The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-28
Address of the True Repub,,c.n,

Address of tho True Republicans.
10 THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
On the 10th day of October next. ven
will be called on to elect the various men
who shall I'LL the various Offices in the
State Government for tho next official
term.
The condition Of the affairs of the
State at this time causes the gravest con-
Germ and most serious anxiety in the
minds of all good citizens. Taxation
unprecedented in amount in the history
OF this State weighs upon tho people.
No man but feels the burden; but how.
ever and by whatever channels the taxes
reach the Treasury, they como finally, in
great part, from those who till the soil,
in the form Of reduced wages, and the
increased cost of food, clothing and
other necessary expenses Of comfort
able existence. The hard hand of toll
largely pays the expenses OF the State,
though the money may be deposited in
the Treasury by those who own the cspi-
tal and the land. Let no man flatter
himself, therefore, that his poverty rem
ders this subject of taxation one of in
difference to him.
Besides the vast sums which have been
drawn from the people by direct taxa.
ton. our rulers have been heaping other
burdens upon us and our posterit7, b7
enormous, and in many cases fraudu-
lent, issues Of bonds, the very interest
upon which is sum 80 large that it
seems impossible to pay it. Conceal
ment of the reul state of our affairs has
been practiced to q criminal extent; re-
port after report, statement after state
ment, has been made by the financial
officers of the State, making false exhi-
bits of our public debt; and it was only
when an outraged public opinion de.
manded and compelled On investigation,
that our real situation was developed,
and was found to justify the worst ap.
prehensions which had been felt.
The public mind is too familiar with
the facts to require more to be said con-
corning the bond frauds; but it is worth
while to consider here the question,
what has become of the money so lavishly
poured into the Treasury? TO what OBJ
lects have we seen it appropriated by
those who, under the law, are appointed
to disburse it? Have the rights of per-
son and property, which it is the special
function of good government to guard,
been secured? Have the children of the
people been furnished with the means of
that education which alone can tit them
worthily to perform the duties of Citizen
ship? Have the humane institutions in
charge of the State been cared for?
Have the resources Of the State been
developed, it's industries fostered, it's
present and future welfare provided for
with reasonable prudence?
The answers to these questions are in
the mouths of all the people. We are
ashamed to be compelled to confess that
the State Government has failed TO pro-
tect the citizens, not only in the enioy-
ment of those rights and privileges in
tended to be secured by the provisions
OF the State and National Constitutions.
but even in those more limited rights
which no respectable civilized Govern
ment on earth allows to be violated in
the persons OF it's subjects; and it has
been the strong arm of the Federal Co.
vernment which has released thousands
OF men. women and children from q ter
ror with which they could not fail to be
filled by countless outrages perpetrated
upon their friends, relatives and neigh
bors, by conspirators, whose deeds the
world reads Of with horror.
The public schools have been crippled
in their work, and in many cases closed,
because their teachers applied in vain at
the State Treasury for the small salaries
Justly due them and necessary to their
daily support.
The inmates of the Lunatic Asylum
must have been turned loose upon the
community, but for the humane efforts
of it's efficient Snperintendent, who
pledged his private credit to obtain food
nobody would sell on that of this great
State. The doors of the penitentiary
may be flung wide open any day, to allow
the exit of band of oonvicts, whom the
warden cannot feed, because thero is no
money in the State Treasury to purchase
food. The judges of your courts ha ve
not been paid their salaries for many
months, and are compelled, in most
cases, to borrow money to supply the
wants of themselves and their families,
and to be subjected to the temptations
too often placed by rich snitors before q
judiciary irregularly or inadequately
paid.
1t would be easy to continue at almost
any length in enumerating what hos been
left undone which ought to have been
done. It is easier to say what has been
done which ought to have been left un-
done. Jobs of every conceivable do