Litchfield enquirer., 1845-01-16

STATEMENT OF HON. SAMUEL H0AR.
THE AGENT or THE srArE on l1AssAcHUSEr1s
10 SOUTH CAROLINA. ~
SILL transmit to you, TO be presented to the
Governor Of the Commonwealth, the following &C.
count Of my proceedings, in my agency in Charles
ton, S. C. under the resolve Of the Legislature Of
Massachusetts, of March oath, 1s43, and March
10th, lS44.
arrived in Charleston about six o'clock in the
morning Of the 2Sth of November. In the course
Of the forenoon of the same day, in pursuance Of
instructions from His Excellency the Governor Of
South Carolina. Of which the following is copy :
'.CHAsLEsToN, eSth Nov. 1874.
Sir s-four Excellency is already informed Of re-
monstrances made by the Commonwealth of Massa-
chusetts, against the arrest and imprisonment Of her
citizens 10 South Carolina, against whom the com
Massachusetts has recently passed d resolve au-
thoFizing the Governor of that State to appoint an
agent tor the purpose OF collecting and transmit
ting accuraie information respecting the number
have heretofore been, or may be, during the period
OF the engagement OF the Agent, imprisoned with
out the allegation Of any crime" Tne Agent 10 a.
suits, in behalf Of any citizen that may be 90 i'm.
prisoned at the expense Of Massachusetts. for The
purpose Of having the legality of such imprisonment
tried and determined in the Supreme Court Of the
I" The Governor Of Massa chusetts has appointed
me an Agent Of that State to execute the purposes
above mentioned, and 4 arrived in this city this
morning for that pur.jose. a. f s.s ~ ,g .l,44sf4
DO mol cons'Ier that your Excellency will con-
slider z proper any way to notice this subject, yet
propriety seemed TO require this communication
Witt great respect. 80 ~
Your Exosllsncysss S e.; sfyy'' HoA e., 4
His Excellency ]. H. HAMMOND. Governor Of
South Carolina sy .ga39 ifssss ss ssg sfaa gei
On the next morning, which was Friday, called
on Mr.. Eggleston, the gentleman who had received
before me an appointment to this agency by the
Government of Massachusetts,. and requested him
to introduce me to the Mayor Of the City of
Charleston. This did for the purpose Of procur-
ing access to the records of orders sentences to
imprisonment of our colored seamen, or other cit
liens. Mr. Eggleston readily acceded to my re-
quest but observed that, in his opinion, it would
be best that he should first see the Mayor and ex.
plain to him my purposes, before should go to his
Office 10 be introduced to him. To this assented,
and he left in his office to await his return He
was absent considerable time, and on his return
he informed me that the Mayor was at Columbia.
where the Legislature was in session that he had
been conyersng with the gentleman who Temporal
rily discharged the duties of Mayor and that they
both concluded it would be best for me to wait the
return of the Mayor, before attempting to do any
thing relating to the business which was sent.
accordingly passed the remainder of the time,
-. Mayor not having returned. awaiting has arri
val, till Monday cfternoon, without meeting any oc
.urrence worth relating. Z
On the Afternoon, was informed that Governor
had communicated my letter to the Lee
gisiature at Columbia, and that it had raised a
great commotion. After conyersing great time
On the subject, walked out from my lodgings
some distance, and on returning at dark, met at
The hotel where lodged three gentlemen, stand
ing in the piazza near the door. As soon as I as
cended the steps, one Of them stepped forward and
said, ssIs your name Hoar 9sir r. answered, yes
He then said, g am the Sheriff Of Charleston
District, and have some business with you, cir. !"
This he uttered with great warmth and earnestness
He then introduced to me one of the other gentie-
men as the acting Mayor Of the city. and one of
the Aldermen, and the other as another Alderman.
I invited thesa to walk IN into common sitting
room Of the house. -
When seated, the sheriff inquired of me what
my business was III Charleston. answered that 4
had communicated my business to the Governor Of
South Carolina and stated to him in substance
what nv business was. He then said, "it Is sus-
pected that you are an Aboltionist, and have come
here TO accomplish some o. their measures" Ihes-
itated little, doubling whether it would be prop
er to say whether was an Abolitionist or NOT, but
soon concluded that would endeavor to remove
ali pretences Of that kind, and informed him that
/ was no Abolitionist, that had been for many
years member OF the Colonization Society, be-
tween whom and the Abolitionists there was not
much harmony. He then said, "some suspect
|k;sis all hoax; you have sent no credentials"
Th;s was true. Not having any negotiations with
Ne governor, Thad not thought It necessary to
;end him a copy Of my commission. answered
NAT had supposed the Governor would take my
~. Nfor the facts had stated TO him. but that
mi conn ission from the Governor Of Massachu-
,eits. witch Twas willing to exhibit to any one
vho dasiret ito see il. He desired to see i. and
vent 10 nv rosm, brought and delivered i to him.
IN uncertain ,vhether offered to let him take a
.opy of Il, or wRe. her he first requested permits
ion ID take copy, bit gave permission 70 nave
nae COW Of the conn. ;sson and Of the resolves
e The T,erislaturc. on whici it was founded. He