The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-15

SUCJ. - -
necessity that existed for the sealing OF these
bonds, for the purpose Of preventing sacrl
flee of those hypothecated. The treasurer re-
quested me to take my seal along with me, SO
that no time would be lost. had previously
consulted with the altorney-general on the
lawfuness of taking my seal to New York,
and the Governor on the propriety and neces'
sity of 80 doing. The attorney-general as.
ernor, that 1t was necessary. took the seal
with me very reluctantly, believing would
| be In better position to insist upon knowing
the truth of what I had so long suspected.
The treasurer also Informed me that the sterl-
ing fund board, of which was member and
secretary, would meet In New York and take
some definite action In regard to the negotla-
ton of the sterling fund bonds
Now, sir, claim, In the first place, whatever
| the State treasurer may have said to you, no
man knows better than yourself that the State
| treasurer was not my exponent In any matter
relating to the management OF State finances;
| but, on the other hand, our personal relallons
were such that we only communicated VIII
each other on the most important official mat
| ters: nor did I even suppose for momenC
that would visit New York, until eleven
O'Clock at night, on the 18th day OF, Octooer'
| having, after conversation with Mr. hlmp-
ton. the Encouragement, the treasurer, TO-
gether with Judge Porter-Mr. Kimpton's law
Predetermined to start for New York the
folio wing morning, at eight o'clock. The only
motive that could have Induced me 10 visit
New York at that time was The
express arrangements with these gen.
tlemen, that they would consent to
change In the financial agency, II
could find parties to accept the agency and
take care of our loans In New York. The
idea of signing bonds was the most foreign 10
my mind, aud am certain this will be attest
ed to by Judge Porter, who spent an entire
week here, urging me to do so, which
most emphaiicay declined. Judge Porter
failing, Mr.. KImpton also came. IN the hope OF
inducing me to sign bonds, and urged lne to
do 80, under me same plea as you set forth !:
ITO save large amount of bonds from sale
which were then In New York under hypothe-
cation"
Now, sIr, having absolutely refused to sign
the bonds, is It reasonable to suppose for o
moment that would concur In your taking
euch an extraordinary step as to carry the sea!
OF the State to New York for the purpose of
executing bonds there that had refused to
sign here?
I have stated the foregoing to show the
fallacy of your assertion that | said 1t was
necessary for you to carry the seal OF the
State to New York. A simple statement Of
the facts is all propose to make, and the pub.
lie may Judge Of the reasonableness of our
my arrival iu New York, Unexpectedly met
you at the st. Cloud Hotel. In q conversation
that ensued, Mr.. KimptoI inquired of you If
YOU had brought The seal of the State with
you. This inquiry surprised me, as any one
may imagine, and you,very naturally noiiced
my astonlshment at such an extraordinary
question. You prevaricated in your reply to
Mr.. Kimpton, and expressed the desire for
private interview with me, when you slated
that Mr.. Kimpton had telegraphed you
to come to New York and bring the seal
OF the State with you. And you certainly
have not forgotten, sir, the severity OF my
reprimsnd at yonr having transferred The seal
of the State of South Carolina to the City OF
New York. Your excuse was that 1t was not
an unusual thing, as the seals of other States
had been frequently taken to New Yor k for the
purpose OF executing public documents. You,
therefore, begged OF me- to give YOU an order
to In some measure protect you from your
extraordinary willingness to comply with the
request of those who were anxious to have
State bonds executed. And you will iurt6er
remember that you gave as a reason for de-
string this order from me, that you did not
propose to return to South Carolina. but In
tended reslgning your position OF secretary Oh
State. as you had accepted professorsnip IN
the "Howard University" and. therefore, you
would be compelled to return the seal by ex-
press, and feared that some accident might be-
fall 1t In transfer By railroad or otherwise.
Being mlsled By your assumed contrl-
tion, by what then thoughta mere oversight
la duty In the secretary of State, wrote yon
the order that you desired, having dated It
back to the l4th day of October, 1871. Now,
sir, the perfddy you hase exhibited IN your
ability to mIsrepresent and associate my
name 10 matters which sou could only have
had other mems words, as TO my wishes,
have not the slightest doubt will lead you to
deny this statement and claim that you re-
ceIvet the order from me before taking the
seal ta New York. In this act am ready to
admit my folly in apparently!trying to shield
man who has proven himself unworthy OF
respect or confidence, from the possible
chances OF being proven crimfnally guilty OF
transferring an Office held under the laws OF
this Commonwealth to distant State, without
the authority of law or previous consent OF
the only official who has the power to grant
the authority for officers OF the State to leave
their posts of duty. That may not be mis-
understood, l slate, most erphatically. that
the subject of taking the seal beyond the
limits of the State was never spoken OF IN my
presence by any State officer, or any other
person, and your statement to the contrary ts
a base fabrication.
In your statement regarding the reissue Of
bonds which had been converted, you desire
to make the public believe that they are on
tainin- important information which has
hitherto been withheld. To show the antmus
of this, will refer you to the following from
my last annual message:
't$2, zoe, 900 of the amount of conversion
bonds, issued as above stated, were signed by
me for the express purpose Of Withdrawing
from the market and caucelling an equal
amount ofthose Issued and hypotnecated un-
der the acts for the relief Of the treasury, the
payment OF the interest on the public debt,
end for the land commission"
In conclusion, am justifed 10 saying that,
had 1t not been for my refusal to consent 10
the negotiation of all Notwithstanding loan
aud others-thaJ you have actually sealed, the
State would have money to-day 10 pay ex-
penses. though secured at fearful sacrifice,
and you aud those cooperating with you
would have been the last ones to have raised
any cry about the extent or validity of the
State debt, or about exlravaganr expendl.
lures.
By reference to my last two annual mes
sages to the General Assembly, the basis Of
every Just complaint against the adminislra.
tion can be found, and I assert, without fear
of contradiction, that any one who Is or has