The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-20

First, but Chamberlain Tempted hana
pith Golden Euit-He Repents and Be-
heves IN Hampton.
From, the Ne,c York World Of Monday.
The World reporter called upon Mr..
Niles G. Parker, at his house in Jersey
City, and obtained from him 8 very full
statement, which was taken down phono-
graphically. The statement was made
without previous preparation, and this
may account in great measure for some
looseness noticeable in the arrangement,
and also for any slight inaccuracies of
dates and figures. Yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Parker was engaged in conducting a
large temperance meeting in Jersey City,
and on returning home made the follow
ing statement:
PARKER'S RECORD AND ELECTION.
I settled in Charleston in February,
1866, engaging in planting and the mer-
camille supply business. In 1867 Gen.
Candy appointed me alderman in the
city of Charleston. Gaillard was Mayor
at the time and there was place in the
Council made vacant by death. A few
months later I was appointed chairman
of the committee of legislation under the
Reconstruction acts. After the
discharge of that duty, I devoted myself
again to private business. ] was soon,
however, elected a member of the Con-
stitutional Convention from Barnwell
County, though Imade no effort to secure
my nomination or election. In that con-
vention was chairman of the committee
on finance, and succeeded in raising the
amount necessary for the expenses of the
convention. In the discharge of my du-
ties had the cooperation and good will
of Governor Orr. As a member of the
convention I opposed the passage of the
law authorizing the State to issue bonds.
I took the ground that the State indebt-
edness and the current expenses could be
provided for by taxation, and that any
further issue of bonds was unnecessary.
As in previous years the State expenses
had not exceeded 100000, I did not
believe that more than 100000 would
be needed to cover them. The surplus
amount paid into the treasury as collected
taxes would be enough to meet the pay
ment of interest on the State debts, con-
solidated and floating, and settle in the
course of few years all outstanding
claims not represented already by State
bonds. The act was incorporated in the
Constitution, however, in spite of my op-
position.
At the first election under the new
Constitution was put in nomination for
State treasurer and was elected. This
nomination grew wholly out of the sue
cess which had achieved in raising the
expenses of the convention. I went into
Office in July, 1868. Scott was Governor,
Chamberlain was attorney general, Car
dozo was Secretary of State, Frank Moses
was adjutant general and Neagle was
comptroller general. The constitution of
the Legislature was entirely Republican,
1 think without an exception. The Dem
ocrats refused to take part in the election.
Naturally both Senate and House were
composed very largely of colored mem.
bers. Frank Moses was the speaker of
the House, and undoubtedly the most in
huential member of it during his four
years term of Office.
w
TREASURY.
When I took charge of the State treas
ury there was only forty-two dollars in
it. By the comptroller generals report
for 1867 the bonded and stock debt was
nearly S6,000,0O0, and there was consid-
erable interest outstanding as well as
other unadiusted debts amounting ap-
proximately to $3,OO0,OOo. The tax Of
the first year was 81 mills upon the as
sessed valuation of the property in the
State. This tax was expected to yield
S1,2O0,OO0 or 81, 100000. The fiscal year
of the State closed on October 31st, 1868.
We went into Office in July, and spe.
cial session of the Legislature was called
Immediately. Instead of imposing tax
to cover the expenses of the current year
as we'll as the year ending 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 neces-
sary burdens. So we made tax for one
year only, intending to provide for out
standing claims by the issue of bonds
Of this tax imposed we collected about
three-fourths, and the balance was left
outstanding. No extraordinary meas
ures were resorted to enforce its collec-
ton, and 1 think that judgment was
never obtained 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 debts, interest
and dprincipal, up to July l, 1867. The
Legislature, in July, 1868, passed bill
to pay all interest due from July l, 1867,
in gold. This bill was eng gineered by
the State financial agent 81. 81. Kimpton.
He was friend and classmate of Cham
berlain's, and was. introduced by him to
me as the proper man to be the financial
agent of the State. He was appointed
by the financial board-scott, Cham
berlain and myself. The bill Nas
regarded by US as Kimpton's measure,
and he represented that it would raise
the value of the bonds materially, and
enhance the credit of the State. In this
view he was supported by Chamberlain
Here / may say that I never knew q
financial act to pass the Legislature
which was not proposed as q bill by
Kimpton and sanctioned by Chamber
lain. His bills were always passed as
presented. In regard to this particula.
bill, it should be added that the interest
demanded was paid in gold until the
winter of 1869-7O, when the law was
changed, so that thereafter the interest
was payable in currency. Kimpton was
himself obliged to obtain the change Of
the act, as it was seen to be impossible to
meet the demands upon the treasury fol
In the course of 1868 and 1869 the
Legislature passed acts to provide for the
redemption, at par, of all floating debt:
outstanding. All these financial meas
ures authorizing the issue of bonds were
susceptible of two interpretations. The
wording of one act will sufficiently illus