The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-03-12
Ex-Treasurer Parker and the Legisla-

Ex-Treasurer Parker and the Legisla-
ture.
= The letter of Ex-Treasurer Niles G. Parker
on the State finances seems to have created an
unusual excitement in the General Assembly.
In, the House of Representatives, when the
letter was read at the request Of Q member, q
concurrent resolution vas introduced by Mr..
Cochran, of Anderson, which instructed the
Attorneys General to institute, without delay,
criminal proceedings against the said Niles 6.
Parker, late State Treasurer, for the fraudulent
and Illegal issue Of S., ,s65 GOO worth of conver-
sion bonds, which have heretofore been de-
clared null and void by the Legislature. This
resolution was adopted Immediately, and sent
TO the Senate for concurrence.
The matter was discussed for couple Of
days in the Senate, when it was finally deter
mined to lay the concurrent resolution on the
table, for the purpose of receiving joint reso-
luton on the same subject, which was intro
duced by Senator Dunn, of Horny, and received
its first reading. The joint resolution declares
that Ex-Treasurer Parker issued bonds to the
amount of $5,s65, 900, contrary to the true in
tent and meaning of the Act authorizing the
conversion bonds, and without any lawful au-
thority that it is due to the public law he
has violated, to the public credit he has injured,
and to the public creditors he has defrauded
that the General Assembly should provide for
his prompt and proper punishment; and to
this end the Attorney General is authorized
and required to institute immediate legal pro-
ceedings against the said Niles G. Parker for
the aforesaid illegal issue of conversion bonds.
A Joint committee is to aid and assist the At
torney- General in the prosecution.
The difference consists in the character OF
the proceeding to be instituted and the mode
of granting authority for the prosecution.
Both branches of the General Assembly ap-
! pear determined to make Parker suffer for his
temerity in attacking the present adlninistra-
ton, and it is matter of surprise that one so
vulnerable as the Ex-Treasurer should seek
any notoriety on the finance question. His
manipulation of the bond market, whereby
enormous gains accrued to his private purse
| long ago aroused suspicion that all was not
right, and it has always been contended by the
Democrats that the issue of the conversion
bonds was an unmitigated fraud upon the
State. The Legislature acted wisely in repu,
dating these bonds in the proposed settlement
Of the public debt, and its present attitude
towards the Ex-Treasurer is only a just &c.
ouence to their condemnation of the fraudu'
lent issue. He deserves punishment for his
official conduct in many particulars, we have
no doubt. But We cannot fail to remember
that the State was defrauded through the iu'
strumentality of q Financial Board, which
embraced the Governor, Attorney General and
Treasurer, under whose direction these bonds
were sold by the Financial Agent in New York
and without whose authority the bonds could
not be placed upon the market. Now, if this
be true, the Ex-Treasurer is being made the
scape-goat for others sins, and we think il
would be right and proper to include his &C.
completes and confreres when the proceeding
are instituted. We would not extenuate hi:
guilt nor lessen his responsibility, bot we woule
carry along with him oshers who shared ths
profits of his fraudulent conduct and were
equally blamable with himself for the illega
issue of the conversion bonds. Yet, we art
confident that legal proceedings against Parke'
will reveal the true story of our 6nancia
troubles, and bring to light many importan
L -
favor prompt, full and thorough investiga
ton. It will be an interesting prelude to the
next summers campaign.