Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-09-22
From The Ncw York JIOHd.1

From The Ncw York lVorld.1
The World reporter called upon
Mr.. Niles G. Parker, at his house i'll
Jersey City, and obtai ned from him
very full statement, which was taken
down phonographically. The state
nlent vas 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 or figures. Yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Parker was engaged in conduct
ing large temperance meeting
in Jersey City, and on returning home
made the following statement :
PARKER's RECORD AND ELECTION.
settled in Charleston in February,
1860, engaging i'll planting and the
mercantile supply business In1S67
Gen. Candy appointed me an alder.
man in the City Of Charleston. Gail
lard was Mayor at the time and there
was a place i'll III : Council made va
cant by death. a few months later I
was appointed chairman Of the com.
mittce OF legislation under the Re
construction acts. After the dis
charge Of atdnty, devoted myself
agail, to private business. | was soon,
however, elcci ed IL member of the
Constitutional Convention from
sI;ssrf M s:---:.-SIIU
effort to secure my nomination or
election. In that convention I was
chairman Of the committee on finance,
and succeeded in raising the amount
necessary for The expenses ofLhe con
vention. In the discharge OF my duties
| had the CO operation and good will
of Governor Orr. AS n member Of
The convention | opposed the passage
Of the law authorizing the State to
issue bonds. took the ground that
the State Indebtedness and the cur
rent expenses could be provided for
by taxation, and that any further
issue OF bonds was unnecessary. AS
in previous years the State expenses S
had not exceeded 100000. | did
not believe that more than 5000, 900
would be needed to cover hem The
surplus amount paid into the treasury
as collected taxes would be enough
TO meet the pay mcnt of interest on
the State debts, consolidated nu d
floating, and settle in the course Of a
few years all outstanding Claims not
represented already by State bonds.
The act was Incorporated in the Con
stilution, however, in spite of nv.
opp osition.
AT the first election under the new
Constitution was put in nomination
Tor State treasurer and was elected
This nomination grew wholly out Of
the success which 1 had achieved in
raising the expenses Of the conven-
ton. | went into Office in July, 1868.
Scott was Governor, Chamberlain was
attorney. general, Carlozo, as secre :
tary Of State, Frank Moses was adiu-
tant-gencraI and Ncagle was comp
tro ller-gcneral. The constitution Of
The Legislature vas entirely Republi-
can, | think without al exec ption
The Democrats refused to take part
in The election. Naturally both Sen
ate and House were composed very
largely Of colorcd members. Frank
Moses was the speaker Of the House,
and undoubtedly the most influential
member Of it during his four years
term of Office.
ONLY FORTY TWO DOLLARS IN Tur
STATE ! REASURy.
When | took charge ofthe State
treasury there was only forty two dol
lars iii. BY the comptroller general 5
report for 1867 the bonded and stock
debt was nearly $4,000, 1000, and there
vas considerable interest outstanding