The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-03-04

tlOQS uldu0 III olc SSftt ~. tiiS " "
done and to be done, by these two
officials, amounted to S475,O00, ex'
elusive OF 100000 for publishing
the laws. Aud in the fiscal year
1878 there was actually paid te
them for printing $685., 900, leaving
q large sum still due by the State
And this, Notwithstanding thu
avowal Of the two officials them
selves, that the work done wa
worth no more. than $1O0,e04; ant
the testimony of others shat it
value was only $4,000. The stu
pendous fraud involved in this ant
similar modes of making the legit
innate objects of public expenditure
the medium of plundering tn
treasury, cannot be better illustra
ted than by the following facts
The total appropriations for publ
printing made by the Legislature o
South Carolina, during period 0
sixty years, from 1900 to 1859, i
S27l ,i60. During the last yea
|. the amount actually expended TO
public printing by the present Leg
islature was $331,945. This i
SeO,765 more than it cost the Stat
for sixty years before the war.
Committees have received larg'
sums as compensation for reporting
tavorably on private bills; ant
strong reasons exist for believing
that a large amount Of State banl
bills, funded by the State to dis
charge her liability, have been re
issued by those entrusted by th'
Legislature with the cancellation
thereof.
In the Judiciary Department
evils equally gricvous have beer
produced under the present State
Government. The Judges hold
their offices for short terms. Theil
continuance in office depends upor
the caprices of the Legislators. The
result is, that the duties of theil
high office are discharged under
influences and responsibilities nee
essarily adverse to the independent
administration of justice. Tho
jurors, moreover, are selected b!
three officials, of. whom two are
the arpointces Of the Governor
The consequence is, that the defeat
of an obnoxious litagant may be
made certain by the selection OF
the jury. Or if no special object
be contemplated by these officials;
the choice is frequently made, sim
ply for the small pay, of men who
arc unable to either read or write.
In either case the ends of justice
are defeated.
In the Executive Department all
these evils eliminate. It is openly
asserted and believed that offices
are the subject Of barter; and the
manner in which such Offices are
proves that qualiiica-
ton has little influence in the ap-
pointments. In matters under the
control of a single individual, it is
difficult to prove corruption; but
there is one state Of facts that al
ways stands for proof: A large en-
penditure of money by an official,
who is without any estate and re-
ceives but moderate salary, es-
tablishes beyond doubt that the
money must come from somcirreg-
ular source. On this principle, the
two Governors elected under the
present Constitution stand con-
lemned in public opinion, To de-
tect and punish these crimes is
impossible; the Governor controls
:he avenues of justice. Indeed
he entire system is one of self
and selt-protecting cor
'uption.
In most of the States, there
night be some chance of redress
through the ballot-box. But here,
gain, the State Government inter-
,oses an insuperable barrier. The
elections are conducted by persons
appointed in the interest Of the
,ficials, and the returns are under
he absolute control of the parties
II power. Under such circum-
tances, voting is a form and .elec-
ions mockery.
Suffering under such grievances,
md despairing of relief from this
government, your memorlalists
'ome respectfully to your honora-
,le body for redress. The govern
nent which thus Expresses us was
'irtual!y established by Congress;
nd while we believe they did not
oresee the evils to which it has
;iven rise, we cannot doubt that
hey will assist in removing them,
o soon as they are satisfied of their
xistence. All that we have assert
d is capable of proof; but know
ng as we do that the evils Of which
We complain are certain in their
xis:ence, and are most likely to
Increase than diminish, your memo
ialists most earnestly ask your aid
Il providing the proper remedy.
THE DECORATION OF CARPETS. "A
arpet should convey the thought of
lowers, for it is pleasant to associate
Icwers with the floor on which we
uno,3. ho, on6 npfI liz WI