The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-06-20
A Powerful Argument and Strong Indictment
nf fine Radical State Government.

of the Radical State Government.
We hove before referred, says the Columbia
South Garolsaian, to the proceedings lnse,1uteo
intendent Stolbrand against Treasurer Parker,
with the view of compelling the latter to pay
To the former certain sums of money due the
State Penitentiary. We have now before us,
in pamphlet form, copy of the petition and
motion for naandamsss, together with the argu-
ment of James D. Tradewell, attorney tor re-
1ator We desire to invite public attention TO
this matter. Mr.. Tradewel's legal argument
is able and exhibits clearly the grounds upon
which he asks the interposition of the Supreme
Conrt in behalf of the special interests ne
represents as well as the general interests IN
yolyed. in calling the State Treasurer to &C
count. In the course OF his argument, Mr;
Tradewell is led to arraign the treasurer, anu
to comment strongly upon the conoltion VI tne
State. as affected by the corrupt management
.of ;ts finances. Not long since, upon pubic
occasion Mr.. Tradewell announced his adhe-
renee to the dominant party in this State. his
structures. therefore, upon the treasurer, ms
candid admissions of the ruinous state OF our
nublic affairs, and his earnest demand Tor re,
form should have weight with the Radical
marty of the State, although Mr.. Tradeweu
does but confirm what the opposition have long
since CHARGED against corrupt and corruptlng
State reoine. No stronger attacks have been
made upon the corrupt features OF the Prese1n,e P1,t
recime than those embodied in Mr. Iraoe%ells
argument. And although the Attorney uene- s
raj, Chamberlain, presented hlmsel as Ml'
Parker's representative, and sought 10 lnterposs
his official shield between the Treasurer ana
n,,t,aaed ,r ;nst;ce vet must it be borne in mind
that he, too, in his capacity as citizen, Is upon
record as bearing witness to corrupt state OF
affairs in South Carolina that disgraces CIVIL
,sation and calls for prompt reform, ,,.
We have said that we desire to draw puDnc
.,ttentiou to the argument of MIR. TradeWeu,
and to the quasi political points, wnien n ne
makes with great earnestness, anu Will nls
nsusi energy of language Addressing him
self to the Supreme Court whose authority ne
TnVokes in behalf of the rights and properly
of the people, Mr.. Tradewell passes in review
the actual condition of our financial ana otner
public affairs, and thus proceeds: .,
sI therefore invoke your aid Win an tne
earnestness of patriotic alarm for the safety OF
She Commonwealth with the burning desire to
do something, however humble, towards tne
deeply healing of wounded honor OF the State,
the punishment of those who have dishonored
her. and the re-establishment OF the broken
fortunes of her people Nor do l believe that
INV invocation VIII be barren invocation, tor to
my mind, hopeful of every good here, and ut
terly despairing of any good elsewhere IN tne
State Government it is too clear for doubt that
both the duty to act and the power to act EN-
ciently, now pertain to this Court In TINS pro-
ceeding against the State Treasurer. There is
prevalence in this appeal IN the alarming
juncture of our governmental aaairs 10 tnn
Supreme Court With the exception OF the
Judiciary, the State Government OF South Car
fr1l
violent, head-long plunges, the ExecnaVe ana
legislative departments are seeking the deep
est deep of anarchy and public dishonor, marx
ing their downward progress with a reckless
contempt of private and public morals, the
like of which the civilized world has never
heretofore beheld. ,,..
aWhateyer MIR. Parker may be in the public
estimation, OR in his own conscience, is not the
question which this proceeding brings to the
consideration of the Court. No! MOI!
4sThe subject of inquiry reaches to the height
and depth of a fundamental department. OF our
State Government-the Treasury Department,
the financial or money department, upon tne
intelligent and honest management OF which
the whole governmental machinery depends.
Stab it, and you pierce the vitals OF your whole
governmental pofity, and endanger its entire
administration. There can be no doubt, there
fore, concerning the magnitude of the investa-
CATION which this proceeding Is INTENDED 10
inaugurate..
.HIf the annual appropriations by the Gene
raj Assembly have been extravagant, the
amounts collected from the people by the same
authority, and poured into the State Treasury
annually. in order to meet them and uphold
the credit of the State Government have been
absolutely enormous In addition TO the TAX
levies, about eleven millions of dollars, accord
ing to the report Of this Treasury oiflcer, nave
been added to the public debt OF the state IN
less than four years, by the issuance Oh otase
bonds.
cover eight millions Of this amount, accord
ing TO this same officers report, have been
added to that debt since the 31st day of Octo-
Der, 1870, when the public debt was less than
eight millions.
7'Confning myself, however, to the official
report of the State Treasurer of the 3lst Octo-
her. 1871, six millions of bonds were issued
between the 31st October, 1870, and 31st Octo-
Der, 1871. But your enormous tax levies and
your enormous loans on bonds and millions
got by the hypothecation of those bonds, have
been inadequate to the support of your State
Government. These frightful sums, forced ont
of the tolls of a ruined people, all have passed
the State Treasury, leaving your Colleges and
Schools, your Asylums for the insane and the
deaf and dumb, your Judiciary and Peniten-
tiary. your Public Officers of every grade to
perish and decay, because there is no money in
the Treasury to answer to their legal and fixed
demands. -.
"The whole fabric of government at this
minute is tottering to its fall for the want of
pecuniary sustenance, which, although llbe.
rally provided, has never reached it, and when
lift my feeble voice in this hall of justice and
law in behalf of our State Prison, for the sup
port and continued construction of which
large appropriations have been made, but
which the State Treasurer refuses to pay, al
though lawfully demanded, appeal to the
Supreme Court in behalf of my poor, and
suffering, and dishonored State universally
and implore you to aid this Relator in setting