The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-09-19
An Old Mystery Cleared Up.

Tho confession made by Niles G. Par
ker, ex-Treasurer of South Carolina, in
an interview with a reporter Of the Neu
York World, was made at his house in
Jersey city, and was taken down phono-
graphically. Tie statement was made
without previous preparation, which will
account in great measure for the loose
ness of arrangement, and also for any
slight inaccuracies of dates or figures.
The confession is as follows:
PARKER's REcoRD AND ELECTION.
I settled in Charleston in February,
tile supply business. In 1867 General
Candy appointed me an Alderman in the
city of Charleston. Gaillard was Mayor
at the time, and there was a place in the
council made vacant by death. A few
months later l was appointed chairman
of the Committee on Legislation under
the reconstruction acts. After the dis
charge Of that duty I devoted myself
again to private business. I was soon,
however, elected a member of the con-
stitutional convention from Barnwell
County, though I made no effort to Sc
cure my nomination or election. In the
convention I was the chairman of the
Committee on Finances and succeeded in
raising the amount necessary for the ex-
penses Of the convention. In the dis
charge Of my duties I had the co-opera-
ton and good will of Governor Orr. AS
a member Of the convention I opposed
the passage of the law authorising the
State to issue bonds. I took the ground
that the State indebtedness and the cur
rent expenses could be provided for by
taxation and that any further issue of
honda was unnecessary. AS in previous
year the State expenses had no exceeded
100000, I did not believe that more than
5000 0 would beneeded to cover them.
The surplus amount paid into the treasu-
ry as collected taxes would be enough to
meet the payment of the interest on the
State debt, consolidated and floating, and
settle, in the course of a few years, all
outstanding claims not represented al
ready by State bonds. The act was in
co%rporated III the constitution, however,
in spite of my opposition.
At the first election under the new con-
stitution / was put in nomination for
State Treasurer and elected. This nomi-
nation grew wholly out of the success
which l had achieved in raising the ex-
penses of the convention. I went into
office in July, 1868. Scott was Governor,
Chamberlain was Attorney General, Car
doZa was Secretary of State, Frank Mo-
SOS was Adjutant General and Neagle
was Comptroller General. The constitu-
ton of the Legislature was entirely Re-
publican, I think, without all exception.
The Democrats refused to take part in
the election. Naturally both Senate and
House wero composed very largely of
colorded members. Frank Moses was
the Speaker of the House and undoubt-
edly the most influential member of it
during his four years term of office.
When I took charge Of the State Treas,
ury there was only S42 in it. By the
Comptroller Generals report for 1867 the
bonded and stock debt was nearly Sc, 0OU,-
600, and there was considerable interest
outstanding, as well as another unadiust-
ed debt amounting approximately to
50, 900, 600. The tax of tho first year was
81 mills upon the assessed valuation OF
the property of the State. This tax was
expected to yield 81, 200, 900 or 81, 300, 600.
The fiscal year of the State closed on Oc-
tober 81. 1868. We went into office in
July, and Especial session of the Legis-
lature was called immediately. Instead
Of imposing a tax to cover the expense OF
the current year as well as the year end
ing October 81, 1869, we only imposed one
tax, as we had then an honest intention
to relieve the people Of the State
OF all but necessary burdens. So
We made a tax for n year only in
tending to provide for outstanding claims
by the ISSUE of bonds. OF this tax inn
posed we collected about t~hree-fourths,
and the balance was left outstanding.
No extraordinary measures were resort
ed to in order to enforce its collection,
and think that judgment wa never OBJ
tained against the delinquents In the
courts.
CHAMBERLAIN's PECULIAR BILLS.
Under the provisional government a
law had been passed authorizing the
funding of all outstanding debt, interest
and principal, up to July L, 1857. The
Legislature in July, 1868, passed a bill to
pay all interest due from July, 1867, in
gold. This bill was engineered by tho
State Financial Agent, H.. H. Kimpton.
lie was q friend and classmate Of Cham