The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-07-22

abuses OF the Laud Oomriissiol,ni,.' /
spilled to the eminent law firm of
Pope & Haskell, in Columbia, for ad-
vice as to my powers in the premises;
but. after duly considering the matter,
they advised me that no relief could
be had, except through the action OF
the Legislature.
Much has been said about the in!
crease OF the State debt. In regard to
chat matter, have simply to say, that
there Was an inoreaseN atc2. So, ,OOO,-
900 during the time was in Office.
The remainder of the new bonde is-
sued daring that time merely changed
the form Of 40 much of the debt, and
did not Increase the debt itself. The
pnblic has been led to believe that
1aas has been merely change in the
form OF the debt has been an increase
OF 1t; but such is not tho case. You
might as we'll say, that neighhor, by
giving his note to pay book account.
anoreases his indebtedness, as to say
that the State. by issuing new bonds
In payment Of currency in the shape
OF bills receivable, of interest past
due, Of bills OF State corporation
aud claims against itself, increases it's
deSt. And Ihis six millions of in.
crease woald never have occurred, had
1t not been for tho reckless and profli.
gEte expenditure OF the public moneys
by the Legislature during the last two
gears I was in office, for their own ex.
.renses. I attempted to stop the pay
.Rent OF ehe enormous sums OF money
drawn ceom the Treasury by the Legis-
dataEe. by refusing to approve their
>chsoks; but In this was met with the
pfesentment OF articles of impeach-
Hent5 and was informed that my inter.
denance would be followed by my sus.
pension from office. found that the
moderation and care which character.
i1ed the action OF the first Legislature
had entirely passed away. and thst the
ruling object of the new members
generally ~as to filoh from. the trea.
: Adry every dollar that was collected
aronl taxes. During that session, as Z
have already mentioned, they took
about $415,0 out OF the 1926. 600
collected for taxes, and passed an ad-
'ditional appropriation for themselves
Of $500. 900, whioh.I vetoed on the
last day OF the session; and the at
tempted fraud was 30 apparent, that
they did not dare to pass it over my
veto. Z could see. however. in the
/: taoss,N many of the leading members,
S.he dark frown of angry disappoint-
ment. and the determination to have
teveuge for my thus interfering with
their scheme to enrich themselves at
the expense of the State. When the
NEXT eession-.hat of I87l-oonvened,
1t was apparent to the most casual OBJ.
server that they had determined to
pnnish the man who had dared to in.
'terpose his sconstitutional prerogative
to prevent them from getting for
themselves the public moneys which
had been appropriated to other pur.
posHA. For hthe current fiscal year,
there had been levied tax sufficient
TO raise 81. 131 200. Their first at.
kampt was TO take the money ont OF
tho hands of the Treasurer. and place
it in possession Of committees of their
own bodies appointed for that pur.
pose. Finding that tl,is scheme could
not be Accomplished, on account OF
constitutional objections. they deter
nnined TO get rid of the officers who
stood between them and the public
funds by impeachment. In the COURSE
OF their proceedings,' however. they
feand that it was necessary only to get
1id Of che law, which provided that no
1aeney should be paid out OF the trea.
sury, except by approval of the Co.
veEnof. Therefore. they virtually re-
peaied this law, by directing the Trea-
anres to pay the money over his ooun-
ter on the presentation of checks
signed by the President Of the Senate
aud Speaker of the House of Repre-
eentatives. During this session, as I
have already mentioned, they drew ont
OF the treasury 1927, 600 of the money
collected from taxes. every dollar OF
WhiOh had been previously expended
Ty appropriation for other purposes.
Think of that, .citizens! The
Legislature took $927, 900 in money to
pay their expenses fer a single session.
Aad not satisfied with this. they issued
additional pay certificates to the
amount Of $500, 900, making an aggre.
gate OF over 81, ,400.00Ol I ask you, il
1t is possible for any man, or any set
OF men, to fairly administer the 60.
vernment of the State. when its law
making branch absorbs all the revenue
of the State. and involves the State in
an immense floating debt besides? To
accomplish their purposes, they refused
to permit the payment Of the raouey
hat bn1 L.