Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-09-20
miscellaneous &eadimg
From the New York World, 10th instant
TEN YEARS OF RASCALITY.

From the New York World, 10th instant
TEN YEARS OF RASCALITY.
NILES G. PARKER's STORY OF THE
- SOUTH CAROLINA RING.
The New York World reporter called upon
Mr.. Niles g. Parker, at his house in jersey
City, and obtained from him very full state
ment, which was taken down photographic
ally. The statement was made without pre-
vious preparation, and this may account in
great measure for some looseness noticeable in
the arrangement, and also for any slight In
accuracies of dates or figures. Yesterday af
ternoon Mr.. Parker was engaged in conduct.
ing a large temperance meeting in Jersey
City, and on returning home made the fol-
lowing statement: 4sua ....s. i,i
PARKER's RECORD AND ELECTION.
. settled in Charleston, in February, 1866
engaging in planting and the mercantile sup.
ply business. In 1867, Gen. Candy appoint.
ed 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.
Aifew months later / was appointed chairman
of the committee of legislation under the Re-
construction acts. After the discharge Of that
duty, devoted myself again to private bust
ness. I was soon, however, elected q member
of the Constitutional Convention from Barn.
we'll county, though I made no effort to secure
my nomination or election. In that conven.
ton I 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 duties I had the coop
GRAFTON and good will of Governor Orr. As
member of the convention, opposed the
passage of the law authorizing the State to
issue bonds. I took the ground that the State
Indebtedness and the current expenses could
be provided for by taxation, and that any fur
ther issue of bonds was unnecessary. As in
previous years, the State expenses bad not ex-
ceeded 100000. 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
payment of interest on the State debts, con.
solidated and floating, and settle, in the course
Of few years, all outstanding claims not rep
resented already by State bonds. The act
was incorporated in the Constitution, however,
in spite of my opposition. .
At the first election under the new Consti-
tuition / was put in nomination for State treas
urer and was elected This nomination grew
wholly out of the success which I had achiev-
ed in raising the expenses of the convention.
I went into Office in July, 1868. Scott was
Governor, Chamberlain was Attorney. Gener-
al, Cardozo was Secretary of State, Frank
Moses was Adjutant, General, and Neagle was
omptroller-G General. The constitution of
the Legislature was entirely republican, l
think without an exception. The Democrats
refused to take any part in the election. Nat
urally, both Senate and House were composed
very largely of colored members. Frank
Moses was the Speaker of the House. and un'
doubtedly the most influential member of it
during his four years term Of office. .... ..
ONLY FoRTY-Two DOLLARS IN THE STATE
TREASURY.
When I took charge Of the State treasury
there was only forty-two dollars in it. By the
comptroller generals report for 1867 the
bonded and stock debt was nearly $4,000, 900,
and there was considerable interest out
standing as we'll as other unadjusted debts,
amounting approximately to $3,OOO,O 900. The
tax of the first year was 81 mills upon the
assessed valuation of the property in the
State. This tax was expected to yield ST..
100000 or 81 100000. This fiscal year of
the State closed on October 31st, 1863 We
went into office in July, and special session
of the Legislature was called Immediately.
Instead of imposing tax to cover the ex-
penses of the current year as we'll as the year
ended October 81, 1869, we only imposed one
tax, as We had then All honest intention to re-
lieve the people of the State of all but neces-
sary burdens. So we made tax for one year
only, intending to provide for outstanding
claims by the issue Of bonds. Of this tax
imposed we collected about three-fourths, and
the balance was left outstanding. No extra
ordinary measures were resorted to to enforce
its collection, and I think that judgment was
never obtained against the delinquents in the
courts.
CHAMBERLA1N's PECULIAR BILLS.
Under the Provisional Government a law
had been passed authorizing the funding of
all outstanding debts, interest and principal,
up to July l, 1867. The Legislature in July,
1868, passed bill to pay all interest clue
from July l, 1867, in gold. The bill was
engineered by the State financial agent, H.
H. 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 mbcrlain and my
self. The bill was regarded by US as Kimp-
tons 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 I may say that never knew financial
act to pass the Legislature which was not pro-
posed as bill by Kimpton and sanctioned by
Chamberlain. His bills were always passed
as presented. In regard to this particular
bill, it should be added that the interest de-
manded was paid in gold until the winter of
1S69-7O, when the law was changed, so that
thereafter the interest was payable in curren-
cy. 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 for gold.
In the course of 1868 and 1869, the Legis-
lature passed acts to provide for the redemp-
tion, at par, of all floating debts outstanding.
All these financial measures authorizing the
issue of bonds were susceptible of two inter
pretations. The wording of one act will suf.
fcieutly illustrate this point: "The Governor
is hereby authorized and directed to borrow
81 100000 upon bonds of the State of South
Carolina, said bonds to be signed by the Gov
ernor and treasurer, and sealed by the secre.
tary of State, to be payable in South Carroll
ma and at the New York financial agency"
rrho Johotoh1o mint 10 ,phothor honda rnnra.