The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-05-12
So Mote 1t Re.


Tho account copied below from tho
Winnsboro Ne,cs. of tho extraordinlry
language applied by Attorney G 4nerul
Melton aud Judge Mackey, on the
trial Of Treasurer Smith, Of Fairfield,
to the condition Of nlflirs in this State
and to its chief criminals, is really
startling. Il is a scathing rebuke Of
the falsehoods OF the Whittemoro dele
cation in Washington. and gives
ground for fresh hope that these out
RACES on COOL government will ut last
be put down by tho punishment of
their perpetrators. What terrible
force in the words uf the Attorney
General on tho "era of corruption"
and in tho illusions of the Judge to
''the chief criminal of State" who had
eluded his grasp, but whom he hoped
yet to bring to trial.
The Attorney c. eneral acknowledged
Tie force of what had been said. lie
was acquainted with the existence Of
the e1tenuating circumstances, and
touched upon the Willingness whioh
tho defendant had shown for tho.
rough examination, and aso on the
fact that he had expressed his desire
that the people of the County should
suffer no loss. But while this was
true. it was very strange that man, rs
intelligent, as practical. and as we'll
educAted as the defendant is. should
suffer heavy loss without being able
to give any account OF it. The present
systom OF collecting taxes is perfect,
derived from the experience of NIL the
States. Before the war, tax collecting
was simple affair. There were no
checks and balances, and yet such was
tho innate honesty Of the men of those
days, that defalcations were of the
rarest occurrence. But now, in spite
| OF tho cordons drawn around the State
Treasury, in spite of tho bars and
bands aud triple locks, in spite Of tile
guards who surround il, and uf the
lump that never ceases to burn, vast
| amounts Of money-money wrnng
from struggling people-have been
recklcssly stolen and SQuandercl, leav-
log tho whole government clogged AID
her credit destroyed. There now ex-
isis in the State Of South Carolina IN
ern of corruption such as has never be-
fore been witnessed. But this thing
cannot last. It must nave an end
Iuitiai steps are now being taken to put
IN cad forever to this vile, outrageous
thing. Although Mr.. Smith confessed
his defalcation voluntarily, he had
been suspected before. The eyes OF
the Government had been on him.
The crimes of others are known also,
and they had better take warning hy
the sad example of Smith. and be-
fore the idea of November come, so
help mo God, they will know this to
their sorrow. We bide our time. That
time will come.
Mr.. Melton spoke with his usual
eloquence, aud his denunciations of
the ring wore listened to attcntively
by dense throng of white and coored
citizens. Judge Mackey then said that
the court recognized, in nli their pro.
per potency. the appeals in behalf of
tho prisoner. The extrome limit of
the punishment of the offence in ones
ton Is -, 900 hne and three years inl-
prisonmcut. He reviewed the remarks
OF tho Attorney General, and then re-.
marked that the presiding Judge was
profoundly Impressed with the conyic.
ton that. III passing sentence. he was
not, as should be the case, innieting Il
penalty upon pleaded guilt, but was
merely performing duty devolving
on him. Mo firmly believed that be
was performing duty merely techni.
cal aud formal, and that the Judgment
itself was merely precursor Of par
don that would surely follow. The
State House throws shadow deep and
broad over the very threshold of the
temple OF justice, and in releasing
from confinement those individuals
who have been punished for their mis-.
deeds, it strikes deadly blow at pub
lie safety.
The presiding Judge would feel a
sense OF sorrow and oppression. crush
ing, in the midst Of general calamity,
were it not for such utteranoes as have
been made by the Attorney General,
which indicate that no State is lost
where one solitary son stauds before
the people like faithful sentinel,
Drawing corruption. The Court utters
back the sentiments OF the Attorney
General, with sensibilities that every
public officer should feel and every
citizen should chcrish.
It has been said by one, we'll yersed
IN the springs Of human action, that
that child remem bers it's mother with
deepest Affection who knew her when
young and in the bloom of woman