The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-01-08
SOUTH CAROLINA.
The Ruipous Condition OF the state
Eek Governor scott makes = Con-

Correspondence Cincinnati Commercla'I
COLUMBIA, S. c., December "A
called upon Ex-Governor Scott yester-
day at his residence. Having retired
from public life, he keeps pretty close
to his house, and gives more attention
to private than to public affairs. He is
interested in banking house here, and
owns some property, but no very large
amount. We had a long talk about
the late Senatorial contest, he going
into details pretty freely, but the infor-
nation he gave me am not at liberty
at present to make public A portion
of it, however, has been embodied in a
previous letter.
As to the general condition of the
State, he adds: II cannot say that !
see much hope for South Carolina IN
the near future. The outlook is rather
gloomy. The finances are in wretched
condition. The public printing account
this year will amount to about $500, :
600 The Legislature has been utterly
reckless. They authorize printing 10
be done that is perfectly absurd and
useless. Each OF the daily papers in
the State received from the treasury for
printing lava, which nobody reads,
about $4,000 The weeklies get from
$4,000 to 5000; many of them much
more. 1t is foolish, wicked, criminal
waste of money. For instance, some
Young chaps apply for the incorpora-
ton Of the Bungtown Debating Society.
Nobody cares anything about it, but
the parties directly interested, and they
not much, yet the act is published in
every paper in the State, at an expense
of thousands and thousands of dollars.
Ia this way the money was drained
from the treasury that should have
gone for better and more worthy pur-
poses. While poor lunatics in the asy-
lum are half starved TOR want of money
in the State treasury, country papers
without readers are publishing the laws
which nobody reads ....
How will the present Legislature
compare with the last one p asked.
"Itis worse than the old one, and
the old ore was bad enough. The
truth ia, each succeeding Legislature is
more worthless and corrupt than the
previous one We seem to be drifting
down stream all the time
How about the reformers that were
elected at the last election 2
"Oh, they are a worse set than the
fellows they succeeded. 1t seems i'm
possible to improve on anything down
here"
Wont there ever he any improve
ment?' | asked.
Unless there is," replied the ex-
Governor, the finances Of the State
will get in such condition that the reck'
less Legislature will be brought to a
standstll from mere inability to GO
urther."
as there no chance for the taxpayers
ever to get into power, or have n re-
spectacle voice in the administration OF
State affairs p
"Not as they have been previously
managing. Force, violence and intim,'
datiou will not do it 1t has made
matters worse for them. Their only
chance is to win over enough blacks by
kindness to give them power, or else go
en- maSsc into the Republican party and
rule through that medium"
"You have no doubt seen II reported, "
continued the Governor, branching off
on to another subject, that | have
made 81 900 600 while in South Caro-
lima There never was more infa-
nous lie circulated Before / became
Governor | had some money. This |
invested in State bonds, as they were
very low, and | felt certain they were
bound to risA. They did rise. Any
one else could have done the same
thing, with the same effect. After be-
coming Governor I bought $4,000
more in bonds, going into the market
and buying them the same as any other
person would who wanted them; this is
all 1t has been charged that l would,
a. Governor, depress bonds as low as
possible, huy them, and then, through
vigorous recommendations to the Legis
lsture, cause them to be enhanced in
value. The charge is false l have
made little in State bonds in a per-
fectly legitimate way, but nothing be-
vond what any one should who chooses
to invest hi. money and risk the con-
sequences. What little | have | did
not make here. | have, from time to
time, brought over 100000 into the
State
you intend to live here, I suppose?
81 do" replied the Ex-Governor, with
emphasis. 81 cannot be driven, coaxed
or frightened away. | can own prop
ertv here, and intend to make my home
here. | shall stick it out, reports to
the contrary Notwithstanding. Those
who have been predicting that | would
act Bullock over again will be disap-
pointed. This house where | now live
belongs TO the State. | shall move out
in few dsys and turn it over to Gov
ernor Moses; going 10 my own. |
shall live in Columbia, and, if a carpet
Dagger, | shall become permanent
one"
talked with theex Governor several
hours. and some OF his conversation
would prove very interesting reading,
If was sllowei to give it, But a. he
i. out OF public lie, he does not want
to stir up unplesssntnesses here, which
the publication OF his entire converse
ton would be apt to do. A friend OF
his told me the other day that the "old
man." as he calls the Governor, would
make things warm here in 1875. He
animated that Scott would then run for
the Senate, and rattle the dry bones
generally.
The Tobacco Crop OF 1872.
The Louisville Cowier.Journal eats
mate. the total tobacco crop OF 1872 at,