The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-12-13
COLUMBIA CORRESPONDENCE.
CoLuMB1Als. C., Dec. II, 1877.

COLUMBIA CORRESPONDENCE. :.
8 COLUMBIA, is. C., Dec. II, 1877.
Mr.. EDrroR: The General Assembly
upSto this date has accomplished but lit
tletupon the.surface. The timeso far has
been taken; up in discussing Of the nu.
merous elections and discussing the inn
portant questions interesting to the peo-
pie, and upon which the prosperity of
the State depends. There is certainly a.
firm determination on the part of the
members to grapple boldly with the great
-issues-before them, and TO- dispose of the
business Of the session as rapidly as the
necessities of the case will permit. "a =.
The committees all have their hands
full, and 1 venture the assertion that
there never was assembled at Columbia
more industrious or Woodworking set Of
members. -. .s..a
The heads of departments have not yet
sent in their reports, consequently the
estimate for next years expenses cannot
be arrived at. II is gratifying 70 know.
that all the expenses Of the, government
during the hast year have been promptly
met, and that there is left a surplus in:
the Treasury. ], will state here, as it is
not generally known, that the amount
levied by his.Legislature at the last $685.
sion was nine hundred thousand $4,000, =
oOO) dollars less than was vas expended by
the Legislature during the last session of
Chamberlain,s administration, notwith-
standing the fact that an amount sufi.
cient to pay the interest on the entire
public debt was included in the last ses-
sion's assessment. ,2,ass e4t.ss +.
Tho commission 10 toinvestigate the pub.
lic'debt has not Yet been able to report,
but it is reasonable to infer that q large
portion of that part of the consolidated
debt constructed since the war viii be in!
validated. Whatever portion ofthis debt
that may be invalidated, the interest col
lected and now on hand, that was intend
ed to be appropriated to said portion in
validated, will. .passto the.credit of next
years taxes, and.will lessen the amount
needed equal to double the amount of in
terre,st so saved. Besides this the royalty
derived or received from Phosphate Com
panies will reach this yearnesrly TO- $780,.
600 /; more than double in amount any
previous receipts from that source. .
The floating indebtedness; was also re-
ferred to the bond commission to investi-
gate. The last session to great extent
ignored these obligations. The commit
tee not having reported, Of course it is
impossible to even conjecture the amount
of this class Of our Indebtedness. tits
safe to say, however, that the burden Of
this debt, when it has been sited through
the House, will not break a mules back.
There are many difficult financial
questions engrossing the attention Of the
Assembly, and ! have no hesitation in
saying that in my opinion several years
must yet elapse before all the accumu-
lated rubbish Of Radical corruption can
be. cleared away. The work has been
gloriously scommenced, and. will be
pushed vigorously, andeI feel sure that
the dayswiIl certainly come, if due dill.
gence be, observed, when South Carolina
will be redeemed, and our financial sky
will be as clear asis Its political sky Of
| to-day. .'i|I 77g.:a : go is.'oa3 go
The most important question so far be:
fore the House is the bill fixing a certain
rate of interest. This bill has already
passed the Senate. The distinguished
fnancier, Mr.. g., q. Memminger, re! re
marked yesterday that, the question had
been!as ably discussed as any he'had ever
heard. q ,is7':fii' q; ~ .. -, !,
I suppose you have heard ere fhis fhis that II
Mr. Orr was defeated for, the Speaker
ship, and that Mr.. Sheppard was elected,
Mr.. Sheppard, knowing that Gen. Wal:
lace would be candidate, made prepa.
rations in time, while Mr.. Ou,, to. the
very last was loath to become candi.
date, and only consented at the urgent
entreaties of the opponents of Mr.. shep-
pard, believing as they did that he would
be the strongest candidate and the most
available one. .sn.r, s,s;.,..a n
siesp;i 9lnahaste, yours &C., -
-ei'''.i. '.-,.".i..;|; ooR w. SIMPSON.