The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-02-27
which alone they aro sponsible-mak-
ing total Of $l0,OOO,UOO.

lu6 u tOtul W
constitutional amendment was proposed
by tho Gonoral Assembly, at it's session in
lS7l-72, to prohibit the increase OF the state
debt, unless with the consent OF two.thirds
has been adopted, and is now part OF our
organic law.
Tho State has issued bonds amounting TO
500. 600 for the Land Commission, 40 above
referred to, to purchase lands for sale in
small! farms to the freedmen. This benea.
cont object has accom- plished much good.
Tho statement that 'the appropriation in
ono year for the work Ii. e., printing! done
the Clerks) amo.nts to SAFE. 900, exclusive of
s100. geo for Publishing the laws" is wholly
incorrect. The present Legislature, dur
ing the session Of 1928. mado appropria-
| tions OF $450, 900. for printing and advertis-
| ing the laws, aB follows:
| For publishing tho following works, Or
dered by the previous General Assembly OF
1901 and 1871-72: 5 volumes OF the Sta.
| tutes OF the state, tembracing period Of
thirty ycars;l 500 copies Revised Statutes;
| 5 600 copies of Ku Klux trials; 900 extra re-
| ports Joint Special Investig ating Committee;
| 9 volrmos Supreme Court Decisions; 1,0Ui
extra copios OF reports and resolutions Of
| the General Assembly, and sundry books
and documents ordered by the Executive
| Departments, $3.50 .0U0; advertising the laws
in almost all the newspapers of the State,
| ordered by the General Assembly OF 1901
and 1S7I-72. s75. .009; for tho regular printing
Tor the fiscal yoar l672-73. 100000; for sd-
| vertieing tho laws passed at tho session OF
| 1872-73. $25 900. Total, $i50, 900.
1t Will be soon that these appropriations,
| though made i'll ono year, arc for work
ordered and performed during a period OF
| threo years. Tho works for which the ap-
preparation OF $3.50 600 was made, were OK.
| traordInary, ami will not probably occur
| again for twenty yoars. Thus it will be seen
that tho appropriations that are properly
chargeablr for work dono during the fiscal
year are sl25 o00, instead OF $575. 900. 1t Is
lot afa1 thar fnfu mn ~ F1,rv 1,
lie printing made by tho Legislature OF South
| Carolina, during period Of sixty years,
from 1900 TO 1859, is $27l ,180. This state
| nent slnot correct; but even i, it were ls it
a ciuse for bt astfulness. that but that
amount WAS expended for printing during
| the sixty years, that the people were kept in
Ignorance aud no public information disntmi-
mated amongst them for their enlig ghtonment
and elevation? We think not.
| 1t il stated that ''the committees have re-
ceived large sums as compensation for re-
porting favorably on private bills" What
ever corruption may exist in the Legislature
as the Republicans. They never hesitate to
ofer brides when they have private bill to
psss. BuS corructiOn existed long before the
advont OF tho Republican party OF this State
| luto power. only IL was carried on then with
the artistic skill OF more experienced opera
tors and was MT easily seen.
| The reference to the Judicial Department
calls for special notice. The Judges Of the
! Supreme and Circuit Courts of this State
| number eleven, eight OF whom are natives.
Those gentlemen held positions OF trust and
honor during the days OF tho Conlederacy
but have shown tho patriotic wisdom, since
tho war, to adopt the situation and lend
| their learning and influence to aid the work
OF Reconstruction For this course, thoy
have boon 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. VI the
remaining three, one was selected As the
candidate for Governor in 1870, by the party
which tho taxpayers represent. and the
learning and ability O. the other two hayo
never been questioned.
The allusiUn to tho Executive Department
being general. calls for no specific answer
from US. 1t eimply amounts to this, when
divestcd OF it's spleen and miarcpresenta-
tiOns-that the Republicans arc in power
and control tho State, and they do not.
| Their complaints r0mind US most forcibiy OF
tho reply OF that profound and stuto states.
man, Prince bismarck. to the papal hierar-
cliy, who complained OF the oppressive ma
ture OF tho Prussian laws. "Unfortunately, I,
Gays he, you are accustomed to complain OF
oppression when not permitted to lord it
over Others"
Tho gentlemeHwho havo assembled in this
convention, constituting theH.selves the pc.
culiar representatives Of tho so-calcd tax.
PAYERS. are not VIVA. ma tuey "Yuiu nave IL.
poiticians OF tho old regime-tho fcrmer
ruling element OF the State-who simply do.
siro 10 repair the power they lost by their
folly OF secession. They are not endorsed
by the masses OF tho sober, thinking white
Democrats of the State, who look upon theil
action as unwse and ill-timcd. We will state
y we'll known fact in proof of this.
The Democratic members OF the Legisla
, ture. numbering Ihirty. one, held a caucus
. and unanimously Resolved not to participate
i'll the proceedings OF the convention, anC
addressed letter to The President, advising
against the calling Of the convention, as un
wise aud ipj jud,cious. The President replied
regretting that they had not informed hin
OF their intention previous tJ the IA Getting O
the Executive Committee, that had abroad,
called the convention together.
, Tho Republicans admit the existence O
evils amongst them. Thoy acknowledge the,
have committed mistakes and errors in tn,
party. which they regret. But those error,
, and mistakes are being daily corrected, ani
/ they 500 no necessity whatever to resort tt
the desperate remedies asked for by the CON
yentiOn OF tho so-caled taxpayers. Their.
are enough able and good mon among thos,
who have the present charge Of the Cover n
ment i'll their hands. to right every existing
, wrong. and thoy arc determined to do 80.
In this work, tho dill cultios under which
they havo laoored have been naturally great
! aud havo boon increased ten fold by the dc
3 termined hostilit! aud opposition OF the De
mCcratic party ever since reconstruction
This ID their third effort to regain power
First, they expected it through the electi
Of Seymour and Blair; second, through tn
midnight murders aud assassinations OF X,
| kiu1ism; and. now. thirdly. by the distOrtio,
and INSTRUMENTATION Of facts in order h