The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-28

behalf, and will use all the talent and
energy l possess 20 defend their cause
against such injustice and oppression as
the passage of this 9th section is calcu,
lated % heap upon them.
object 10 the passage of this section
again, because it delegates more power
20 this commission than am willing 10
delegate TO any set of men ca earth
leo tact Of 1t is. since the corrupt decis-
ION OF the grand Presidential Commission
nave perfect horror for investing 90
mulch power In any set of men. would
nov KNOW, accept myself so great q
qeiegation OF power, and am not will
Ing to give 1t to any set Of men. l an,,
SIR, In favor, rs Gov. Hampton advises In
ms message, TO appoint o commission to
investigate all these debts. and they
should report back TO us at the next
meeting OF the General Assembly, and
tnsn let us act on their report before
paying one cent of interest on them.
This will be throwing mere safeguards
around the interests cf our State and our
constituents. 1t will be remembered, sir.
that every bond on which we paw inter.
est will be acknowledged as honest and
valid. It may be illegitimate now, but
rs soon as We pay the interest OH it il is
an adopted child of the State, and will
have to be paid, 1t matters not how un-
just 1t may have been originally, as this
act is an acknowledgment On chr part
that the whole bond is Just.
Sir, further take the ground that we
should pay all the just debts of the State,
but that there are no Just debts made
since the war, unless the State has re-
ceived value for them. The debts were
made under the mere pretense of law,
passed by set Of corrupt carpet-baggers
and dishonest scalawage in the face Of all
the earnest protests of all good people in
the State through the Tax Payers Union,
the press and the stump, saying TO the
world that those debts were unjust, and
that they were forced upon us, and that
we would not pay them. Aud, sir, if
men chose to risk their money by buying
them at o low rate, it is their own mis-
fortune, brought co them simply by their
own acts, being warned of the danger
and acquainted with all of the facts con-
nected with the Investment. Sir, le. ns
not act in haste in this matter, which in
wolves the interests of our constituents
to the amount of six or eight millions of
dollars, but let us take time to separate
ali the grain from the chaff. end when
separated let us in good faith pay all the
just debts of the State and no more. Sir.
it You call this reputation, am repu-
diationist; but this is not repudiation;
it is merely refusing to pay forged and
unjust debt.
My opponents have harped loudly
about the "fair fame" of South Carolina,
and, cir. I rejoice as much :a .isS "as;;.- :a;s;;;.-
fame' of South Carolina as any member
on this floor, and would be ns far from
tarnishing it with dishonest act, and
would make as great sacrifice to pay
all her honest debts, am sure but while
| carefully guard the "fair fame" of our
State, l feel it equally my duty to guard
the interests of my constituents at home,
and to enter my most solemn protest
against saddling this immense debt on
them anu their descendapts-a debt
which has perhaps not t,ne6tted an
honest man in this State one cent.
Georgia, after GOV. Bullock left the
State. refused to pay large amount Of
unjust debts made under similar circum.
| stances 10 ours. And did it ruin her
pure nameS NO, sir; her bonus are
worth to-day from 81 to $1.1O on the
dollar. But Virginia was so very partic-
ular about hei "Ialr fame" that she re-
cognized all of her debts: aud what is
the result? Her bonds are to-day worth
! ~ SShto va suO dSiihi. Auio Etts t- LII
fate ii we try to pay all these unjust
4 debts. we will be unable to pay our
just ones, and the pure name of South
Carolina :.hie!. ,as been boasted of SO
much viii Bs sullied and blighted by
bankruptcy, or her bonds reduced as the
1 bonds of Virginia are, to mere nominal
/ value.
/ have been much mortified to see dur
ing this discussion the very unfair means
employed to carry this fifth section by
my opponents. They have even, some
Of them, thrown fre.hrands he.ween the
two races, aud tried to kindle anew the
almost extinguishcd fire of hatred and
bad feeling, telling them that we did not
want to pay these debts because the COL
ored people had the majority in the Leg
islature at the time they were passed.
This is not our objection. Our objection
is. that they are unjust and fraudulent,
and my colored friends will remember
that they do not own any of those bonds,
but that they and their constituents will
be taxed 70 pay them, und that they have
never been benefited one cent by these
immense fraudulent debts. Again, they
have said If you do not pass this 9TH
a section the State cannot borrow money
4 enough TO payithe members, end you will
hVp GSe yVut AuuhCy- AOPO- yOu Will
! remember stha committee on WAYS and
Means reported before this discussion
4 commenced that the State had over one
hundred thousand dollars now within
i vaults and that our pay would be cev-
! tain. We haze no reason to dispute their
report, and iflit is true We do not want
20 borrow money to pay the members, rs
we already have plenty for that purpose.
4 J. hope no member viii Ibe induced 10
vote for this section through fear Of not
4 getting his pay. /, for one, would vote
i agaiEktit i'll knew j never would get
one cent eff pay. .a0 t
Il Again, they argue that not to vote for
: this h;ll Is to oppose Gov. Hampton's
plans aud his administration. To those
/ remark that We have had the Governors
+ word TO the contrary in his message, and
I j take it for granted ;f hehas changed
! his opinion in this matter, that OF course
i iu wouia anu snuui1 navo sS;a,t 40 d iIiSts- Go
gagc informing US Of the change and ad.
l.vising US how TO proceed.
~ They say, MF. Speaker, that this bill
!. strengthens Hanipt1u's administration
i say, sir, It evidently weakens it, on the
same principle that Innn beginning in
the world badly In debt weakens and
|. ilretards his future progress. Remove all
|. 1.-the fraudulent debts and Abe great load
! Iisrenoge6 from bis administration. No
|, Igentiemcn, be it fa, frcyn me TO retard
E:a z. :. 4 =.Saaie.. In he leasA Sir his
!. pfaises risaffom every mountain top, Aea
j oyeriepery hill, run down every valley
II = 4 { = . - A..Fk A