The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-03
THE LAND cOlfMISSION.
MORE LIGHT UPON Il DARK SUBJECT.
Astounding Revelations.


be made acquainted with the inside workings
of the Land Commission Ring. A correspou-
dent of the Columbia Guardian, who signs
himself "a Republican" opened fire on We'd
nesday, charging Senator Leslie and Treasurer
Parker, with tile guilt Of the $4,000 land pur.
chase. The same correspondent prints in
yesterdays Guar9isn the following letter:
With your permission, will again trespass
upon your time, and through the columns Of
you paper make statement that Is due to
certain persons In connection with the Land
Commission. The article on the subject Of the
'Land Commission" published this morning,
has ellcited certain facts that should be made
known in order that full Justice shall be meted
out to all concerned, as that was the PROPOSE
tion upon which the late article was submit
ted. In that article Mr.. Leslie was charged
with procuring the signatures OF Messrs.
Parker, Chamberlain and Neagle to an appli.
cation for the purchase OF large tract Of land
in Charleston County. This was q mistake.
Mr.. Parker had charge Of the affair from the
beginning, and Mr.. Leslie says he signed the
application in blank upon Mr.. Parker's rep
resentatlon, and Mr.. Parker, State Treasu-
rer, procured the signatures Of Messrs.
Chamberlain and keage to the same
paper by representing the land to be cheap
and good, and a good investment for the COM
mission to make. After having the signatures
OF these gentlemen and Leslie, he signed the
application, and his signature made the thing
complete, because he was a majority OF the
board. And as he has the charge OF the funds
of the State, as treasurer, he made out checks
upon the financial agent in New York and
drew the money, without the signature of the
Governor, who knew nothing abont the trans
action until rs stated in the former letter. The
original owners of the lands, Tor which the
State paid Sl20, 900, actually received but abont
one-fOnrth of the amount. With these facts
before them, the public may judge, or guess,
or surmise. if they will, where the small (!)
sum Of $4,000 has gone. This statement is
simply just to Mr.. Leslie, with others. Leslie
Is bad enough, but we would not put one
touch of coloring on The devil 10 make him
blacker than he should justly be.
VeW respectfully, REPUBLICAN.
Vindicnting The News.
A correspondent Of the Guardian, "The
Public" proves by the letter OF "a Republi.
can" the correctness of the statements already
made in THE News, and carries the war into
Africa:
An article headed Light on the Land Com
mission and signed "Republican.' has. just
come under my view. The reading Of it sug-
gests q few remarks, which beg of you to in
sert in your columns.
l. Republican" does not deny the statement
made by tho writer whom he criticises, that
the State, through ahe agency Of the Land
Mr.. Schley at about $4,000. We take it foi
granted, then, that such thing was done.
z. Republican" charges that c. P. Leslie
and some one in Charleston divided the spois.
They "handled the change" he says. That
may be. Will Republican" be so good as 10
show how and all about IL?
3. "Republican" defends Mr.. Parker against
the charge said 10 be made by Tue CHARLES
TON NEWS correspondent, that he was CON
nectel with the disposal Of the $780, 00O.' Just
~ enough, for all we know as to the fact OF
Mr.. Treasurer parker's agency in the matter.
But docs the correspondent charge any such
thing exclusively? He speaks Of "Mr. State
Treasurer Niles G. Parkers course in regard
10 the purchase Of certain lands in Charleston
County" The meaning may be that which
"Repnblican' denies, or il may be that Mr..
Advisory Board and State Treasurer, was
douby culpable; first, as member of the board,
in allowing such sum for the land, and
secondly, as treasurer, in h0noring The draft
upon the treasury for its payment.
i. s'Republican" eXoncrateS Governor Scott
and Secretary OF State CarllOzo from any blame
in the case, because .'they knew nothing about
the transaction until it was all over That
may be. But he represents that 'Mr. Leslie
made such representations to Mr.. Parker,
treasurer, Attorney-General Chamberlain, and
Comptroller Neagle," and we suppose, Of
course. also, TO the present Land Commission
err DeLargc, ''as induced them TO approve oil
the purchase" Will these members, one or
all, be so good as 10 give their aid 10 "Repub-
lican" in throwing more light on the transac-
ton to which they were parties, 10 certain
extent at least?