Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-05


once and accept the situation. He did moi
chide his people for refusing to do so ; the LOT
was hard and the duty difficult to be perform
ed. But that our people did not come up tc
it is fact to be more profoundly regretted
Had we done so, the condition Of the State
would have been far different. The leaders
had they fully recognized the situation, would
have accepted the invitation of the enfran-
chised colored people and Joined with them
in good faith in the work of reconstructing
the State Government, to which task the in.
experienced and uncultured colored man was
unequal, and the intellect and experience OF
the white man was indispensable.
The results of the war had settled all the
distinctive issues between the two great parties,
and so far as principle was concerned, aside
from the sentiments engendered before and
during the struggle, there is no sound reason
why every native Carolinian might not have
at once espoused the doctrines of the Repub-
lican party. The sad mistake we have made
is not only in refusing to do so, but also in
heaping scorn and contumely upon any one,
who, however honest, has so done. And until
we learzs the great principles of free speech
and human rights, and cheerfully give them
effect, the problem of pure and honest State
Government cannot be adequately solved.
He was glad to believe that the consumma-
ton was rapidly approaching, when respect
for others opinions would prevail, and every
man be permitted to follow the dictates of his
own judgment-when harmony between the
races would be established, and Carolinians,
of whatever class, would unite in the inter-
ests of honest government.
The necessity for the assistance of the white
man in the work of reconstruction opened the
way for the advent of the carpet-bagger. He
used the word in no opprobrious sense, for he
knew there were amongst their number men
who had come into the State with honest in
tentions and he knew many native Republi-
cans, honest in their purposes who bore the
name of scalawag.
The evils which reconstruction had occa-
stoned were not due to the principles of Re-
publicanism, but to the fact that our laws had
been dictated by those who were foreign to
us, and who did not understand the necessities
of our people, white and colored, and who
had made the grave error of engrafting upon
oursystem regulations which did not meet the
exigencies of a bankrupt, disordered and al
most chaotic society. And besides, these
statutes were 80 loosely constructed as to open
the way to all manner of corruption. Indeed,
many of these statutes deserved no better IT,
tie than wholesale mandatory Of thieves
and plunderers. He instanced the laws es-
tablishing new system of county police,
which created an unnecessary number OF
county Offices, paid the officers enormous sal
aries and left the county treasures unguarded
and at the mercy Of the robber. Whether de-
signed or not, the result has been to bankrupt
more than half the counties in the State, and
to induce in the management of county af-
fairs the most shameless extravaganza and
corruption. For this he held the Honorable
District Attorney, who was the law-maker in
the Senate, and Mr. Tomlinson, his coadjuta-
tor in the House. directly responsible and
claimed that this would continue until the
State passed into the hands of men native to
the soil, who better understood the necessities
ofour condition, and would apply the requisite
legislation to cure the disease under which we
suffer.
The attempt was made to designate the reg
ular nominees as the "Ring Convention"
This was too thin. For the present condition
of affairs, Republicans Of whatever wing were
responsible. Those who belonged to the
"Ring" were northern men-came here with
Corbin and Tomlinson, and are of the same
ilk, and it is now idle to charge their conduct
upon the Regular Convention. Not one of
them had been put in nomination by the Union
Republican party, and in their platform the
party had distinctly put the seal of condem-
nation upon the past administration.
In reference to the bonds, it was sufficient
to say that not one would be paid until it ap-
peared that it represented an honest debt and
was honestly obtained by its holder; and in
his opinion, the debt did not amount to more
than $9,OOO,OOO. With these bond transac-
tions the leaders of the Regular Convention
had nothing to do, nor was he responsible for
the system Of laws out of which had sprung
disasters scarcely less in number and enor-
nifty.
In regard to the charge against General
Moses of issuing fraudulent pay certificates he
was not prepared to speak. The facts, Gen.
Moses had distinctly denied and challenged
the proof. He (the speaker) was sure the
amount had been over estimated. Take it at
100000 for the sake Of argument. The law
provided for the issue of $5S0000 for legiti-
mate expenses This left S220,000 only in
excess of the appropriation. Of this amount
it could be shown that more than half had
been issued by the officers of the Senate, and
with this Moses had no concern. Corbin was
a member of the Senate. He must have
known of this fraud. Why has he delayed
the exposure until the wrong has been COM
pleted-until it became necessary to lay the
ground for this Boilers Convention?
The Judge stated that he bitterly opposed
the nomination of Moses by the Convention /;
and if there had been necessity, he would
have opposed the nomination of Tomlinson.
Neither man was his choice. He now sup
ported Moses because he was the regular
nominee because he was not more obnoxious
than Tomlinson, and because, of the two, he
thought it due to the native element to elect
South Carolinian. Whatever may be said
of him, Moses was to the manner born, who
though tried Republican, had never con-
ceived or uttered a sentiment at war with the
people of South Carolina.
The claim of Tomlnson's purity was imag-
mary. 1t was said he resigned his office to
escape completely in the corruption which he
saw around him. AS to. this, the speaker
knew nothing of his own knowledge, but was
prepared to give authority for what he said
In 1870 Ring was formed Tomlinson was
one into it to buy from the people along the
line of the Greenville and Columbia Railroad
their stock in the Company, and with the aid
of leading Carolinians- ns-Governor Orr among
them-they succeeded in securing the road
for mere trihe. 1t was reconstructed"
Mr.. Tomlinson left the position of State Au-
ditor, shared in the transaction, and became