $1,000.OOO of State
bonds for the purchase of stock Of tho
Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Bail
road, with intent to profit thereby in
collusion with other parties; third, an
unlawful issue of $1,000,OO0 in State
bonds for the purpose and with the in.
tent recited in article 2; fourth, fraud
ulent signing and usual of 1000, 900
OF State bonds for the use and benefit of
the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile
Railroad Company; fifth, conspiracy to
unlawfully issue Sl,000.00O OF State
bonds to David l.. Yulee and other per-
sons; sixth, unlawful issue OF the
nmonnt OF bonds mentioned in article 5;
seventh, conspiracy with one Milton S.
Littlefeld aud other persons to en-
bezzle public moneys received from the
hypOthecation OF State bonds, and actual
embezzlementof Of $40, 900 thereof; eighth,
receiving from Milton S. Littlefeld
bribe of 50. 500 to sustain the claims of
the. Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile
Railroad Company to the title of the
property of the Pensacola and Georgia,
and Tallahassee, and Florida, Atlantic
and Gulf Central Railroad Companies;
ninth, conspiracy with Charles Pond
and e. B. Bulkley, of the city of New
York, to defraul the State Of Florida of
SIS. 600 in State bonds. aud actual de-
frauding of said State of said amount in
on arms and equipment purchase; tenth,
paying into the State Treasury depreci-
ated State scrip to the nominal amount
OF 81, 14O as payment for $1,140 in
United States currency paid to him us
due the State, but by him fraudulentIy
retained; eleventh, attempting to bribe
q jastico Of the peace to decide in his
favor in u case before said magistrate
pending; and twelfth, receiving bribe
of $4,000 from Anron Barnett, and for
such bribn signing conveyance to said
Barnett of internal Improvement lands.
The evidence on which these charges
are based is not made public, but must
be Of the most convincing nature, as
upon the reading of the report of the
committee appointed to investigate Gov.
Reeds official condnct. every single
member of tho Assembly voted for I'M
peachment on tho articles above synop-
sized"