The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-02-11
Our Columbia Correspondence.
COLUMBIA, s. c., Feb. 8

There have been considerable numDer Oh
bills disposed of during the past week, some
fayorably and some unfavorably. Among the
most important was the bill to relieve the
houses to be built on the burnt district in
Charleston from taxation for period of years.
A number of Conservatives voted against this
bill, for which action the Charleston Neaos and
Courier, in an editorial of January SOth, with
out giving them the credit of having acted in
accordance with their conscience, and what
they in their judgment regarded for the best
interest of the whole State, accuses them OF
being actuated by narrow minded and pro-
tracted policy, the offspring of jealousy to the
city of Charleston. If there is any jealousy
at all, 1t is the jealousy that Charleston feels
for the up.country, and not what the up.coun-
try feels for Charleston. There is no denying
the fact that Charleston does not appear as big
in our eyes as it does in the eyes of her own
citizens and they can see no reason for grant
ing to Charleston privilege which they would
be compelled to refuse to grant to any other
section of the State, simply upon the ground
that it was the beautiful "Gty BY the Sea"
which asked for it. The Conservatives from
the up-country also voted against Mr. Tren-
holm's bill to allow interest on over due bonds.
They did not dispute the justice Of the meas
ure, but considered the Courts competent TO
settle the question; and besides, they did not
think it good policy to reopen the settlement
Of the bonded debt, which the passage of this
claim would have certainly done There are
many parties who regard themselves aggrieved
by this settlement, and if We open the door to
crafty one claim, no matter how just, there
could be no telling when it could be closed; (;
and besides, we did not think it wise to estab-
lish such a precedent for the after use of the
other side of the House-such an excuse would
have perhaps been all these hungry cormo-
rants, who feed upon the public crib, would
have wanted to heap additional burdens upon
the already oppressed taxpayers. These few
reasons will, I am assured, convince the up
country constituency that their representatives
did right in voting against these two bills, got
ten up for Charleston's benefit at the expense
of the State, and that they were not acsuated
BY jealousy or malice. Now, let US see how
the Charleston Conservatives have acted when
the interest of the up-country was concerned,
and when, from the nature Of the case, they
had no interest.
When Leslie, of Land Commission fame, was
advocating an amendment to the liquor license
law, so as to compel the County Commission
ers to grant licenses outside Of cities, towns and
villages, to anybody to retail liquor upon the
payment of fifty dollars, the Charleston Con-
servatives we're not content to tacitly support
the bill, but Mr.. Trenholm made an earnest
speech in support of it. do not regard it
necessary to explain how such measure as
this would affect the farming interest all over
the state. Would it not be glorious state of
affairs to have bar.rooms and depots for stolen
produce at every cross-road in the country?
Mr.. Trenholm and his colleagues were, of
course, not interested, as they lived within the
bounds of the city limits. Again, they voted
against the bill repeating the lien law, which
had already passed the Senate, refusing to
abide by the statement of the Conservatives,
thst the law as abused worked o hardship to
both landowner and laborer, and should be
repealed. The bill was lost, but had it passed
it would not have prevented colored people
from getting credit for supplies, or prevented
the farmer from collecting payment for the
same, as the whole ground is covered by an
other act, which provides for the same thing,
but in much better way.
Now, we ask the judgment of all fair.minded
men upon the matter in issue, if there was any
jealousy displayed, upon what section would
the verdict fall? The Conservatives have.
throughout the whole session, acted with sim
gular unanimity, and we have no doubt but
that the bond which bihds them together will
continue to be of force, unless the Neaos und
Courier, by its careless and thoughtless accusa-
tions, brings about the very breach which /
have no doubt it really deprecates. We admit
that the Conservatives acted in accordance
with the dictates of their best judgment in
voting against these measures, though not in
accordance with our way of thinking, and all
we ask is to be allowed the same privilege.
At any rate. we do not intend to be deferred
from the performance of what we regard our
duty by the Mews and Courier, or any other
paper.
The citizens Of Anderson County will be no
little surprised to hear that Sam Johnson, after
all, has been appointed Jury Commissioner.
I have heard it remarked ofGov. Chamberlain,
before and since his election, that, though pos
sessed of superior mental qualifications, he
had none of that self.reliant, positive character
which indicates the presence of well-deveoped
moral faculties; that members of his party
could drive him to the performance Of things
contrary To the convictions of his conscience.
This estimate of the Governors character was