The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-10
THE STATE CAPITAL.
OF THE ARGUMENT IN THE
BLUE RIDGE SCRIP CASE.
The Work OF the Legislature.

The Work OF the Legislature.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE NEwsl
COLUMBIA, Thursday, January 8.
The Blue Ridge scrip case of R. G. shiVer
and others sgainst the comptroller-general,
petition for mandamus, was taken up again
to-day in the Supreme Court. Upon the motion
made yesterday by Attorney ey-general Melton
to take testimony on the questions of fact in.
volrad, an adverse decision was rendered,
which, being totally unexpected, occasions
much astonishment, and Is thought to 'au-
CUR badly for the final issue OF the
case. The argument was then opened by
Mr.. Chamberlain In an elaborate address,
in favor of the scrip. He urged that the State
has received consideration for the scrip by
the surrender and cancellation of the Blue
Rldge bonds. and that there Is therefore
valid contract between the State and the
holders of the scrip for the redemption of the
same. He argued exhauslively the ques-
ton whether the scrip was bill OF
credit in the sense of the Constitution
of the United States, maintaining that
1t was not. He then proceeded to what
he claimed was the most important point IN
the argument: that, even If it were bill OF
credit, and violation Of the Constitutions OF
the State and United States, the scrip holders
would still have valid claim, and though the
scrip might not be issuable or receivable In
the treasury, still the tax for its redemption
must be levied. The object aimed at by the
counsel for the scrip seems to be to get the
tax paid in greenbacks and redeem the scrip
dollar tor dollar.
Mr.. Haskell followed on the other side. con-
fning himself to arguing the ingadity OF the
scrip as violating the Constitution OF the
State. He maintained that the constitution
expressly provides how debt shall be con-
tr acted, cited the provisions, aud showed that
the scrip act was not in accordance there
with. The hour of adjournment was reached
before Mr.. Haskell concluded, and he will
continue his argument tomorrow.
Legislative Proceedings.
In the Senate, to-day, Clinton offered sjoint
resolution to authorize the county commits
sioners of Lancaster to levy especial tax OF
TWO mills on the dollar. Whittemore gave mo-
tice of bill to establish State Normal
School. He also gave notice of q bill to re-
qulre elected officers to qualify within thirty
days. Jervey introduced bill 10 establish
House of Refuge Ia Charleston. Smalls in
troduced bill to fund the debt Of Beaufort
County, which authorizes the borrowing Of
$780, 900 on county seven per cent. bonds,
and the collection of an annual tax OF
one mill on the dollar 10 pay the
Interest and principal. Whittemore offered
concurrent resolution requiring report
from the sinking fund commissioners, and q
Joint resolution to extend the time for paying
the present taxes till March Let. Dunn gave
notice CT Joint resolution to authorize the
collection OF a. special lax In Horny Coun-
ty. Cain gava notice OF similar resolution
with regard to Edgefeld County; and like
notice was given by Donaldson concerning
Greenville County. Nash Introduced bill to
amend the game law. Holllngshead Intro
duced bill to incorporate the Town of Due
West, Abbeville County. The bill to make North
and South Wimbee Creeks, In Beaufort County,
nayigable streams, received its fnal reading,
passed, and was ordered to be sent to the
House. The bill to repeal an act establishing
q public road In Blrnwel and Orangeburg
Counties, and the 5ill to amend the act lncor-
poratlng the Mechanics and Farmers Build
ing and Loan Association of Richland County,
were referred to appropriate committees. The
Joint resolution to allow the heirs OF John
Fields in Darlington County to redeem certain
forfeited lands; the joint resolution to extend
a similar privilege to Mrs. Mary Mclaughlin,
Of Darlington County; and the jolnt resolution
to allow Thomas Sansbury, of Darlington, to
do likewise, were read the second time aud
ordered to be engrossed for third reading.
A long debate occurred on the bill to repeal
sections IS and Sc of chapter CXX. title 4, Of
the act for revising and consolidating the
General Statutes OF the State, approved Feb
ruary 10, 1872, which seeks to make sweep
Ing repeal of the lien law. 1t was finally
read the second time and ordered 10 be en-
crossed for q third reading.
In the House Grant introduced bill to
divide the State into five Congressional Dis
lricts, and also q bill to abolish the Inferior
Court OF Charleston. Green gave notice of q
bill to charter the Charleston Water and Canal
Company. This Is the bill recommended by
the Charleston Chamber OF Commerce, en-
dorsed by the City Coancil, and recently pub
lished In The NEWS. Grant gave notice OF
bill to repeal the charter of the Enterprise
Railroad Company. Levy introduced bill to
restrict the appointment OF notaries public for
Charleston to four. Vauderpool gave notice
of bill to punish bribery. Bowley
gave notice of bill to abrogate all that
portion of the State debt incurred In aid
of the late rebellion. The Senate bill, ceding
TO the United States Jurisdiction over certain
lands in Darlington County, known as the Ma
tonal Cemetery, was passed, and having al
ready been passed by the Senate, was ordered
to be enrolled for ratification. Wallace intro
duced bill to repeal the act establishing the
late codifying commission, and restoring the
rules of practice and pleading as they former
ly existed In the Courts of Equity. PICKET.
REASSEMBLING OF TIE LEGISLA-
TURE.
Plenty of. Debate but Very Little Ac-
tion-The Probable Length OF tho Ses-
sion-The Blue Ridge Scrip Case in