Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-02-15
The 8. O.. gegislatare.
SPEECH OF MAJOR B. F. BRIGGS.
THE STATE FINANCES,

whom was referred joint resolution to lnves-
tigate the transactions of the Financial Board
and the Financial Agent of the State, in the
city of New York, beg leave to report that they
have considered the same, and recommend
that it do pass, with the following amend
ment: Strike out the words occurring after
the word Investigation" in the forty-ftth
line w. j. WHIPPER, Chairman.
JOINT RESOLUTION TO INVESTIGATE THE
TRANSACTIONS OF THE FINANCIAL BOARD
AND THE FINANCIAL AGENT OF THE STATE,
IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, WITH AUTHOR
ITY YANDINsTRUCTIoNs TO INSTITUTE WHAT.
EVER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS MAY BE FOUND
NECESSARY. ..
WHEREAS, the Financial Board and the
Financial Agent of the State, in the city of
New York, have failed and declined to report
to the Legislature their respective transac-
tions and whereas this failure Of said Board
and Financial Agent of the State to report
and give information as to the finances Of the
State, has justly excited grave apprehenslons
in the public mind, and seriously impaired the
credit of the State at home and abroad there
fore, be it
Resolved, by the House of Representatives,
the Senate concurring, that Messrs. Wilkes,
Corbn and Melton, attorneys, learned in the
law, are hereby employed, at fee of
dollars, to be paid each of said attorneys upon
the warrant of the drawn upon the
Treasurer of the State; and said attorneys are
hereby instructed, as early as practicable, to
make thorough examination and investiga-
tion of all the accounts, vouchers and other
transactions of the Financial Board and the
Financial Agent of .he State, in the city of
New York, with full power and authority to
send for persons and papers. And said War.
rem D. Wilkes, of the House. d. T. Corbin, of
the Senate, and G. D. Melton, of Columbia,
attorneys, are hereby empowered and instruct
ed, in the name and in behalf Of the State, to
institute such legal proceedings as may be
proper for any illegal or unauthorized action on
the part of either or all the members Of said
Board, or said Financial Agent, and to prefer
indictments against either or all of said par
ties for embezzlement, Or other fraudulent mis-
application of funds belonging to the State.
Be it further Resolued, That the attorneys
so appointed and instructed on behalf OF the
State, are hereby requested to report the re-
suit Of their investigation during the present
session of the Legislature.
Upon the presentation of this report to the
House, yesterday, Representative Briggs, Of
York, spoke as follows:
Mr.. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1t ls very
seldom ask the attention Of this House upon
any subject. Having originated and intro
duced this joint resolution, I feel provoked
by sense Of duty to indulge in a few re-
marks in support Of its passage | propose
to consume but little time of the House, in
tending only to throw out such facts and con-
siderations on the subject as are most likely to
receive your approval and endorsement. The
question of impeachment has twice been
brought up before this House. The first time
I voted against it, because at that time there
was no evidence only vague and general
statements were made that certain facts would
develop themselves in reference to the allega-
ton of fraud and corruption in Office. The
Joint Investigating Committee had not made
their report. Since then, facts clear to my
mind, have been proven, that there has been
an over issue of $6,0OO,O0O in bonds. The
fact then recurs to my mind, who is RESPONSE
Bile for this over.issue of bonds2 Of course,
the Financial Board and Agent? To whom
are they accountable for the over-issue ?
Most undoubtedly to the Legislature Of South
Carolina The next question arises, ethey
made any explanation satisfactory to the Leg
islature? By no means but they have per-
sistently refused. Does not the Comptroller
General tell you, when the Committee of Ways
and Means ask him to know the amount OF
interest to be raised on the actual debt Of the
State, "that it is impossible to estimate the
amount of interest required, because nobody
could tell the amount Of outstanding bonds
and liabilities ?" This is the answer made in
reference to the finances of the State and their
spoliation, to the very Legislature by whose
vote Governor Scott has thus far escaped i'm
peachment, and under whose wing he has pre-
tended to be justified. Now, I do not intend
to enter into long and tiresome elucidation
of all the figures, amounts and separate items
of fraud that are charged against the Finan-
cial' Board and Agent, because they have al
ready been fully exposed by gentlemen on
this floor, and by the public press at large, to-
gether with the Financial Committee appoint
ed by this General Assembly for that express
purpose. If we would not believe all the ev-
idence that they have educed, we would not
believe it, though one we're to arise from the
dead and inform us of the fact. Therefore, l
ask, with these facts blazing each legislator in
the face, are you willing to sit here in your
seats, supremely careless and unconcerned,
the balance of this session, and let this Finan.
cial Board and Agent 60 "Scott free," and
not require them to account to you, the guar
dians Of the people, how this over-issue Of S6,-
100000 in bonds, issued long after the Act
which authorized their issue had expired by
its own limitation? ask you, dare you meet
your constituents, and say you have done all
in your power, and have aided by your vote
to investigate these charges against Scott,
Parker & Co.
This resolution proposes to give every mem:
ber on this floor chance to wipe out the foul
aspersions charged from all quarters against
it, as being the supple tool ofthe above named
parties, through the means of their ill-begot-
ten money, to shield them from the justice de-
manded by an outraged people and an offend
ed law. This resolution proposes strictly
business transaction; one that cannot be mis-
understood This Legislature represents the
State of South Carolina. The Legislature
has empowered or employed the Financial
Board and Agent to attend to certain tinan:
cial duties, according to certain laws and
agreements. They refuse to report to the
Legislature through the proper channel-the
Comptroller. Generator any other source.
Why this refusal? The commercial world
charges them with embezzling the funds Of
this State. The accused have in no way re-
futed the charge. Now, I ask, is it not high
time that this Legislature should be engaged
in instituting legal proceeding against these