Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-03-12

FOr puOlSuIuS Ine Ioiio"iue WI No, W wv
ed by the previous General Assembly, of
1901 and 1871-72:
volumes of the Statutes of the State, embracing
period of thirty years, $500 copies Revised
Statutes 5000 copies Ku-Klux trials, 5000 extra
copies reports joint special investigating COM
mttee, volumes Supreme Court DECISIONS,
1000 extra copies of reports and resolutions OF
the General Assembly, and sundry DOCKS ana
documents ordered by the Executive pdo Departoo
ment ........""."..."".".S25O,OOO 600
Advertising the laws in almost all the enews-
papers ofthe State, endorsed by the Cen
eral Assembly of 1901 and lS7l-72...." 75,OO0
For the regular printing for the fiscal year
1S1273, 1oVooo
For advertising the laws passed at the ses- ~,
sion of 1928, 250OO
Total ...... .. :. .. 900
1t will be seen that these appropriations,
though made in one year, are for work order
ed and performed during period OF three
years.
The works for which the appropriation of
S250,000 was made were extraordinary, and
will not probably occur again fer twenty years.
Thus it will be seen that the appropriations
that are properly chargeable for work done
during tba fiscal year are sl25'ooo instead Of
1t is stated that the total appropriations for
public printing made by the Legislature of
South Carolina, during period of sixty years,
from 1900 to 1859, is $271 ,180. This state
ment is not correct but, even if it were, is it
cause for boastfulness that but that amount
was expended for printing during the sixty
years, that the people were kept in ignorance
and no public information disseminated
amongst them for their enlightenment and ell
ovation? We think not.
It is stated that "the committees have re-
ceived large sums as compensation for report
ing favorably on private bills. Whatever
corruption may exist in the Legislature is to
be attributed to the Democrats as well as the
Republicans. Thay never hesitate to offer
bribes when they have private bill to pass
But corruption existed long before the advent
of the Republican party of this State into
power, only it was carried on then with the
artistic skill of more experienced operators,
and was not easily seen.
The reference to the judicial department
calls for special notice. The judges of the
Supreme and Circuit Courts of this State num-
Der eleven, eight of whom are natives. These
gentlemen held positions Of trust and honor
during the days Of the Confederacy, but have
shown the patriotic wisdom, since the war, to
adopt the situation and lend their learning
and influence to aid the work Of reconstruc.
ton.
For this course they have been pursued
with unrelenting hate and vigor, and every
possible insult offered them by those who do
not desire to see the work of reconstruction
successful.
Of the remaining three, one was selected as
the candidate for Governor in 1870, by the
party which the taxpayers represent, and the
learning and ability Of the other two have
never been questioned.
The allusion to the executive department
being general, callsf for no specific answer from
us. It simply amounts to this when divested
of its spleen and misrepresentations-t the
Republicans are in power and control the
State, and they do not Their complaints re-
mind us most forcibly of the reply Of that
profound and astute statesman, Prince Bis
marck, to the Papal hierarchy, who complain
ed of the oppressive nature of the Prussian
laws: "Unfortunately," says he, "you are ac-
customed to complain of oppression when not
permitted to lord it over others"
The gentlemen who have assembled in this
convention, constituting themselves the pecu-
liar representatives of the so-called taxpayers,
are not what they would have the country be:
lieve. They are the prominent politicians of
the old regime-the former ruling element of
the State-who simply desire to repair the
power they lost by their folly of secession.
They are not endorsed by the masses of the
SOBER thinking white Democrats of the State,
who look upon their action as unwise and ILL
timed. We will state well known fact in
proof of this.
The Democratic members Of the Legisla-
ture, numbering thirty.one, held a caucus and
unanimously resolved not to participate in the
proceedings of the convention, and addressed
a letter to the president advising against the
calling Of the convention as unwise and inju-
dicious. The letter was received, and the
president replied regretting that they had not
informed him of their intention previous to
the meeting of the executive committee, that
had already called the convention together.
The Republicans admit the existence Of
evils amongst them. They acknowledge that
they have committed mistakes and errors in
the party, which they deeply regret. But
these mistakes and errors are being daily cor
rected, and they see no necessity to resort to
the desperate remedies asked for by the con-
venton of the so.called taxpayers. There
are enough able and good men among those
who have the present charge Of the govern
ment in their hands to right every existing
wrong, and they are determined to do so.
In this work the difficulties under which
they have labored have been naturally great,
and have been increased tenfold by the deter
mined hostility and opposition of the Demo
cratic party ever since reconstruction. This
is their third effort to regain power. First,
they expected it through the election Of Sey.
mour and Blair; second, through the mid
night murders and assassination ofku-kluxism,
and now, thirdly, by the distortion and mis-
representation of facts, in order to create a
public sentiment in their favor and obtain re-
lief from Congress.
Relying upon the justice of our cause, we
submit the facts to candid and impartial pub.
lie. SAMUEL j. LEE, Chm'n pro tenn.
WILSON Cook, G. F. MCINTYRE,
j.. s. J. HAYES, H. l.. SHREWSBURY,
M. L. OWENS, JOHN LEE,
J. 8. MoBLEY, F. w. NJ. MAcKEY,
PC. FLUID, ROBERT SMALLs,
r. G. ANDREWS, JOHN R. COCHRAN,
H.J.MAXwELL, P. r. RIVERS,
G. SMITH, H. II. ELLISON,
Y.J. P. Owens, JOSEPH CREWS,
A. w. HoUaH, w. H. THOMAS,
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