The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-04-04
Oar Public Debt.


Auditor, made to the General Assembly,
lately adjourned, we learn that the total val
ue of the real and personal property of this
State. as assessed for taxation, is Sll $780,
0O7,16.
he entire taxable property of kcrshaw
county is valued at S2,547 1868, Of which,
sS2O.379, is personal.
Among the many statements ofthc amount
of the public debt, made to, and during, the
late scssioulof the Legislature. the, last that
was made. only a few days previous to their
adjournment, fixed the amount at sl5,S5l,-
327 3J, which is about three millions more
than reported in any previous statement
This purportcd to be the total amount due,
Oct. 3lst, 1871: but the vital question is,
show much more is it now?" Detweca Oct.
3fss 1871 and the 1st day Of April, inst,
FIVE months, wide scope for increasing the
debt, was open, and We have no guaranty
whatsoever, that it has not b zen so IN relsed.
In fact. with all the Legislature could do,
they we're unable to obtain statement OF
the public debt upto date, though they de-
manded it frequently. This, of itself: is sufE
fi.icnt evidence, whereon to base presump-
tioa that the debt has been increased. As it
is, the last statement made, shows an increase
of more than eight millions during the last
fiscal year, and upon a comparison of there
ports, it will be seen that suppression OF
the real amount due for the fiscal year end
ing OF. 3lst 1870 has been made, and the
large amount Of increase carried forward to
1871. and this would not have appeared had
there not been raised such hue and cry
sbout it. In precisely the same manner, the
amount really due is again suppressed, and
will not appear until the next session OF the
Legislature: wheu Repaaican. Adal'hiStra-
tion will again assame the charge of the gov
ernmcnt, and no campaign capital can be
made out Of this increase of the debt.
The truth.is, we are in such deplorable
condition, unable to help ourselves by any
means yet suggested, that We are greatly in
c.ined to let the entire concern pass into
the hands of the Republicans. who are rush
ing matters with such. energy that the end
cannot be far off, aud the small conservative
element in the. Legislature only prevents the
grand: limax being reached earlier. After
all We do not consider that affairs co"!@ be
be much worse than they now are, and almost
any change would benefit US.
EASTER SuNDAY.-This week opened by
the celebration of Easter, the festival of the
resurrection, in the Episcopal Church.
From the accounts published in onr exchang-
es, We gather that the celebration has been
unusually magnificent ip its details, and, re-
mote though we be from great metropolitan
centres, yet here also was the festival notne-
elected. The morning was ushered in by
rain and wind, and many who had spent
hours of. loving labor in decorating the house
of God, AID many others WHO hoped to par
ticipatc in the services of the day, felt
pang of disappointment, when they awoke to
see the gloomy morn,. "Oid SOL" however,
(not Sol Smith Russell, made desperate et-
forts to make himself seen, and by dint of
perseverance finally succeeded i'll dispensing
his genial rays, to the satisfaction Of ALL
Grace Church was tastcfully and elaborate-
" decorated. In tile back Of the chancel,
Immediately over the middle ofthc three mar
row windows. was beautiful cross composed
of evergreens and relieved by snow Drops and
other white flowers, in the centre of which
was splendid double japonica. From this
festoons of evergreen were hung. drapIng
the smaller windows on. either side, looled
up as they reached the tops of the windows,
understanding thence to,the floor. Thecom-
munion table was decorated by single cross
profusely ornamentcd with appropriate cv-
crgreens, relieved by white flowers. The
reading desk was adorned with ivy and spruce
pine, intertwined with geraniums. and at it's
foo. in front, was beautiful Calla lilly, just
opening in the midst of its deep green toll-
sg. and surrounded by Chinese prin'roscs in
full bloom, The prayer desk Was also taste
fully decorated, and the table used in the
oaptismal service was beautifully adorned.
In the centre was vase containing cut
flowers, principally from hot houses, and
on each side were placed geraniumsin full
bloom, the whole enclosed by awreath of
ivy. The body of the church was hcavi-
ly festooncd with evergrecns, and in the
middle oeeach window hung basket of grey
moss. The services were unusually impress
ise. being conducted by the Rector, Rev. B.