The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-14
TIE LAND RING.
STARTLING DISCLOSURES IN THE SENATE.
$500, 900 Clean Gone-No Records Kept
The Honesty OF Politicians.
rrRoA OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

COLUhblA, JduualJ ~.
The debate in the Senate to-day upon the
land commission brought to light some start
ling facts The Senate had before it two re-
solutions from the House looking to report
from the land commissioner and advisory
board. One required the secretary OF the
advisory board to furnish copy OF the pro-
ceedipcs of the board since they first met;
and the other was resolution requiring re-
port from the present land commissioner (by
the 18th inst.) Of his transactions, and from
the advisory board Of the transactions Of the
former land commissioner. Nearly the whole
DAYS session was spent in discussing the reso-
lutions.. The debate was spicy and was eager
ly listened to.
The main opposition to the resolutions was
because they were unnecessary" and be-
cause the committee already appointed to
investigate would make all necessary reports
LESLIE ARGUES.
Senator Leslie made long speech. He
understood the resolution. As to its passage,
he was willing to defer to the good ]uogme,nt gN,i,
tion came from the House. He wished some
body would tell him something about the
land commission that he did not already know.
Corbin wished that ''he would tell what he
knew, and keep the Senate in suspense no
longer ,.,.--
board make? He appealed to the opposition
of the Senate. He thought sometimes that 1t
was best to tell lie, but when he was caught
at It. he thought it was best to tell the truth
~ saw that report OF the land commission
will never be made known. tell this Senate,
and the country generally, that you have got
all the report you are ever going 10 ger. NOW
this Is very
BOLD, PLAIN STATEMENT,
bnt know what am talking about. was
long enough in that Office to know its opera
tions.n MI. Leslie referred to the investigating
committees, and said that they were all gotten
up for black mail purposes. He asked II any
senator had known any good to come oubof
N investigating committee; II such commt-
tees are not more in view of covering up than
uncovering. II mean, ne SAID, ultimately
to have report. The
LAND COMMISSION WAS 4 cad JOB,
and there had been large amount OF money
spept. But What could the advisory board
say if the resolution passed 1t could only say
that it was not within It's power to make re-
port, as there were no records IN tnc ONCE.
The resolution directs the land commissioner
to do something that it Is out Of his power to
do. 1t is simply nullity."
ON THE STAND.
He thought the best proposition was to put
these men on the stand anu nave them s~ea.
as to the transactions of the office. He would
then be compelled to say how much land was
bought In certain counties, what were the
fees, how much was received for 1t, &c. He
was ready to attend before the committee
whenever notified that they were ready. HIS
time had. not yet come, The ADVISORY
board had no right to call upon him for
any statement. II could easily be made
he could give them PaulS epistle to the
Corinthians and that wou'l be report
Let the chairman of the committee arraign
them all. and he (Leslie) would tell, upon oath
all that he knew. The advisory board must all
be put upon the stand and give their testimony
AS the land commissioner OF this Stale, lie
. said, "my record is clear. have no favor 10
ask, and want none. But want the people
of the State to understand my position, and
that they can only understand by summonlng
me. No man shall know anything from me until
YOU swear me. Any man Is conSummate ass
that would introduce such resolution as this:
I am conscious of the future, and, think,
know where am and where shall be. ask
that the resolution do lie upon the table. The
committee to investigate We're. appointed just
srior to the holidays, and they have had no
time to organize"
Leslie desired to introduce resolution IN
structing the committee to take sworn testi-
mony.
CoRBIN OBJECTS.
Senator Corbin objected to the assumption
of the gentleman from Barnwel. Matters had
come TO q point where they could staCd them
no longer. He said that the land commission
er and the advisory board should be made 10
tell these things; and then, If we don't oeileVe
them, we could 90 after them.
Senator Leslie said he had no faith IN pollll-
clans. He did not believe in the honesty OF
any party Every day or two there comes
resolution of investigation. Every party had
its turn at protesting honesty. He didn't De-
lieve that any one believed any Of the state
ments that had been made by himself or tile
advisory board. The senator from Darlington
-he had no right to refer to hm--can bore
and bore, and when he has bored d hole big
enough he can jump into it and 80 down TO the
centre. Iwon'C make report to anybody.
Get what YOU can. don't make any threats
about the matter. Don't think that You are
any more honest than am. We are alr cor
rupt, and as to the third party OF RetormerS,
the devil will get hold OF them. IL Is one OIL
the effects CT q Republican form OF govern
ment.
COMPLETE INVESTIGATION.
He wanted the investigation to be complete,
and ~ take all the testimony he would give
them. There were no records OF the advisory
board. Ifcny one would 90 into the land Oh
fee and work tor one year. he would know
no more about it than he does now.
HAYNE, FROM MARION,
made some remarks, in which he pitched into