Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-10-27
CoNsP1RAToRs AT WORK

"You Must PaJ the fraudulent
Debt, OF We will See That You
do Not Refund That Which Is
Honest" They say.
News and Courier.
After an absence of nearly two
weeks Governor Tillman and
Treasurer.Bates are again in their
Offices.
aI am aware" said. the Cover
nor yesterday, "that there is gen
eral anxiety to know what we
accomplished while on our recent
mission to New York to refund
the State debt, and as far as poss-
ible Twill give you the exact con-
dition of the entire matter.
'sThere is evidently stringent
effort being made by holders of
the old fraudulent bonds to force
the State, at this critical period,
into some sort of recognition of
their claims; and I am sorry to see
that some of our own people in
Charleston are aiding and comfort
ing, and are in conspiracy with
these New York sharks, who fat
tened upon the misfortunes of our
people during the reconstruction
period. To further this object q
telegram was sent from Charleston
and published in the New York
papers the day after we reached
that city, asserting that we were
in favor of the issue of A per cent,
bonds to redeem the 6 per cont.
Browns, and to issue new bonds to
the amount of $1,250,000 to take
up the fraudulent bonds. Of course
this falsehood was read by people
| in New York, and had the effect
of directing attention to the e1is-
tence of the old fraudulent debt,
and lent color to the charge, which
met US at every point, that the
State had at one time repudiated
its obligation.
Then we found LAT political
influences had been and are still at
work throwing every obstacle poss-
ible in the way of the success of
our mission; and, in addition to
that, that the weight of the
financial centres of the State was
against us.
"Owing to the virtual cessation
of business produced by the
Columbus celebtarion, and the
feeling of unrest and dlstrust
which exists because of the
uncertainty as to which party will
be victorious in the coming
elections, we found capitalists un-
willing to make any offer which
we could accept, and therefore,
after having formed the acquain-
tance and discussed the situation
with some of the leading fnanciers
on the street, we determined to re-
turn home and wait until. after
the election.
81 am not at all discouraged by
the obstacles which I have shown
to exist, and unless the Republican
party is victorious in the Presi-
Dental contest, and carries both
House and Senate, I have every
reason to believe that we will
have no trouble in arranging the
refunding of the State debt to the
satisfaction of the General
Assembly. Of course if all the
branches of the government: fall
into the hands of the Republicans,
it would foreshadow interference
with the local control of their
governments by the Southern
States, and make capital very shy
of investing in our securities; and
it is the desire to await the result
of the election more than anything
else that prevented our accomplish.
ing what we went to do. I will say
for the information of those
conspirators who sent the telegram
from New York the night we left
there, which stated that "Governol
Tillman did not accomplish any.
thing in the matter, and that il
might as we'll be understood frs
and last that nothing of value
could be accomplished until provi
sion is made for the non-fundablt
bonds" that they and the Southern
capitalists who are trying to de
what they cam are evidently il
collusion with each other, anc
will have their labor for theil
pains. The debt will be refunded
by DR.. Bates and myself or not q
all, and their meddling will only
result in harm. The State viii
meet all it's honest obligations
dollar for dollar, if we are no
thwarted by all the influences
which I here mention; but neve,
a cent by my advice or approva
will 30 to pay the fraudulen
debt.