The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-02-26

such information as will enable this convention
and the people of the State to know whether
the said assets have been wasted and by whose
means, and who are responsible therefor. That
said committee Go obtain and publish with their
report statement of the changes of invest
ment of said fund which have been made, the
reason and consideration thereof, and under
what authority, including changes in the secur-
tiles taken as collaterals for investments,
loans or deposits and under what authority;
the total amount of cash loaned out, invested
or deposited; to whom loaned. how invested, or
with whom deposited; when, upon what TERMS
how secured, and by what authority made, and
when and how the sane, or any part thereof,
has been paid, and by what authority received,
and the present appraised value OF eald assets.
ResOlred, That said committee have leave to
publish the re7ort with the official proceedings
of this Convention.
Before reading the resolutions MIR. Miles
read detailed statement of the proceedings
i'll the case, giving the various changes that had
been made i'll reference to the receivershlp, and
citing the orders of the court whereby the
changes were made. These statements, he
said, taken altogether from official sources. are
quite sufficient to show, not only that the pres.
ent condition and value of the assets OF the
bank, which are to be applied to the extin-
guishment of so much of the debt of the State
which is germain to the objects and purposes
of this Convention, but that the mode in
which the trust has been administered de-
mands investigation at the hands of body
which has assembled with the avowed object Of
exposing, denouncing and correcting the
wrongs and evils under which We suffer- by
whatever department of the State government
inflicted, whether legislative executive or judi
cial. 1t is openly asserted by those who have
the most immediate interest in these assets
and their assertion is confirmed by the infor-
nation given by some who are familiar with
the evidence taken by the investigation joint
committeeman the probable present value Of
the assets, which were appraised when turned
over by Mr.. Courtney to Mr.. Gayer, in 1871,
at upwards of 5760,0OO, is less than
$3.50. GOO; and while rumor is busy with the
names of those who are supposed to have bene-
fitted by the wrongs, or to have been RESPONSE
BILE for their commission, there are not want
ing those who tauntingly and sneeringly assert
that the political or party affiliations, the Off
cial status or social standing and personal con-
sequence of the supposed perpetrators, WILL
shield them from exposure or censure by thus
BODY and those whom it is supposed we repre-
sent. But, if this Convention ls TO exert any
influence at home or abroad, it must be as rep
resentng the character as we'll as the property
of the State: it's action will have weight only
so far as it commands the confidence and re-
spect of the people; and that can be secured
ONLY by fair and calm, but, at the same time,
a fearless investigation of all wrong, corrup-
ton, fraud, and dereliction from duty, which
affect the interests of those whom 1t repre-
sents. and are within the legitimate scope and
sphere of the purposes for which it has assem-
bled 1t is true not only that those who
would be free themselves must strike the
blow, but that those who would purify others
must themselves be pure. Should this Con-
yantiou be go inconsistent with it's former &C
ton, and with the purposes which 1t processes,
as to leave untouched the grievance which ls
80 palpable, and which has already attracted so
much attention and elected 80 much comment,
its influence for good in exposing and denounc-
ing other frauds and corruptions vii. be utter
" paralyzed and it will be better that it should
never have met Impressed with these convlc-
tions. and influenced by no other consideration
than sense of duty, I have made these re-
marks, and offered the preamble and resolu-
tions.
The Printing Bills.
The following resolutions were introduced by
Mr.. J. G. Thompson, of Beaufort, and referred
to the executive committee:
Whereas the Hon. T. L. CardoZo has truly
defined the duties Of the State treasurer, IN ns
communication sent to the General Assembly
on the 10th instant, in regard to claims pass
ed and appropriations made, in which he holds
that it is his duty to stand between the State
and the claimants, even though an approprla-
ton has been made to pay the claim and to see
that the vouchers representing the claim are cor
| rect: and whereas we believe this view OF his
| duties s q correct one:
Resolref,, That we respectfully request the
Hon. F. L. Cardozo to furnish the executive
committee of this body, with copy of the
vouchers upon which he paid 1881, 1000 for the
printing of the year 1873, it having been assert
ed by the contractor that he could have done
the whole of the work for which this sum was
paid for less than one-third of the amount.
Emigration from the State.
7 Mr.. J. NJ Williams, of Darlington, intro
duced the following, which was referred TO
the same committees: , ~, D.
salvation rests upon the patriotism aud energy
of the young men; and whereas their emgra-
| ton in the past ano present is not only unpa-
triotic, but greatly damaging to the future OF
| this State:
Resolped, That a committee of five be ap-
pointed to prepare an appeal to them on the
subject.
Unjust Assessments and Taxation.
MIR. r. E. Elkins, of Fairfield, introduced the
following, which was referred:
Resolred. That the executive committee be
requested TO QeVlSe d pau lol 1ho oAAosSI6 -
the present unjust assessment OF properly In
this State. whether by direct and regular as
sessment or otherwise.
Mr.. J. E. Tindal OF Clarendon, introduced
the following:
Whereas, it is the sense of this Convention
that five mills assessed upon the actual market
value of the property of the State is sufficient
to defray all the expenses of the State govern
ment; therefore,
Resolved That this Convention recommend
to the whole people Of the State, and solemnly
pledge ourselves, not to pay, in future, any
tax levied upon the property Of the State ex-
ceeding that amount.
An Appeal to the Changers.
The following was introduced by Gov. Jas.
L.. Manning, of Clarendon, and referred:
Resolved, That this Convention of the Tax
PAYERS of South Carolina entreat the sympathy
OF the Grangers of this State, and Of the United
States, in our effort to relieve our people
from an overburthen of tyranny and taxation.
Resolued That the secretary OF this Conven-
ton furnish to each master OF each State
Grange copy of the proceedings Of this Con-
vention when published.
The Convention then adjourned.