The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-06-18
Editorial Notes on Current Topics.

Editorial Notes on Current Topics.
Gen. james Chestnut, Chairman, has issued
a call for the Executive Committee OF the
TAXPAYERS Convention to meet in Charleston
on Thursday, 18th of June, instant The
main subject of consideration will be the
prompt and efficient organization OF tax unions
throughout the State.
The civil rights bill is practically dead tor
the present session of Congress. The House OF
Representatives refuses to take any action look
ing to its passage, as many of the Republican
members are unwilling to appear before their
constituents in defence of this measure, es-
pecially those seeking q re-elections Civil
RIGHTS bills are not so popular in the rural dis
tricts of the North and West Besides, 1t IS
now currently reported that President Grant is
decidedly opposed to the bill, and has used his
influence to insure its defeat
The Democratic victory in Oregon grows
more decisive and significant as the full returns
are received, and now, from all that can be
gathered, the Democrats have elected the entire
State and Congressional ticket by majority
of 100 votes. This emphatic response to the
victories in New Hampshire and Connecticut
is cutie encouraging, and shows that the ia
NOUS tidal wave of reform is about to sweep
away the party of corruption and protlgacy'
from one end of the country to the other.
The Columbia Phonig intimates that an eX-
ira session of the Legislature will be called at
an early day We cannot imagine the pretext
for the re-assembling Of our sapient law-mak-
ers, whose record as whole deserves the re-
probation of every honest citizen. The extra
session last fell was stupendous farce; and
amounted to, nothing, save to give each mem
ber an extra allowance Of pay. The regular
session was greatly protracted beyond: the linz
its of decency, andnow there is prospect tor
another haul from. the State Treasury it re-
ouires minority of both Houses, we believe,
to call the Legislature together again, under
the resolution of adjournment, and the people
should hold the siguers to strict accountable
itv for this useless expenditure of their money.
The new Secretary of the Treasury has al
ready astonished the natives around Washing
ton by prompt Inauguration of practical re-
form in his department. Soon after taking
charge, Col. Brstow sent for the chief OF the
appointing bureau and demanded to know how
many persons received pay and rendered no
service in return. When the long list of sine
cures. was shown, he directed the clerk to strike
every name from the payroll Immediately.
These parasites of the Treasury are relatives or
friends of Senators and Representatives, as
general rule and through whose influence they
were appointed. Secretary Bristow's action
will likely raise howl among the members OF
Congress but the country will hope he has the
nerve to Withstand the pressure they may bring
against this excellent beginning in the work OF
reform.
The Chester Reporter recently called atten-
tion to the fact that Henry A. Smith, late
County Treasurer of Fairfield, who was con-
victed not long ago of neglecting his official
duties and refusing to comply with the law
about making his official returns, was allowed
extraordinary privileges by the Sheriff OF
Fairfield, such as taking his meals at the
Sheriff7s private table, enjoying all the luxu-
ries of life, including champagne, and appear
ing outside the Jail limits whenever he felt
inclined. The publication of these facts, sus-
tained by testimony of the most unquestlona-
Bile character, brought the matter to the atten-
tion of Judge Mackey, who sent an order by
telegraph that the said Henry A. Smith should
be held in custody exactly as all other prison
ers in the Jail, and requiring the Sheriff to show
cause at the next term why he should not be
indicted for his conduct and attached for this
fragrant contempt of the Court Judge
Mackeys prompt and decided action deserves
commendaton from all good citizens, who
desire equal and impartial administration OF
public justice.
The decision of Judge Graham to quash the
Indictment against Gov. Moses does not take
any one by surprise. The learned and astute
Judge may be right in his legal points, which
we are not prepared to discuss, but the general
immersion was that some loophole would be
found to shield the Governor from an investi-
oation until after the next election, even
though the law was uncertain 1t was never
intended to make inquiry into his official and
personal conduct, for the reason that dlsclos-
ures might be made to damage "the party
before the country. Republican journals are
quick to allegc that their opponents condemned
Gov. Moses without hearing, and that he
WAS already prejudged at the bar of public
opinion, which they regard with exceeding
horror and reprehcnd as il]iberal. But these
journals will remember that Moses is already
pilloried as ''born stealer," and that he
should have seized this opportunity to assert
his innocence, if that were possible. His fail
ure and refusal to have the Orangeburg matter