The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-08-13
TIE MANQAMUS CASE,

Nearly sixty days ago the issues
we're made up in this case and pre-
scented for tho consideration OF the
Supreme Court ut Columbia. The
question involved one of vital inter
est to the tax payers of tho State.
The Realtors, Morton, Bliss & Co
Wall Street Bankers. claiming TO be
the bona 1ide holders Of certain bonds
of this State, upon which there are
arrearages of interest, petition the
Court to compel the Comptroller
General, the Hon. s. L.. Hoge, "to
give the required notice of the rate or
per ccntum upon the taxable property
necessary to be levied, in order to
make pa;' a;'ment' Of the interest past
due and yet to accrue upon the bonds
held by the Petitioners.
There has been 50 much Legislation
npon the States Indebtedness, so
much chicancry and fraud in the
manipulation of its bonds, so many
series and so much t;nkering with
validating acts and processes of con-
version, that it is questionable whoth-
err the actual amount of the States
real or nominal, is
known to anybody.
In the midst of this financial
chaos the Petitioners in this case
have sought the aid of the Court to
compel payment of the money claim
ed by them. ,
The case has been solemnly argued
and the Court, beiug charged there
with, in the quaint language of the
law "wishes to be advised"
The public suspense cannot be pro-
orged beyond few days, for the law
requires the decision to be rendered
in sixty days after the hearing. AS
>uming the bonded debt of the State
to. be SIS 100000; and if the conver-
sion fraud has been rerpr-
tratcd, which seems to be conceded,
tit must be at least as much as that,
then the levy which is asked by the
Realtors, together with the ordinary
annual levy for other purposes will
impose upon the property of the
State tax of at least thirty mills, in
stead of the tax heretofore imposed
thus doubling a rat""which has itself
paralyzed public and private indus
tsy, deferred immigration and well
nigh driven the Country into bank
ruptcy.
| The Attorney General in his pow
erfaI and convincing argument. inter
posed at the hearing, to resiet thiE
monstrous and rufnous iniquity, well
asks, "Can the industry of the State
hear this burden ?"
We cannot afford to be ruined that
a few bloated spectators, who are
neither of US nor amongst "a, shall
become more enriched BY our misfor'
tunes.
We are willing to settle fairly
We are willing to acqniesce in part
of the imposition that has been
rractised upon us in this behalf: We
are willing that so much of the debt
as is just shall be eliminated from
that which is fraudulent and provide
even in our poverty, for it's payment
But, let the extortioners beware
and remember, in the language of the
Acknowledgement, that "there has
now and then, been presented in his.
tory the spectacle Of a people in des.
pair who defraIdcd, overburdencd
and sunk TO earth--honesty and the
public integrity forgotten = have been
driven. for very life, to the dircful re-
sort Of Repudiotion,'
This is matter above and beyond
all politics, it is purely q question,
first of honesty and then Of selfpre-
servatiop.
"Salus ReipubIcae 1orima lea est"
The safety Of the Republic is tie