The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-23

| elements OF an orator, anu one 10 appreciate
his eloquence and wondrous descriptive pow
ers must hear him.
PHOSPHATES.
The History Of the Recent Detective
System upon phosphate Grabbers''-
Chamberlain VS.. Scott.
Several days ago The NEWS mentioned that
Messrs. N. A. Quinn and A. Habenicht had
been appointed to investigate the operations
of certain parties who were taking phosphates
from the beds of the Stono and other naviga-
BILE waters of the State, in violation of an act
of the recent Legislature. which granted to
Messrs. G. w. Williams & Co., G. c. Coe, ct
al. the fright to dig, mine and remove" phos-
pilates and phosphate deposits from the beds
of the navigable streams and waters of the
State; and that these appointees had reported
several parties who were engaged in remov-
ing phosphates from the bed of the Stono
River.
A few days after this item appeared, Gov
ernor Scott was informed Of the reported ap-
pointment of these men, and on Monday last
Mr.. John Heart, the private secretary of the
Governor, wrote to the chief of police Of this
city, stating that he was directed by the Gov
ernor to acknowledge the receipt of the chiefs
letter, In reference to the alleged "appolnt-
ment by him of two detectives for thspurpose
of preventing poor men from digging phos-
pilates In the creeks and navigable streams aud
rivers, and to inform him that he had made no
such appointment, and that the rumor Is to-
tally without foundation" and that ''the Gov
ernor does not consider the law Of last session
(the act above referred toy as comforting ex-
elusive rights or privileges upon any persons
or parties to mine and collect phosphates in
the rivers aud streams of the State; but that
all who pay the royalty imposed BY that act
upon the quantity collected are equally enti-
tied to do so.''
The above statement does not exactly tally
with the following paragraphs In the message
of the Governor on March lst, 1870, vetoing
the bill he refers to above:
The exclusive nature OF the grant is also
Objectionable. am aware that the word "ex-
elusive" wRs stricken from the bill during Its
consideration, by which it was proposed to d.
vest it Of the odium of being monopoly, but
bills which proposed 70 throw the business
open to competition, and especially to lndivi-
dual competitors, who would comply with the
prescribed regulations.
The defeat Of these bills was, in my opinion,
unfortunate, and left the corporators under
the present act as the only persons authorized
to dig and mine for ph0sphates In the navi.
gable streams and waters of the State. All
others must be considered trespassers, liable
to arrest, and punishable by fine and imprison-
ment And II the State has the right to con-
fer this grant, it may be called upon by the
grantees to protect them in the exercise of Its
privileges, by the removal and punishment Of
iutruders, a duty which, from the large extent
ofterritory embraced by the grant, and the
temptations and facilities for Its violation,
would involve the State in heavy expense
and extensive litigation.
However, the Governor throws off Of his
shoulders any blame that might be attached to
him for appointing two detectives to prevent
poor men from digging phosphates. But the
Governors construction of the provisions of
the bill Is entirely different from that OF Attor-
ney-General Chamberlain, who, with all due
Difference to his Excellency, all will admit is
more capable Of constituting the laws of the
State correctly, as will be seen By the sub
Joined history OF the appointment of those two
detectives, furnished us by one who knows all
about the matter.
Not long since the Attorney-General was
notified that parties connected with wealthy
corpora ions were lntruding upon the rights
and property of the State by diggtug and re-
moving phosphates from the beds of the Stono
and other rivers within the limits of the State.
The Attorney General, believing 1t high time to
interfere in the matter, authorized Major D. T..
Corbin to make inquiries, and If the information
was correct, to bring suit In his (the Attorney
Geuerals) name against all parties thus in-
truding. Major Corbin then employed Aessrs.
Quinn and Habernicht, who 'were instructed
to look after the big fish, (the wealthy cor
porations,) Us suits were to be commenced,
first of all, against responsible parties.
The detectives reported Captain Henry
Prince, commanding the Odd Fellow, of GO
tons; Samuel Pregnall of the Chicora, of 20
tons; Patrick Powers, owner OF the John
Brothers, OF 23 tons; John Lltgen, owner OF
the Willie, oils tons; c. and F. Degnall, owners
of the Rebecca, of 20; Jack Of so; Julia Of 80;
Pauline of so, and Herald Of 40 tons, all Of
which vessels, it is alleged, were in the Stono
River loading with phosphates.
Against these parties, by virtue Of an act to
define the duties Of the encouragement,
which provides that he may, when in his judg-
ment the interest of the State requires it, file
and prosecute in(ormations or other process
against parties who intrude upon the lands,
rights or other property OF the State, suits for
damages have been instituted; and to-day, be-
fore Judge Carpenter, Attorney-General Cham
berlain will move for an injunction restraining
them from removing phosphates from the
Stono River, the navigable rivers, and other
waters of the State.
USINESs NOTI GES.
GREAT EXCITEMENT over Little BUCKsHoT at