The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-25

sand Springfield muskets. for Ine ai'e' u
ton OF these thoroughly serViceable arms
and for the ammunition for item, the .Sso'e
of South Carolina has paid t'co h'tndrea
and tsco thousand sic Hundred and taoo a0s'
dollars. For which fraud Governor Scott Is
shown by the committee to be responslole.
Altogether, the militia, the State constaou-
larry, and the expenses OF the Adjutant-Gene'
rails Department amount to s42l, l5s, Whlch
sis equal TO a special tax Of two and hall
'smals upon the taxable property OF the
Estate, or a per capita of 81 IS upon the
'whole voting population"
Passing to that Gigantic folly" the Land
Commission. the committee show that the
total sum expended for that account Is
SAC, 724, while all the funds at the disposal
of the Commission, by law, were 500, oOo in
| new State bonds. II these bonds were sold
at sixty cents the Land Commission have
unlawfully expended s326,723. The COM
| mittee believe that when the whole truth is
known they will be borne out in their con-
clusions that "a more outrageous an"
"enormoas suindle could not have been
ssperpetrated" They show that the nrst
Land Commission was bribed to resign, tne
money, about $50, coming out OF the
Land Commission funds" They do not be-
lieye that the State has raid titles to one
half the land which the Commission puF-
chased. The character Of the purchases ls
shown in detail. One instance must, at
present, serve cur purpose. A piece OF land
bought by ex-City Inspector jerks for S23
was sold by that worthy to the State Tor
$4,000. The persons responsible were the
Advisory Board, consisting OF Governor
Scott, Comptroller Neagle, Treasurer Par
ker, Secretary Cardozo and Attorney.Gene-
raj Chamberlain, who have by law full and
entire control OF the Land Commission.
A highly interesting chapter in the report
| is that which deals with the Financial Board
| and the Financial Agency Of the State. The
Board consists OF Governor Scott, Treasurer
Parker and Attorney General Chamberlain.
The committee show that from July l, 1869,
| to October 81, 1870, the Financial Agent,
acting under the order Of Scott, Parker Il
Co., negotiated loans to the amount OF S2O,-
667, $40, upon which the expenses were s4oz'-
425. As to the balance due the Financial
Agency, the statements Of the committee are
not OF the clearest. They appear to argue
that the State, according to Mr.. Kimpton's
books, owes that officer s97, 74S, while &C.
cordiug to the State Treasurer's book the
sum due Mr.. Kimpton is S7S2,o35. They
contend that s2,2OO,OOO OF new bonds are
still in the hands OF the Financial Agent.
These bonds at seventy (the price is now
thirty would bring 81, 100000. To this the
committee add sl3O,5OO as the proceeds OF
the Agricultural Land scrip at seventy-two
and half cents an acre, making the amount
in the hands of the financial Agent, 10
cover his claims, sum Of Sl,G7O,5 500 We
have followed the statements of the commit
tee, but it is plain that their whole calcula-
tion is defective if the S2,200,OO0 OF new
bonds, instead OF being sold at seventy, are
for sale now at twenty-five dollars. The
committee say that in the accounts so lar
presented Mr.. Kimpton has not charged
"one dollar for his personal services as
"agent." The committee say that Mr.. Klmp-
ton is ready to have his rate OF compensa-
tion determined BY any canpn'Snt boaiu VI
Bankers, and it is evident enough, from the
remarks OF the committee, that Mr. klmp-
ton, in all cases, has acted under the direct
orders of the Financial Board. The COM
miltee, however, charge that Mr.. Kimpton
admitted to them the incorrectness Of his
ssaccounts, and admitted that he was direct
"ed by the Financial Board not TO make real,
s'bm fictitious entries so frightfully large
"were the expenses Of the Agency in the
negotiation of loans the Board thought it
''best to keep the true amounts in disguise"
This statement is, We confess, very hard to
swallow.
In regard to the so-caled State debt the
committee say that they are unable to ex-
press the feelings which the discovery OF
ssale ponlerouS orer-iSSueS' produced. They
call it "a shock that convulsed every senti-
sment OF extenuation or doubt" And yet
two of their number, Messrs. Dennis and
Gardner reported to the House Of Repre-
sentatives, only few days ago, that they
| we're convinced that there was "no orer-
s'tssue OF State bonds" These same COM
mitteemen sign the joint report which de-
clares that the fraudulent issues, or over
issues, are appalling. We shall look
for some explanation OF this blowing
hot and cold in almost the same breath.
The Joint committee, Gneuding Gardner and
Dennis) after examining the whole ground,
come to this conclusion ave declare we
'cannot believe other than the fearful truth
"that stares US in the face, that the bonds
''and stocks printed by the American Bank
'.Note Company 1922, $40, O0O) represent The
'qabAitieS Of the State, for which the faith
''and credit of the State, however unlawfully
presented, has been pledged for payment" "
The committee take up the different issues
OF bonds in detail, and agree that the present
| liabilities of the State Old and Neec, are
! SO. 100 600, TO which must he added the