Year: 1873




Of the United States, that these bills are re
ceivable in payment of taxes, caused consid
erable commotion in the Legislature, as ap
pears from the following extract taken from
the Columbia correspondent Of the Charles
ton Ne,os and Courier:


THE DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT
of the United States declaring the bills te
be receivable for taxes, which appeared ii
the Associated Press dispatches this morn
ing, has fallen like an unexpected bomb
shell among tile Radicals. 1t has been the
theme of excited conversation among them
all day, and they are badly terrified with
the apprehension that they cannot longer
carry on the State government A Repub.
lican official told me that the Governor had
said to-day that the State government could
not be conducted if the decision was en-
forced. Joe Crews was called upon to act as
chairman of the committee of the whole, and
stated the object Of the meeting to be
the discussion Of the recent decision Of the
Supreme Court of the United Estates in
reference to the bills of the Bank Of the
State. On motion of Hurley, the telegraph
ic dispatches in the mornings News and
Courier upon the subject were read as in
formation, and Hurley took the floor. He
said that if the decision meant anything it
meant that the treasurer should be compell-
ed to receive in payment Of the taxes levied
by the State these bills Of the Bank Of the
State, and if this were so, the government
must inevitably


BREAK DOWN


and the Republican party as surely 60 to
the wall. 1t was very difficult, he admitted,
to suggest any means of avoiding 'the catas-
trophe, but he felt sure that some plan might
be devised if the General Assembly would
act with prudence and good judgment. In
Tins judgment, however, the question
was one in which the Republican party was
chiefly concerned. IF there were a funeral
it would be one ofthe Republican parity
and he did not propose to have the Demo-
Gratis come in aud gloat over their approach
ing dissolution. He hoped, therefore, that
3 strict caucus would be held aud there that
it would be determined what they should do
To be saved. There is no knowing, said
Hurley, how many of the bills of the Bank
Of the State, may be now outstanding; iD all
there were at least $1,000, 600
including those issued before and
lL.e. dar:-s H. -------1i'- LII L~i1----
cording to Hurley, have no rights which the
Republican party is bound to respect; the
life the of latter is in jeopardy, and


MUST BE SAVED


at all hazards. Bowley, colored, of George
town, who is chairman Of the ways and
means, had also something to say. He felt
that the State was in very critical condi-
ton, and that it was necessary that something
be done, and that right carly. 1t might be
true that the Supreme Court of the United
States was the supreme power of the land,
and he was law-ablding man, but this was
a question which affected the very heart and
fe.blood of the party, and he was willing
to take any step however extraordinary to
save the party. He thinks the Democracy
are at the bottom Of the whole matter, and
would counsel universal reputation Of all
kinds of debts of the State, if thereby they
could escape the clutches Of the Democracy.
In his Judgment,


THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED


STATES IS A HUMBUG,


and all institutions by means of which the
control of affairs is lodged in the hands Of a
few men, and the legislative body deprived
of all actual power. are contrary to the genius
ola free Republican government JhtFc
must be some way for the representatives OF
the sovereign people to avoid the dictatlon Oh
a mere court, and he was for seeking son.c
mode Of relief however unhcard of or uncon-
it might be. Why, said Bowlcy,
if we levy a tax Of twenty mills and realize
as much as $1,000, 600 the bills Of the banE
must consume it all, and our schools will be
stopped, our convicts in the Pcnitcntiary
and lunatics in the Asylum turned loose
upon the community; and we will have no
court or Judges to administer the laws or en-
forco peace and order. He was very indiS-
nant at the interference of courts with the ac-
ton of the Legislature, and thinks matters
have come to pretty pass when the General
Assembly can find nothing but njunctionS
on all sides from the courts to impede its way
Sperry, colored, Of Georgetown, introduced 4
resolution that q joint committee be ap
pointed to investigate the matter, aud find
just how many of the bills of the State were
out for, in his judgment, unless something
of that sort be done there was no telling how
many of the bills might not br issued now,
after the decision had been published. j.
d. Boston, colored, of Newberry, saw no
good in the resolution Of Spcrty. The ques-
ton with him was not so much the number
of the bills out, but


WHAT WAS TO BE nONE


to save the party, even though only million
dollars Of the bills were on the market. lie
was overpowered with dependency when
he reflected upon the dangers of the situation
Here, says he, we have already floating