The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-03-26
The Town Election.

topic of conversation with all classes OF
cur citizens. 1t is, indeed, subject oil
the highest Importance. Monday next
will be an cvcntful day in the history
of Camden. II will then be declared
whether the good that las been accom-
plishcd shall stand, and the good work
90 on ; or whether the spirit of progress
and economy shall be checked, and the
government of the town given over to
the control of a single Gas, of citizens,
Two tickets have been nominated Tor
Intendant and Wardcns. With the
private character of the gentlemen COM
posing them we have nothing to do, and
of that we do not speak, We have
friends and patrons upon both tickets.
1t is, then, only as the election OF the
one ticke. or the other will affect the
public interests that We take position IN
opposition to or IN favor o: either.
That the canvass is being conducted
with great activity and much feeling
by the friends Of both tickets is appar>
ent. Why there should be the least
acrimony, is to some minds inexPlica-
bic. 1t cannot be because the present
council has failed to discharge its duty.
Two of its members are candidates upon
each of the tickets, and it is admitted
that the council has done well. There
must be some other cause aud We think
we are not far wrong when We express
the opinion that it is because the pr, sent
council has performed lis duty. In the
important matter Of the town currency,
they have rendered services which place
the town under los,ing obligation to
them. But in sitting this matter, they
have, without prcsuming to DO more
than was expected Of them, or OF reflect
ing in anywisc upon any person whatever,
incurred the enmity Of some good cItl-
zeus. The former Treasurer and II ,corder
of the town, who had held those officers
for number of years, ard who is now
a candidate upon one Of the tickets tor
Warden, feels, We are Informed, that
great injustice has been done him, and
he now seeks vindication, forsooth, at
the hands of the citizens Of Camden
Wha: did the Council do?
Coming into Office year ss", with
the most damaging reports in cireu!a-
ton concerning their intentions, and
feeling that their every act woLid Oe
scrutinized and the Larshest coEsiruc-
ton placed thereon, they naturally went
TO work to ascertain Tie condition of the
town. and 10 establish point trom
which they could estimate the good or
evil resulting from their administration
their object throughout being to go
shane their conduct as to Withstand suc>
eessfully the fulles: and freest criticism
And what did they do? Among their
first acts was the appointment o.! y con-
mission, consisting Of Wardens kirkley
and Wall, and of Messrs. Donald
McQucen, W. l.. Arthur aud Wm. ID.
Trantham, on the part Of the citizens,
to ascertain the exact amount Of town
currency in circulation. After great
trouble anu much annoyance, such as
no one but those who did the work can
ever know, the Commissi,n. on the first
MONDAY in June, submitted their re-
port. showing that they had instituted the
most thorough investigation, and that
the conclusion arrived at by them was
as nearly correct as it was possible from
the data at their command. They found
that the amount Of currency which
ought then to have been in circulation
was 1922 30, differing in 4 Iitilns
amount from the report on the same
subject by Capt. J. d. Dunlap, a former
Intendant of the town. Such was the
finding OF the Commission, who per-
formed their duty with great care, ard
with the expressed desire to d' full aud
exact Justice to tho subject and to all
nersons connected Herewith. Whether
o, not they failed in their duty, they
arc wiling to stand upon their report.
The mex: step taken By the counel'
in the matter Of the currency was, to
determine definitely the amount that
was in circulation and, to that cad.
they called in the old bills, and issued
in lieu thereof new bills, which were
and signed by the intendant
and recorder. This process Of retiring
the old by issuing new currency has
been coin. on nearly a year, aud with
what result Instead Of finding that the
amount of currency in circulation was
So 2o2 3O-as the Commission reported