Tri-weekly phoenix. [volume] ([Columbia, S.C.]) 1865-1875, 1871-12-09

~OSuoys>1ouoLdnsrmuS0 1-lu poItluent
answer to the charge Of necessary com.
plicity with the other members of the
Financial Board. These are all here
the members OF the State Financial
Board, and responsible for our present
finances. And in New York walks
Kimpton. No report. yet. of his stew.
evidences, irresistible,
Of his crimes. These are the men to be
held to answer for high crimes and mis-.
demeanors against the peace, the purse
and the dignity of the State.
Tho Attofnoy-Generel's Plca-Out Re-
aliol' 1oiador. 3rt
Our readers will observe in to.day's
PHOENIX the communication Of Attor-
ney- General Chamberlain, in brief re-
sponse to the general charges we have
directed against him of grave official
misconduct. It is now our duty, and
also our pleasure, to give to Mr.. Cham
berlain the opportunity for defence in
these columns. He must feel that only
Ia sense OF public duty could have in
duced US to make the charges we have
against him and others. We should feel
Fdisbonored. if, for personal malevolenoe
|or party ends. we should assail any per-
son, however high or however humble
At any time. we prefer to praise, rather
than to blame. In this case OF Mr..
Chamberlain, our regrets have been spe-
|cial, that 80 much of education and
ability should have been linked with 80
much OF fraud and corruption. We re-
cognize in tho Acknowledgement the
polish, the plausibility and the training
which come Of high cultivation. But he
must bear in mind. and the public mus,
bear in mind, that in proportion to a
mans abilities and resources are his ca
pacities as we'll for evil as for good.
We now address ourselves more espe-
|oially to the points made by the Attor-
ney- General. The Attorney General, We
know, is not wanting in the power OF
discrimination. He must, therefore, &C.
knowledge that the duties of the public
journalist are distinct from those of the
advocate. The journalist, like the low
yer, or any other person, owes para
mount allegiance to truth, and is respon
Isible before Heaven, as we'll as man, for
the Information which he sets forth.
This must be true, to the best of his
knowledge and belief. At the sam+
time, it is not expected that he shall
with legal precision give time. place and
circumstances. We shall, however, now
proceed to give the grounds upon whicl,
we have charged. and do now speciA
|cally charge. the Attorney. General with
official misconduct:
1. We charge the Attorney General
with neglect Of duty in connection with
the Land Commission swindles. Tha,
there have been swindles of the corrupt
est kind and of great extent, is fac,
admitted over and over again by Mr..
Chamberlain's own party How is it
that, as n member Of this Bonrd, Mr..
Chamberlain. as member and Attorney
General, did not institute legal proceed
ings to arrest the wrong doers or th+
Commissioners, and to protect the public
interests2 Under the Act of 1869, "to
provide for the appointment of Land
Commissioner and to define his duties, -
the Governor, the State Treasurer, the
Comptroller General, the Secretary of
State and IL Attorney General, are de-
clured to be an Advisory Board to the
Land Commissioner, and said Commits
sione''. in The discharge Of his duties, is to
6e gouerned By their instructions and ad-
utce. This Act was passed in 1869. In
1870. the Act was 80 amended as to
make the Land Commissioners subject to
u majority of the Board.
Now. this we have to say to Mr.. Cham
berlain: What have you to plead for the
logical and reasonable inference that you
must have been cognizant of these Land
Commission frauds, or else you must
have been criminalIy negligent. or else
you must have been weak as child.
Are we unreasonable in saying that, as
respects the acknowledged Land Com
mission swindles. you must choose be.
tween gross negleOt of duty or criminal
oomplicity2 Even if you could have
done nothing practicable to arrest the
corruption. you could at least have de-
nounced the thing, and come out of the
business. But you we're silent:
2. We charge the Attorney General
'or grave neglect of duty, and apparent
in connection with our pre-
sent ruined and corrupt finances. The
Governor, the Attorney General and the