The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-02-16
The Charleston County Commissioners.


mitted by Gov. Scott in special message to
the Legislature. Well, it seems that the Gov
ernor had previously ordered an investigation
of the accounts of the County Commissioners,
and that this was progressing under the direc-
tion of Solicitor SeabroOk, when orders were
received by that gentleman to desist from fur
ther examination of their books and vouchers.
The Private Secretary OF Gov. Scott published
denial of the rumors that this suspension was
owing to direction of the Executive Depart
ment, and on Thursday last the explanation
was made in another special message from the
Governor. Attorney General Chamberlain is
responsible for this new phase of affairs, as
disclosed in the annexed extract from the House
proceedings:
A message was received from the Governor,
in reply to resolution offered by Mr.. Levy, of
Charleston, yesterday, inquiring by whose au-
thority, and for what reason, the investigation
into the affairs, books and papers, of the Coun-
ty Commissioners of Charleston, had been ar
rested in its progress it was currently report
ed. The Governor sent the following letter,
from acting solicitor Seabrook, as explanatory
of the matter; and stating that his message to
the General Assembly, recommending an in
vestigation, had been prompted by intimations
of Irregularities, given him by Mr.. Seabrook.
The Governor says that under the impression
that from the facility and convenience of pro-
curing the requisite testimony, and the interests
of the people Of that County in the result of
the investigation, that city was the proper place
for conducting it. And regarding the judiciary
as peculiarly intrusted with the administration
and enforcement of the laws, he must be per-
mitted to express his regret that the proceedings
s,fo nd info fo1 6n
ring their progress, by Legislative action, at
the imminent hazard of thwarting and defeating
them:
CHARLESTON, S. C. Feb. 4, 1871.
To his Ercellency Coz. Scoa-DEAR SIR: 1
write to say to you that have been ordered to
stop proceedings against County Commissioners
of Charleston by my superior, Mr.. Chamber
lain wrote to MIR. c. to inform him that it
would be necessary for me to communicate the
fact to your Excellency, as had informed you
of my determination to bring to light the faults
of that Office and had been encouraged by you
in that resolution. 1 have the utmost conf
dence in Mr.. Chamberlain, and presume that
whatever has induced him to this course is cor
rect. 1 think, however, that he has made a
mistake, and that lie is going to bring down
upon my unfortunate head storm of indigna-
ton from the public, whose feelings are highly
excited on this subject and who are watching
this investigation with the utmost interest.
had Just written, at the time of receiving Mr..
C's telegram, TO him to call on you and beg
you, for me, to authorize me in employing ad-
ditional counsel The matter was opening up,
in my opinion, so as to show great misconduct,
and was disposed, without reference to the
many lies that have been told, and unawcd by
the threats uttered, to push on in my duty.
For myself, see it plainly that am to be the
victim of the whole business, and am to be
soundly abused by that public which it was
my utmost desire, fearlessly, to befriend beg
your Excclency not to listen to c.r parte state
ments against me, and am, very truly, yours,
E. B. SEABROOK.
A motion was made to refer the communica-
tions to the judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Wilkes, the chairman, stated to do 80
would be sending them to the tomb of the
Capulets as he had some ten or twelve impor-
tant bills, but had been unable to get the com
mittee together for some time. The matter
under consideration was, however, referred to
that committee with instructions to report to-
morrow.
Since the above was put in type, we have re-
ccved the Legislative proceedings of Friday
last, in which the Attorney General is set right
upon this important subject. We make the
annexed extract, and hope to hear of thor
ough investigation and exposure of the whole
action of these Charleston officials:
The Committee on the Judiciary reported
upon the message of the Governor, sent in yes
tcrday, relative to the investigation of the af-
fairs of the County Commissioners of Charles
ton, commencing the promptness OF the Gov
ernor in ordering an investigation upon
intimation of frauds and irregularities, but
could not agree with his Excellency that the
appointment of special committee of investi-
CATION by the General Assembly could interrupt
or thwart his object. The committee stated
that the Commissioners of each County are re-
quired by law to submit an annual report of
their transactions to the Legislature, and the
two Houses have clear right and are solemnly
bound to require the Commissioners to explain
any portion of their transactions that may need
explanation Granted that "the administra-
tion and enforcement of the laws" are pecu-
liarly entrusted to the Judiciary yet it is clear
ly within the province of the Legislature to
appoint a committee to investigate any alleged
malfeasance in Office There is no conflict of
authority here The joint committee may
proceed to investigate and report to the Legis-
lature, and, therefore, the Legislature may take
appropriate action. At the same time the Ju-
dietary may proceed to enforce the penalty of
an infracted law. The County Commissioners
of Charleston having been presented by the
Grand Jury for Indictment, your Committee
fully recognize the right of the Attorney Gen
eral to direct the action of his subordinate, Mr..
Seabrook This he has done and nothing more; f;
and for the information Of the House, we ap-
mend the following letter from the Attorney
General:
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, |
COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. 10, 1871.
Hon. W. ID. Wilkes, Chairman Judiciary
Committee, House Of Representatiues.-DEAR
SIR: l observe that the special message of the
Governor, in relation to alleged frauds in the
office of the County Commissioners in Charles
ton, has been referred to your committee.
Il ;s perha n ry ,araner FIR me To sew that nv