The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-03-04
Leslie and tie Land Commission.

Leslie has resigned, his place as
Land Commissioner, but he has
made no report, and beyond the
fact that two hundred thousand
dollars in State bonds have been
expended in the purchase of lands
for the laudless, the public knows
but little of the actings and doings
of the Land Commissioner or his
subordinates. Leslie says that he
courts an investigation, aud assigns
as reason for not having made his
report, that his agents have not yet
reported to him. There seems to
be a ''screw loose" some where
but where, it is yet difficult to say.
| There has been elimination and re-
elimination among the party lead
ers- intimations of something
which would not stand investiga-
tion-but nothing tangible or spe-
cific. The following spicy extract
wo make from the correspondence
of the Charleston Courier:
Beverly Nash, (eolored) It looks
very strange that the late Land Com
missioner should be so anxious to adj
| ioHpn. The Senate passed an order
!rcqn;ring him to make q report. but
! instead of doing that hc Resigns his
Office, and opposes the appropriation
intended for the commission. 1t looks
as if he had discovered some hand
writing on ,hc wall. and was getting
ready to pack up lis traps and travel.
The gentleman says there is def
cheney in the appropriation ILL. If.
that be SO let us know it. The people
ought 10 know it, and | propose that
this General Assembly stay hero un-
til We Gnd out.
Leslie. There is class Of dirty.
yc'p!ng cars, who are always barking !
X the Land Commission But where
Is the man. on or off this floor, who;
can lay his hand upon Il single act of
that com;n:ss II, and say it is wrong.
If YOU want an Investigation. ask for !
il. [ court it. Who are my agents?
The very men on this floor WHO are
making tic loudest noise against me /!
| have spent in E!ciland county. for !
the purposes OF that commission !
S1n. Zoo. Who "a INV dcpu,y from !
Richand The Senator from Rich
land, (Bcverly NaSh.) Has he reuor-
ted to me? No! And what is r,orc. |
he don't even know The names Of tho
purchasers. or where Some Of the land
- located. Yet he wants to know
why l don't make report. Let him
report to nc, if he can.
. Johnson (of Sumtcr) again attcmp
ted question, but was told he had |
better keep his scat; that he answer |
cd very well, perhaps. for a camp |
meeting preacher, but didn't know
much about law or Legislation.
Leslie continued: And there is the
senator from Marion (Hayue, colored
another Of my deputies. Haze his
paid dollar for the land
they have had from the Land Com
missioner No, not one. Why don't
hc attend to his business and give me !
the information | want? Because he
can't do it.
Johoson--You never appointed me.
Lcslic--No, thank God, my con-
Sclonco has not got SO low as that
vet.
Leslie. Now I am willing to 90
with this Republican party in Office or
out Of Office, but there is no price, no
earthly motive, that can induce mo TO
lend myself to any effort by that par
ty to purloin tho money Of the peo-
p!o. Perhaps some Of you ars curl
GUS in this connection, to learn why Il
rendered my resignation; but there is
not Of you would like me to tell
1t here-not one OF you. But don't
attempt to scare me-, or I might mako
you feel bad. - ... -, ....,o. -.
11ayne, Of Marion lcolorcd.) T de-
ny the statement or the senator; from
BarnweH:i AS the agent of the cland
commissioner, have returned to him
the deeds of every piece of land
bought by me, and this is all tho Gen.
ef'al Assembly requires me to do. The
senator from Barnwell, nor any other
man., will ever, receiEe one dollar
while he refuses TO give me certificates
to place in the hands of the people,
with an Endorsement Of the money
paid. -. ''o! !"-a!gg@ - r.
(: Leslie: Has any of your land been
=, o,r,I - ..r.-.-,, ? |
.Hayne. One tract has been survey
cd. - !
Leslie. How can you cxpoct a title
without survey?