Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-02-20
the AdvertiSe7.,

tative" have again thrown their sdlrty
card in the Daily Union, of February
18th; and, although the task of replying
to it is extremely distaststus and dssgast-
ing ITO me, yet, casting asidb fastidioussss
ness, in the cause Of pubic justice and
morality, VIII condescend to noticeit
in your present issue. ~; ~ ~
These colored youths pretend to be ig--
norant of the person writing over the
signature of GA Member of the Bar"
and of the particular bar he alludes to.
and allege that she seeks to put them in
a false position before tie public" Here
they both lie in the beginning of their
so-called Defence, and as it win be made
evident, the lie continues to the end OF
the chapter. They know full well who
he is, and will have cause to know him
better before he is done with them.
They tn.pudeatly assert that they are
"ready and willing, to submit to inves-
tigation. any, lof their, transactions in
soliciting the appointment of the present
County Treasurer; and are, willing. to
be weighed in the balance with;him CA
member of the Bar at any time. These
two men do not deny the, charge that
they made persistent and annoying ape
plications to the Executive, to appoint
the present incumbent to the office of
County Treasurer, when they well knew
that charges of felony were preferred
against him; but assert, that they are
ready to submit their transactions in
this regard to investigation. Now asthe
Courts of law. if we had any, do not in
vestigate such a charge, and as thePub-
lie isthe only tribunal before which they
could be properly cited to appear and
answer, their failure to deny explicitly
in their card, The charge made against
them, allows judgment by default; and
according to the. real ezpoundsr of Coke
and Blackstone, is equivalentto to an adm;s-
sion of their guilt. We advise these
colored Solons to leave Coke and Black
stone alone, for the "Colored Represen-
tadve" once found, to his notification.
that Blackstone was too hard for his in
tellectual digestion. -,
In regard to their denial of the possess,
sion of fraudulent School Checks, or
claims, and having them cashed, know
ing that they were fraudulent or forged,
the testimony Of some of the leading
men Of their own party supports the
charge, which however is now establish
ed beyond doubt, by the fact that one
of these colored youths Certainly the
"Colored Representative'') was one of
the Trustees of Pickens School District,
for Edgefeld County, during the year
1872, and has been appointed for 1878.
That the law requires all teachers Of
Schools, to make monthly reports, &C.,
before the can receive drafts on the Coun-
ty Treasury for payment-that such
drafts must be dra,On by the Board of
School Trustees, and countersigned by
tho School Commissioners before they
can be legal drafts-that this "Colored
Representative and Trustee as aforesaid,
knowing the law, (or supposed to know
it, for ignorance is no excuse, eitherfor
crimes or nnisdemeanors,) and knowing
also that the School Checks were not
issued according 10 theprovisions of Sec.
IL, Genl. Stat. p. 232, bought up, shaved,
and discounted at heavy discount, a
large number of these illegal checks, and
had them cashed by the accommodating
and very complaisant Ex.Treasurer, at
the mandate of his master, a colored State
official at Columbia.
Now mark the position of this impu-
dent rascal, the "Colored Representa-
tive" whom we believe the worst Of the
two, from his constitutional love OF
money. AS one of the Board of School
Trustees for Pickens School District,
which Board alone had the power to issue
pay certificates, this fellow "buys ftp,
discounts, and shaues," large number
of bogus school pay certificates, dra,O'l
by the School Commissioner alone on the
County Treasurer, and has them cashed.
Was lie not required ny law to know that
they were illegal, occupying as he diu
the position of Trustee? And if he did
not knowit, does itaffect his criminality
Now observe what the law says in regard
to School Trustees, and other officials,
da',bling in pay certificates, and other
orders, on School funds, or Jurors Ger
tificates:
SIT is hereby declared to be unlawful
for any County Treasurer, County Audi
tor, County School Commissioner, or
School Trustee TO buy, discount, or shaOe,
directly or Indirectly, or be in any way
interested in any Teachers pay certitl-
Gates, or other order on School funds or
Jurors certificates" Sec. /.
"That if any Of the officers aforesaid,
shall violate the provisions Of Sec. l., OF
this Act, he shall be deemed to be guilty
of Il misdemeanor, and on conviction
thereof, shall pay fine of not less than
$500. nor moro than $4,000. 6c.,--and shall
be imprisoned ut the discretion Of tho
Court, or either, or both. Sec. ., A. a.
1872, p. l53.
Here now the "colored Representa-
tive" not daring to deny that he is
amenable to the provisions of the above
mentioned Act, and failing to deny the
charge Of casling fraudulent or forged
School pay certificates, has placed him.
self within the jurisdiction OF the Court
of Sessions, in which Court I think that
these two mongrels acilI aceigh ve,y light
IL, the balance, a'ad perhaps may be found
,conting.
Whist these colored youths do not
understand the meaning and application
Of the term Blaekmail,," they seem
perfectly familiar with the practical op
Grafton of BroaCnmail," and we advise
them, or the achitc or colored pianp, who
may have indited their insolent card, to
remember that justice overtakes at last
the offenders and that when they mani
fest as much industry and energy in
obtaining for their constituents trials by
Jury, and thorough investigation of the
Indebtedness of the County as they have
shown in 'plundering the treasury, they
may then call themselves at the best,
only colored gentlemen. When these
men next hear from me it will be from
| the criminal side of the Court.