Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-01-18
From Columbia.

Bills have been introduced in the assem-
bly, to incorporate the Columbia, Walter.
bOro and Yemassee railroad company,
aud q bill to incorporate the Yemassee
and Millen railroad company; also 6fa
bill to reduce the salaries Of county trras-
urers and county auditors and TO provide
for the election Of those officers by the
people.
The correspondent Of the N.1s says:
The campaign Of the Reformers ia ih-,
assembly appears TO have been int.rrui.
ted for the time. I am assured, however
that the leaders in the Reform moyen, Ut
are actively perfecting their rarranseinef,ts;
that their forces are now well in haGd,
and are receiving constant accessions, and
that their next blow will be all the more
effective for this season Of apparent inac
tivity. Yesterday, in the Senate, the tx,
pected debate upon the frauds was deferred
by mutual consent, the Ratormers justify
ing their action by the argument that the
Senate would, by adopting the report of
the high joint committee, be prejudgng
the officials who might yet be brought be-
fore it as a high court of Impeachment.
Mr.. Nash introduced a JOINT resolution
authorizing the employment OF legal cOun-
sci for the prosecution Of persons engaged
in land swindles.
The preamble to this resolution recites
that it is distinctly charged, in the report
of the joint special fanncial investigating
committee, that great swindles have been
perpetrated" in connection with the land
commission; that corrupt means have
been used, and alliances formed; that the
money of the State. and the bonds issued,
have not been disposed of as directed;"
that lands have been purchased, in the
name Of the State, at prices greatly in eX-
cess Of their fair market value, and others
for which no valid titles have been given !;
and, whereas, these charges are O. char
acter which demand the most rigid and
thorough investigation, for the protection
of the interests of the State; and, whereas,
it is inexpedient that the attorney general
Of the State should be employed for the
purposes hereinafter named, by reason Of
his connection with said land commission,
in the character Of member of its advis-
ory board; and provides that the Hon. A.
G.. Magrath, Of the bar Of Charleston, and
Hon. J. D. Tradewell, Of the bar of
Columbia, be, and they are hereby, au-
thorized to institute proceedings, civil or
criminal. or both, as the nature of the
case may demand, in the name of the
State of South Carolina, against all parties
implicated in the alleged frauds aud NAL
practices, and to recover, by legal process,
all sums of money which may have been
unlawfully paid out of the treasury of the
State for the purchase of lands; and that,
for the purpose of compensating the attor-
neys herein authorized to be employed,
for their services, and for defraying the
expenses of the prosecution contemplated
by the preceding resolution, the sum OF
five thousand dollars, if 80 much be neces-
sary, shall be paid out of any moneys in
the treasury not otherwise appropriated;
and the said attorneys shall be further en-
titled to receive a commission of five per
cent upon all moneys that may be recoy-
cred by them for the use of the State.
Monday was regular field day in the
House. Bowen made four hours speech
on the recent message Of Governor Scott
and the report of the joint financial inves
tigating committee. The speech was de-
livered amid perfect storm of Interrupt
tions and attempts to apply the gag law.
Bowen first repeated his argument to