The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-12-01
s. G.
Sunday Morning, December l, 1872.
We'll for tho legislature.

"oll 2Or tho Legislatures.
Our new Legislature has begun we'll,
and, 80 far, has shown q commendable
spirit of retrenchment and reform. It
commenced at the right place. in curtail-
ing the number OF it's attaches from five
or six hundred to thirty.nine. Let it
not become weary in we'll doing, but
hold steadily on in the same enlightened
path of duty. It has some difficult work
before it. and will be subjected to many
temptations to swervo from its present
good intentions. If it resist them as be-
comes men and honorable Legislators,
who sternly regard their fduciary and
personal character, it can accomplish
much for the country, establish itself in
the public confidence, and please and
crafty its constituents. It's first great
duty is to itself. It must maintain it's
own integrity and break up, root and
branch, the legislative brokerage in
votes. This old firm has grown rich OF
the expense Of tho money aud character
of the State. It is prepared. with
abundant resources of money, credit
and audacity, to continue it's old busi-
ness, and confidently counts upon re-
newal and extension of its success. It
is ready to begin, or rather has begun,
with the Senatorial election, and faunts
its red auction flag in the face of honest
men, with reckless Disregard of their
feelings, and with purpose to make the
public interests bend to or subserve their
own. Our legislators have these public
;interests committed to their hands as
.saored trust, and are bonnd to sornpu-
lously guard them. They have their
own honor and good ropute to sustain;
dot them see to it that they permit no.
thing in their conduct derogatory to it.
The man who offers bribe for their
Support Is 40 true man. he is not true
to his country, lie has no sense Of honor
or duty, no true feeling OF self-respect,
and is unworthy of high position. Let
our legislators. individually and collect
lively, make short work with such men,
and let the Acts which punish this grave
offence against decenoy and honesty,
against the we'll being of the State and
the sanctity of its laws, be faithfully en-
forced.
Tie Senatorial election off its hands,
and its own integrity honorab!y sustain
ed aud confirmed, the General Assembly
will find an ardnous task in settling the
question of the public debt. This is in
an almost hopeless muddle. So many
classes of bonds. so heterogeneous set
OF claims, SO tortuous O course OF iegisia-
tiol, saoi; sinister expedients cf the
Financial Board and their agent, and
speculstors, it will require patience, So
gacity and frmness to extricste it from
the rubbish and frauds which encircle it,
and bring it fairly into view, in it's in
tegrity aud lawfulness. When it's fraudu-
lent coating has been stripped off, and
with the aid of experts every doubtful
claim las 5ean .isid!J sozut;s;zed, and
only such as are valid and binding
recognized, the Legislature can provide
intelligently for the interest, laying their
taxes according to the demands of the
debt thus expurgated, and the ability of
the taxpayers to pay them. In provid-
ing for the regular current expenses,
they should practice the most rigid
economy. They must remember that
people are poor, and struggling with
many obstacles; that .hey work hard
and do not get much for it. They do
not need on expensive or snowy govern
ment. They want one that is frugal, just
and respectable, and whose corner-stt 40
ls IL proper sense Of responsibility.
We do not see that any measure re-
quiring extraordinary expenditure can
be thought of for the present year.
Were our condition such as to Justify it,
If the prosperity of the people was such
as to allow it, i! would greatly rebound
to their future welfare, if measures
should now be initiated to encourage
and develop more fully our mannfaotur-
ing nnd agricultural intcrests. Under
better circumstances, wo believe that our
DPOnia. nf QIl nIaaoao xunnlI hoo,t:l,, -