The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-02
LIGHT ON TIE LAND COMMISSION
An Apology for the Ring.
We copy the following communication fror

we COPY lUe lUnOWlll5 Aiot4
the Columbia Guardian of yesterday:
TO THE EDITOR OF THE GUARDIAN.
Sir-In your paper OF the 9th instant, you
publish an article credited to THE CHARLESTON
NEws. from its Columbia correspondent, in
which some reflections upon the action OF the
Land Commission are made, and somc hints
thrown out in regard to its corruption. AS q
Republican, who has heard at divers times and
places, on the street and elsewhere, certain
conversations between gentlemen who are
cocnizant OF the workings Of the Land Com
mission, deem it my duty, as well as my right,
to lay before the public, through the columns
nected with the sale of large tract
of land in Charleston County, in order that
the public may be enabled to render an en-
lIghteued Judgment, and the odium of the
transaction be fixed upon the parties Justly en-
titled to bear il. In the article referred 10, 1t
is asserted as fact that a tract Of land has
been purchased by the State, for which was
Maid out of the Land Commission appropra-
tion the sum Of sl20,0O0 that the amount Of
money received by the parties selling the land
was but S30, 900, thus leaving the difference.
amounting TO 100000, in the hands OIL some
body, and the name OF Mr. Parker, Treasurer
of State, is mentioned, who is member of
the Advisory Board OF the Land Commission.
as having been connected with The disposal OF
the $50. 900. The act authorizing the establish
inc of Land Commission provides certain
rules for the transaction Of business connect
ed herewith.
The Advisory Board of the Commission is
State Treasurer. Comptrollcr-General, ALtor-
ney-General and the Land Commissioner ana
all purchases OF land must be approved anu
endorsed by q majority Of the board before
any money can be paid on such purchase. This
sale or purchase OF lands In Charleston Coun-
ty was made without consulting all tlle menu
bers of the board, and the manner OIL conSum-
mating the sale was this: Mr.. Leslie made
such Representations to Mr. Parker, Treasurer,
Attornet-G General Chamberlain and Colnptroi-
ler Neagle (who is chairman oil the BOARD J
in regard to the good quality OF tile proposed
purchase, as we'll as the cheapness Of The
land, as Induced them TO approve of it,
tie fnancial agent in New York, and the
money was paid. Leslie, having secured the
names OF /. majority of the board, did not deem
It necessary or polite to call upon the Governor
and Secretary Cardozo for their signatures, aud
they knew nothing about the transaction unul
it was all over. The purchase was made after
Mr.. Leslie had resigned, and before ne or
Treasurer Parker had made any report as M 10
their transactions in the premises. Mr. Parker
claimed that he could not until Mr. Leslie did;
and Leslie ,pould not until he was forced to make
an exhibit nf his "stewardship," by the threat,
on the part of the Governor, Whipper and Ellt-
oft, ofprosecutlon. When this exhibit was made,
then this purchase was discovered as having
been made some time before, and without
the knowledge OF Governor Scott or Sec
retary Cardozo. (And allow me to say
that the ''actn does not delegate TO- the
Governor any more power or authority IN the
premises than it would TO any other citizen n
d like position as member Of the Advisory
Board.) If there has been any spoil in this
transaction, il has been divided between G. 7.
Leslie, ESQ, and Mr. Oakes, the Democratic
agent in Charleston. IL is well known here,
and openly canvassed on our streets, that
Leslie came TO this State very poor man,
and now boasts of his thousands. If he has
been paid for going out Of office, who paid
him? Not Governor Scott; for it is we'll
known fact that Governor Scott aud Secretary
of State CardOZo were very active in endeaVol-
ing to have him removed from office. Hence
the bitterness OF his attack upon the Governor
the Senate last March. The Guardian.
in the issue referred TO, quotes from
THE CHARLESTON NEWS letter from Co.
lumbia, which is slightly out OF time in its as
sertion that ''certain outside pressure" tas
forced the State officers TO ''make show OF
honesty" They had, some time ago, appoint
ed a COMMITTEES, composed Of the Secretary Of
State, Acknowledgement aud Land COmmis-
sloner, to Investigate these purchases and see
wherein the wrong existed. Let the respon-
sibility Of this transaction rest upon Messrs.
Leslie, Oakes & Co., who have handled the
change This may look like grave charge
to lay at the door Of Leslie, the honest man
and virtnous, who left the Republican ranks
because he was afraid OF furnishing his spot
REruBlJcAS.