Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-11-08
R. r. lIcmpLill, in Abpcville Mct1'um.J
The HscsOna Of Reforms,

AS the meeting of tho Legislature draws
near the committees arc vigorously hurrying
up their work. think very .udicially they
nre keeping their counsels to themselves, MS
many Of their discoveries will not do for pub.
licaton. In time the people will have the
benefit of reading the evidence taken by tho
committees. Tho work of tho bond commits
sion is very dull and tedious, but Of great
magnitude and of tho very greatest impor
tancc to tho Stac. The members dos oryo the
pay allowed them, and also the hearty thanks
Of the entire people for their constant and
patient labor The "Rasca!!!y" committee
find much Of romance in tho evidence given
before them to add to the interest of their
abors The villnnes Of tho lato rulers of
this State arc truly astonishing, aud no imagi.
nation can conceive Of their extent. What
pryng newspapers correspondents have given
10 the press in tho past does not give you an
inkling Of tho cnormitics Of Radical misrulc.
| mny safely say there was not an honest man
in the whole lot Stealing. bribery and spec
nation WIS the order Of tho day. Every one
had II hand in it. lndvidu ais received nav
ment for services they never rendered, and
whole committees joined together and made
up fictitious claims against tho State and drew
money on these claims. Figures were added
to the clams, and what went from tho hand of
an honest man rs $500 would como out of the
committee rs 81 900 and the committee would
divide tho difference. Exorbtant prices we're
charged for supplies furnished tho various
public institutions, so that the managers of
these establishments could divide profits.
Claims were paid in full only 20 come back
again in another shape or in another name
and be paid again and then Put back against
tho State and come out in Bonanza warrant,
Many OF these arc still outstanding against
the State, and some men are so Jealous of the
honor and credit of tho State" that they have
the hardihood to argue that it will be q ''stain
upon the escutchcon of South Carolinn" not
to let the Radical settlement of the debt stand
ms it .s. They say we may mako matters
worse by going back Of that settlement, as Il
any ono could be damaged by doing what is
right. This argument is used particularly
in reference to the consolidated debt, but if t
is good in thnt case why not apply 4 to tho
Bonnnza eases. know in tko latter case
there are claims for wood f:rnshcd the Peni-
tertiary; iShero not c,,ip was delivered run.
n'ng up among tbs thousands Yet it is cons
f.snded that wo must knock off fifty cents on
tho dollar Of nm honest claim in order to save
the credit of the State by paying q bascly
fraudo lent claim to this delcctable crew Of
scoundrcls who have by their knayeries
plunged the State almost into hopeless bank
rupcy. In the consolidated bonds It's said
the credit and honor of the State is pledged to
payment in the very words Of the bonds them
selves, for they arc receivable for taxes. So
it is in the case Of all these other schemes,
for tho villains wcre very FREQ in using words
to bind the State. If the mere wording of q
bond makes it binding on US We will havo q
mountain load Of debt weighing us down for
years to come Take the words on a counter
felt United States bank note and thcy aro
pretty apt to bo right, but tho United States
Government is not so jealous Of her credit
rs to pay such note. Sho rather takos tho
sensible vicw that her honor and credit is
best maintained by refusal to pny, and she
cvcn goes 80 far in sumo cases as to punish
those who attempt to defrand hor. A
thorough examination of the debt NAV not bc
very encouraging to tho bondhoders and
their advocates, but it would bo an outrage
to impose tax for years to como upon our
children to pay any claim against ithe State
until it has been rigidly scrutinizcd If
know what | am about, l mover intend to hclp
Kimpton and his crowd in their iniouitous
designs. against tho people Of this STATIC, and
it would be sin and shame for any ono elso
to do it.
There was jobbory in everything tho Radio
calls did, and fraud infected every transaction.
for they were totally depraved. Chamberlain
was as bad as any Of the crow, and tho people
need not BIO unoasy about his fate when hands
are arc laid upon him. 1t won't be long before
this is done, and whom tho movement is nado
thoro arc not lawyers enough on this Cont,
mont to save him. l havo tho best of reasons
for making this statement.
The State ofroxas has lust purchased 400
acres of land, with valuable buildings and
improvements, near lIemstcad for tho State
University for colored youths. Tho prco
paid was $4,000. Tho intention is to COM
bine tho State University with tho Aericultu
raj and Mechanical College, tho Same in effect
to DO branch Of tho c,llcgo at Bryan.