, 1873-04-18


1t would almost Boom as il South Carolina
had been deliberately bound and delivered
over to thieves and Villains Of every sort,
both black md whito, to DO robbed and
plunaercd until tho last cont is gono, and
tho despolcd people aro no longer nhlo to con-
tribute to the support of tho State Government.
It will DO remembered that tho lust atlninistra-
ton stole right and loft, and filled its oarpot~
bags with plundor. That administration tor
minated itH existence in November, 1879, and
during tho tino in which It exercised
power tho State bonded debt was i'll
orcased from Eve to fifteen millions,
while ovory State official who had authority
issuca ali sorts Of obligations binding upon tho
Treasury and those who did not havo authority
stole out Of tho Troasury in all kinds Of una,l-
thorizod Ways, With tho incoming Of tho now
stato Government, It was supposed that this
official systom Of pIundorlng would DO stopped,
would laad tho people ont of tho wilderness Of
difficulties In which thoy had become involved.
Tho new Governor, howeyor, promises to DO no
better thnn tho old, aud ho is only lending tho
tax-rilden people into still deeper Diff
ouitiea, II not into financial ruin. THO
present Governor was Speaker Of tho Inst
House; and during his term issued over 100000
Of pay certificates which not yct rodcolnea
and must come out Of the pockets Of tho tax
payorB. a correspondent Of the Now York 1'rib-
1at1, H. a.
grant stealing. sonlo years ago q chartor WAS
obtained for railroad across tho southern ond
OF tho Blue Ridge, from South Carolina into
Kentucky. Tho road was mover made, but State
obligations wore authorized to bo issued to
tho amount Of S1,80o,0o0, and OIL tho
strength Of this authority oyor s5;t00,-
600 Of the scrip LAS been issued
and ia now aloat, while the Legislature IL 80
corrupt tat there is 1ttlo doubt Of itH 1ega1fztng
the Hwindle, although tho courts haye pro-
nounced 1t fraudulent. Tho aamo corrupt lobby
iets who hung about tho Scott administration
remain ut tho Capital, engaged in the aano out
ragoous transactions. They pursue their
p1undoring with tho most perfect inpunity, aud
ovon defy investigation. They own tho Logisla-
ture, body and soul. They cannot steal as much
as they did under the former administration,
because thoro is not 80 much to
steal. Tho Treasury is rapidly bccom-
ing impoverished under tho constant
drain, and tho people, who aro paying
nearly two millions per aunum for State ox-
ponHost where e400,o0O only were formerly re-
quirod, not ono cont OF which goes to meet tho
interest on tho State dobt, will aeon DO able to
pay no longer. The Governor Inns salary OF
$780, and spends 1000 per year. Tho loh-
byists 1.-Two ut Columbia in princey residences.
Tho stationery bill last year was $4,000. A fow
yoara ago 1t wua only $500. Inst year the
Troasury was obliged to anticipate tho taxes, bo-
ing out Of money. Some Of tho banks came to
its MD and advanced 100000. This year Tho
banks lad to 60 before tho Committee on Claims
to got their money, and tho Committee refused
to reimburse unless they woro allowed to put
about 15 per cent OF 1t into their own pockets.
Noarly all tho newspapers aro subsidized by tho
stnto Government ind paid regular aumB. Tho
printing bill last year was about 100000.
Such are fow OF tho itoms in tho great sya-
tom Of frauds and corruptions which lis cursing
tho State Of South Carolina. Tho change Of ail-
minihtration has malo no change iii tho plundor-
ing and robborios Of tho State Treasury not
tho assurances Of tho President in
lin inaugural that all tic Southern 6tatcs aro
happily rehabilitated There seems to bo but ono
issue to tliH condition Of thinge-aither ropudia-
tion or revolution. T}la pooplo aro unable to
protect themselves through tho. courts, or by
committees OF investigation. Tho COURTS aro
powerlosB to enforce their decisions. Tho Leg
iHlaturo will nuke 10 investigations, for 1T Is
by tho lobbyists aud tho thioyes In
Office. Thcro is no attenapt ut conooamant,
Tho yillniny is opon ind aboyo board. Tile
thiovos first loty their acousors to provo tho
thofts; thon tloy dofy punishment. This is
tho way South Carolina has been happily roha-
bilitatcd, but in tho ppa tlloro must como q
fearful reckoning.