The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-06-21
s. G..
Friday Morning, June 81, 1872.
Trade,vell on Parker.

argument OF MIR. James D. Tradewell,
attorney for the relator in the case .'.Er
relatione Carlos J. Stolbland, Superin-
tendent of the State Penitentiary, vs.
Niles G. Parker, State Treasurer" The
purpose of the suit is to force the Trea-
surer, by writ of mandamus from the
Supreme Court, to pay to the Superin.
tendent of the Penitentiary the appro
Priations made by the General Assembly
for the support and maintenance OF tho
institution, which the last named official
has in charge. Mr.. Tradewell, for the
relator, alleges that something over
$13, 900 remains due and unpaid to the
Penitentiary of tho appropriation made
for the fiscal year commencing Novem-
Der /, 1870, and but fraction over
$4,000 OF the appropriation OF $50, 600
for the current fiscal year, commencing
November l. 1871, has as yet been paid.
Mr.. Tradewell then proceeds to show
that the Treasurer has or ought to have
ample means on hands to meet these ap-
~propriations, from the heavy taxes levied
in the spring Of 1871 for the fiscal year
commencing November /. 1870, and in
the fall and winter of 1871-72, for the
fiscal year commencing November /,
1871.
MIR. D. 81. Chamberlain, attorney for
Mr.. Parker, responds. denying that any
{. portion of the appropriation Of last year
remains unpaid as shown by the entries
and receipts on the books in the Treasury
ofice-and for exonse for non-payment
of all of the appropriation for the pre-
sent year. alleges that at no time since
the passage of the Act, March -, 1872,
making the appropriations, has he been
in funds to pay it.
Then comes the argument of MIR.
Tradewell, demurring to the return of
Mr.. Parker, as evasive and insufficient,
and launching out into the official his
tory of that high functionary, and pic
turing in vivid and eloquent terms the
many and gross abuses which have been
,perpetrated upon the people by corrupt
financial scheming, and the ruin and dis.
grace which has been brought upon the
State. It is this latter portion of Mr..
Tradewell's argument which is of great
est public interest. Mr.. Tradewell is on
avowed Republican. and it is not pre-
sumable that he would enter upon 9
crusade against government admins
tered by his own political party, unless
he was thoroughly convinced of the
truth of his charges. We know they are
true. Every intelligent citizen knows
they are true, and there are now but o
precious few, even of the rascals them
selves, who have the brazen audaoity and
shanelessness to deny the rottenness OF
che present regime. But no one-the
oitterest enemy which the Republican
party has in the State-could use
stronger language than Mr.. Tradewell.
We are willing to abide his statement of
the case. and earnestly hope that others
of his party, equally conscious of the
evils which threaten the life of the Re-
publican party, as we'll as that of the
State. will as manfully acknowledge
them. Confession must always precede
repentance, and from genuine repentance
we may hope for speedy reform.
Of course, no rational man expects
repentance and reform from the scoun-
arels whc have actually had hand in
plunderlng the State. Nothing short of
q miraculous act of Divine grace could
ever work repentance in their polluted
souls. But if the good men of the party,
few though they be, who have any intelli-
gence or influence, will honestly ao-
knowledge the untold abuses of the
party as at present manipulated, and
band themselves faithfully together.
they may, by earnest and persistent
efforts, open the eyes OF the colored
people to the crimes which have been
committed by their present representa-
tives. and for which they must be re-
spopsible, and induce them to hurl
III