The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-11-24
@@iseslIaesons. g
CORRESPONDENTS.

| H0n. w. b. NQSH, y. Il. OO0ttS,
NJ. j. Hirsch, E.. N. Brayton,
James II. Smith, ". II. Jones,
j. II. White, j. HolinShead, L.
L. Gu6n, 4. ". Curtis, VIM.
Slmons
GENTLEMEN-I expected to have
met many republican members of
the general assembly here this
week, and hoped to have an oppor-
tunity for consultation as to the
best means for laying the FONDA
tion for the Inauguration of such
reform measures, through and by
| the legislative department of the
government, as will redeem each
and every pledge made by the re-
publican party during the cam
paign Of 1874. Unfortunately
! most Of the members are at home,
and I shall take the liberty Of ad-
dressing this communication TO
such members only as are in the
city, and trust you will give the
same your Immediate attention.
For a long time I have been
watching the efforts made by the
executive department of our state
government for reform. 1t is a
pleasure to say thus publicly that
I admire the numerous messages
and speeches Of his excellency
Governor Chamberlain on reform,
and the sincerity and earnestness
with which he seems anxious to
deal with the weaknesses and
faults Of our administration. [ also
sympathize will Comptroller
Dunn in his efforts to purify the
treasury department, and corres-
pondingly with our state treasurer
! in his eagerness to protect the
peoples money from the devouring
nav of banks and their coad u
tors. Both seem to have a sense
of their duty-so sensitive that
it will be hard for the people if they
cannot manage between them to
arrive at the milk in the cocoanut;
and last but not least, [ appreci-
ate the laudable efforts of our at
torney-g general to convict default
ers, particularly as he has had the
annoyance Of seeing them relieved
from the consequences Of their
crimes, after so much expense and
trouble, roug b constitutional
provisions invoked in their behalf.
But I feel compelled to submit: af-
ter a careful consideration Of the
the whole subject, that the ques-
tion has arisen in my own mind,
can all this really bring about
reform, lessen the burdens Of tax
alton, or economy in expendi-
ture? Can our executive reform
ers secure us anything really sub
stantial? And, in reply, [ am
fain to express the opinion that
without help from legislative
sources they must beat their
wings against impossibilities.
To explain myself fully, let m e
say that now the state treasurer
publishes his monthly statements
Of every dollar received and paid
out, from whom, to whom, and on
what account, nobody can truly say
that the funds are stolen, unac-
counted for or misapplied. There
fore, it seems to me that the only
reform now practicable is an
economical levy and appropria-
ton, so far as administrative finance
is concerned. Nothing further
in this direction can be reached
but by the passage of constitu-
tional or legislative measures.
Such have, after all, made all the
late reforms possible, and most of
them necessary. There is no long
er auy doubt that the legislature
Of the state is as earnestly commit
ted to reform as any branch of the
government, and it is as a men,
Der of that body, knowing the
feeling of many of my colleagues,
that I have presumed to notice
hero some of the practical consid-
erations which [ think deserve
notice at the present time; and in
doing 80, 1 may add, I am conf
dent that branch of the govern
ment will never ask credit for any
reforms they do not institute and
secure.
Both republican and democrat
ic papers have TO some extent dis
cussed the necessity Of a new con-
stitutional convention for South
| rorol;no Now 7 feel assured