The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-08

ported to the House favorably.
On the second reading Mr.. Meetze
offered an amendment similar to the
one I had offered in Committee.
The amendment was adopted, and
the Bill was passed and sent to the
Senate. That body amended by
striking out forty cents and insert
ing fifty cents, and also struck out
the amendment offered by Mr..
Meetze. When the Senate amend
ments reached the House a motion
was made to concur. The yeas and
nays being called, the vote stood 40
yeas against Al nays. The friends
of the bond ring rallied in their
strength and moved a reconsidera-
ton Of the above vote, which, to
the surprise of many, was carried.
The fact that this party then had a
majority to defeat the Meetze amend
ment alarmed those who were strug.
Cling to render invalid the fraudu.
lent bonds, and l, with others, went
to work to defeat the nefarious pur-
poses of the ring. It required all
our energy and skill, but we final
ly succeeded, and thus removed
S5,965,000 from the amount of the
public debt.
1t is with qualification and pride
that I now recall the events of that
day and the congratulations I re-
ceived from members of both parties
on the result. The passage of this
Act reduced the debt of the Stats
from S15,S51,627.35 to s5,771,-
336.11-a saving to the people ofthe
State of s10,0S0.29l.24, with pro-
portionate amountof interest. Under.
the provisions of this Act the public
debt as ascertained remained up to
the time of the election Of Governor
Hampton. Yet in the meantime an
investigation had satisfied me that
the State Treasurer had funded a
large amount of fraudulent coupons,
and when an address to remove him
from Office was under consideration
by the Senate I voted for his remo-
val, believing him guilty Of the
charges preferred against him. He
escaped through Democratic votes,
for reasons no doubt satisfactory to
those who gave them, but as to his
guilt there could hardly be a doubt.
During this session, 1S75-76,
pending the investigation Of a Com
mittee as to what bonds had been
funded under the Act to reduce the
public debt, the friends of the Trea-
surer became most anxious to ad-
journ the General Assembly; and
whilst [ had heretofore been among
the foremost to favor adjournment
whenever and as soon as the public
business had been accomplished, yet,
in this instance, voted "no," and
spread my reasons on the Journal,
as follows:
II voted no. on the resolution to adjourn
sine die on the 26th inst. BECAUSE on the 4th
inst. the Senate. by n. unanimous vote, Re
as the ~ Il I tss Ssats ~ . That Std the
mentioned in the report Of the Special Joint
Committee appointed to ascertain what bonds
of tho State were pledged by tho Financial
Agent Of the State as collateral security for
E State lonns was without lawful authority. and
that the said bonds should not be funded
under the Act. to reduce the volume Of the
public debt and provide for the payment of
; the same.'
" Because the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives have appointed q Committee to as
the Act, to reduce the volume of the public
debt and provide for the payment of the same {;
. what interest coupons have been funded under
the said Act; also. whether the funds for the
payment ofinterest raised under said Acts havo
funds. rs provided for in said Acts, and as
, otherwise provided by law.
" Because the said Committee have not yet
completed their investigation.
because, in my Judgment, it would be 8
dereliction Of public duty for the General As
sembly to adjourn sine die pending m investi-
CATION which involves nearly q million of dol
lars of the new consolidated bonds, the cafe
keeping of the funds raised to pay public in
terest. and the maintenance of the public
credit"
: Being still convinced in my own
mind and from investigation that
fraudulent bonds and coupons had
been funded under the Act, I intro
duced during the special session of
1877 page 149] "a Bill to ascertain
and fix the public deot of the State
and to provide for the manner Of
paying the same" This Bill pro-
vided for the election of Commit
tee by the General Assembly to in
vestigate the obligations of the State
under the Act to reduce the volume
of the public debt, and to ascertain
whether proper vouchers were on
file for bonds, coupons and stock, to
register such by number, series, &C.,
and to certify as to the valid bonds
and to report to the next General
Assembly. Before this Bill was
considered in the Senate a Joint
Resolution passed the House having
in the main the same object. When
the Joint Resolution was being cor
sidered in the Senate l offered
amendments, as shown by Journal,
1877, page 343, which required the
Commission to ascertain whether
the bonds and coupons on file in the
Treasurer's office had been issued in
accordance with law, thus enlarging
tbo Gonna of tho investioa tions nf