The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-25
COLUMBIA, 8. O.. October %, 1872.

tlcle bearing the title OF 1.-THE Late State
Auditor and His Manifesto" I will en-
deavor to reply to it as briefly as posi-.
BILE, taking up the points as they occur.
The first point is, that said "mani-
festo" was published in Democratic
journal. In reply to this, I would say
that have yet to learn that it is the
duty OF my one to ask either permission
or advice as to what medium he shall
use to transact his business, provided it
be an honest one; and I have also vet to
learn that the Union would have pub
lished the article had it been requested
80 to do. The Union has been too we'll
paid in the past, and expects to be too
we'll paid IN the future, to risk it's posi-
ton by. publishing an article which
would be obnoxious to the persons from
whom it derives its support. AS an evi-
dence of this, will cite the fact, that
although it has published an editorial
oondemnatory OF the article in question.
it has not and does not intend to publish
the article itself.
The second charge is, that purpose
to set aside the will Of the Legislature
by refusing to levy tax to pay the in.
terest upon the entire bonded debt of
the State, which was also to include
tax Of three mills to redeem the Blue
Ridge scrip. Now, I am sure that the
people, whose servant the Legislature is,
do not want the consummation of a
Hoheme to enrich men who have already
been made rich at their expense, and
which will still further impoverish and
finally ruin them. The action of the
Legislature in passing the Blue Ridge
Bill has been made subject of discus
sion in the courts, and by the decision
OF Judge whose soundness in law can
not be questioned, has been pronounced
unconstitutional and invalid. This de-
cision, think, leaves it no open ques-
ton as to the duty of any officer to exact
tax for its redemption.
AS to the Validating Bill-by which it
is claimed that all illegal issues OF bonds
are made valid-I would say that the
best legal advice which the State affords
has been sought, and the opinion given
that this bill is open to the same objeo-
ton as that of the Blue Ridge. Still
further, it being an acknowledged fact
that this bill, as we'll as the other, was
put through the Legislature by use of
the snmo means-money-for the ex-
press purpose of shielding the guilty
parties from tho consequences of their
own misdeeds, considered it still more
q duty to do what could to prevent tire
suffering which must follow to O large
class of people by the imposition of q
tax not only un Just, but about the legal
ity OF which there are very grave doubts
Again, from whom WAS I to take the
rate Of taxation to be levied for this pur-
pose? Was it from the parties who Gre
ated the debt? Who else knows the
amount of the State debt? I do not;
and, aside from three or four men, do
not think it is known with any degree of
certainty, and their kno vledge extends
definitely only to the bonded debt. 1t
was their duty to fur .sh me with o
statement of the bc Il debt, and re-
quest me to caIc'' .ne rate of taxation
requisite to - money sufficient to
meet ~ -equirements. This has not
been ..ue.
One thing further, and have done
with this point for the present. Gov.
Scott once told me land he has repeated
the statement to othera) thnt it was not
intended to pay the first years unpaid
interest, but to commence payment with
the six months interest due January l,
1873, thus leaving an intermission of
one year, dating from July 1, 1871, to
July l. 1872, for which no interest would
be paid, should this scheme be carried
out. How is that for usurpation Of
po,rer? Who vested in the Chief Execu-
tive of the State the power not only to
take from the officers created by the
people, and whose duties are equally dis.
tinot with his own, power entrusted to
them, but to assume to violate the very
law to which he appeals? Another in
stance of q remarkable development OF
that much priced jewel consistency
The next point in order is the ques-
tion, why, if the execution of this duty
was 80 obnoxious to me, did I not re-
sign my position, and allow some other
to perform the duty? This is a matter
that with ordinary minds will, I think,
not require lengthy explanation. 1
did not do this. simply for the reason
that I felt it my duty to administer the
affairs of my Office to the best of my
ability, and solely in the interest OF the
people, to whom I was alone responsible.
Simply because T felt it would be to
their great harm should I do as the
Union suggests would havo been its
C;D,rlx, I,noou,o boro