Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-26
From the Charleston News.
THE PHOSPHATE BILL.
JUDGE MELToNs REPLY TO MR.. ToMLINsoN's s
LETTER.

1nE
JUDGE MELToN's REPLY TO MR.. ToMLINsoNs
LETTER.
SPARrANBURG, G. H., Sept. Ia, 1872.
A severe illness of several days since my
return from the low-country has prevented a
prompt reply to the communication in your
issue of the 9th instant, over the signature of
Reuben Tomlinson. have to regret, too,
that in the absence from Columbia of several
parties engaged in the campaign, my response
cannot be made as complete as the facts will
warrant. The supplement must appear here
after.
In the communication reference is made to
me in these words:
"Mr. Melton is represented as saying at
Yorkville that he had been told (and would
give his authority if Mr.. Tomlinson asked for
it, that he (Tomlinson) had borrowed the
money, or endorsed note at the bank to get
the money, which was used for the purpose Of
passing the phosphate bill through. In reply
have to say that there is absolutely not the
shadow of truth in the statement"
1t is sufficient to say, as I do, that I have
not, at Yorkvlle or elsewhere, made any such
statement; nor had I heard of such charge
against Mr.. Tomlinson until it was stated in
his card. Possibly his actual knowledge of
tie transaction may have suggested it. 1t is
probable, however, that he has found it neces-
sary to resort to that weakest Of all lines of
defence, and has "put up man of straw, to
knock it down." He might as we'll have rep
resented me as charging that he had "stolen
horse or robbed bank, and then proceeded
to deny it.
What I did say at Yorkville and repeat in
Charleston is this: When the phosphate bill,
auas Unexpectedly vetoed by the Governor, the
lobby-agent auhom the friends Of the measure had
employed to secure its passage by bribery, found
himself withoat sufficient funds to carry the bill
over the veto, and resorted to empty PROMISES
This form Of bribery certain Senators refused to
accept; and Mr.. Tomhinso,s, IN order to procure
their votes, pledged to them his personal faith
that the brides auoald be promptly paid. That
ne borrowed money, or endorsed paper to this
end, let me repeat, have not been informed,
and have never so charged
1t was distinctly announced that the state
ment was not made upon my personal respon-
sibility, and that if Mr.. Tomlinson should deny
it, would cheerfully give the authority upon
"ulSll ~ was OaSCu AZ Lue L OFkNllle meet.
ing Mr.. Corbin was present, and in behalf of
his candidate undertook to deny the charge !;
whereupon Mr.. F. L. Csrdozo, from whom
the information came to me, assumed the re-
sponsibility, and represented to the meeting
that he had it from Mr.. Tomlinson himself
When the statement shall be denied by Mr..
Tomlinson, if at all, he will have the advan-
tage of knowing whence it came. But I have
every reason to believe that, when his card
was written, he knew the authority and the
exact purport of the charge against him.
Apart from this direct testimony, the charge
derives probability from his connection with
the scheme. 1 take it, Mr.. Tomlinson will
not deny that he strenuously advocated the
bill, and used his position on the floor to pro-
mote it; that he was the mouthpiece of Gov.
SCOTS administration in the House and be-
cause the Governor dared to veto the bill, he
at once discontinued this relation that he
knew the measure was secured by means of
direct and shameless bribery, thereby depauch-
ing the representatives of the people, and
bringing reproach upon the Republican party
and upon the State that coming into this
State poor young man, he nevertheless be-
came the owner of about two hundred shares
at fifty dollars cash per share, and that he
found abundant comfort. besides, in the office