The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-01

ter. These legislative robbers stand in
the way of all business, and exact their
fees sometimes from both sides, as regu-
larly as if they were keeping toll-gates
or bridges, or were stationed on the
highways to plunder the defenceless
traveller. The Central Committee makes
a poor apology for The enormous sums
expended in printing. They fail to
state why such useless volumes, such an
inordinate quantity of matter, have
been ordered to be printed. 1t is the
merest pretepae 'to~fntimate that tha
publichave been instructed or benefited
by them. They were printed for very
different reason, and in ninety mine out
of hundred cases, only servo the pur-
pose OF waste paper.
The Central Committee, in their dc.
speration, use another argument which
re must briefly notice. They charac-
| terize the gentlemen who composed the
Tax. Payers Convention, as prominent
politicians of the old regime, the former
ruling clement OF the State, not en-
dorsed by the sober-thinking masses Of
the people. Now, conceding that there
we're gentlemen of the old regime in the
convention, admitting that they may
havo taken part in politics in other
and better days, are they to be oslra-
cised for that and forever condemned to
silence and inaction in the midst of the
unmitigated evils which afflict tho land?
They have not forfeited their citizen
ship. and the fact that they were for
nerly eminent in service, gives them al
additional title to be heard now. They
distinctly Announce that they aim at no
political emolument or positions. They
come up to the relief of the couatry,
and propose measures which will benefit
all classes. It is not truo that they have
acted without authority of their con-
stitucncies or warrant Of public ap-
proval. They were properly accredited,
and we have not seen u word of con-
donation of their action. The best elc-
mcnt of tho Republicans themselves, in
the State, has endorsed it cordially and
earnestly, and out of tho State the
voices of commendation have been well
nigh unanimous in all respectable
quarters. It is true that when tho
question of calling the convention was
discussed, some of the Conservative
members of the Legislature were ready
to advise against it as premature. This
was the sole objection. These very gen.
tlemcn, every man of them, who wrote
to the President of the convention,
were in favor of its assembling immcdi-
ntcly after the October elections and be-
fore the next Legislature should meet.
Severul of them we're uembers of tho
convention. and all. We believe. now
concede that it did its work wisely and
! wcl., sa2 did not assemble {, moment {
too soon. Even with the moral force of
its deliberations taking wholesome effect
upon public opinion everywhere, and
| operating, to some extent, in checking
the General Assembly in its mad career,
they have witnessed somo legislative
proceedings, since its adjournment,
which show the leaders to be immova-
bly, joined to their idols, and unaltcra-
bly, committed to tho destruction OF the
best interests of the State. There is
now IL unanimous conviction that these
Legislative robbers have resolved to get
the last cent from an impoverished peo-
pie while the opportunity lasts. They
act rs if they felt doomed, and employ
tho last moment, while the ship is sink
ing, in loading themselves with plumber,
hoping to escape with it on some friend
ly plank to some hospitable shore. But
they only increase their risk OF going
down beneath the wild waves which
howl around them, eager to swallow
.hem up, and to which. perforce, they
must soon commit themselves.
IntermInubIc.
The community is anxious to know
| x,,1,a ~