The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-08-21
S. G.
Friday Morning. August 81, 1874.
Mr. Chamberlain's Plea.


spoken directly ''to the public" in a
defence of himself against certain
charges. 1t is full. of special pleadings
and unsatisfactory denials. It is a
lawyer,like paper. such as Spearman
or q Tracy could prepare, ingeniously
avoiding rocks and shoals. and sailing
smoothly along in the placid waters of
seli.oomplacsncy. The charges which
he notices concern his actions in vari-
Gus public boards or commissions from
1853 to 1872. He begins at the begin
ming by denying that he had larger
share OF influence in appointing Kimp-
ton the Financial Agent OF the State
than other members of the Financia
Board, at the same time vindicatine
the appointment. He contends that
it was,a good one, and that Kimpton
had "very great SUCCESS" during the
first three. years of his agency. He
claims next that. the Financial Boar d
were never charged with any duty in
connection with the issue of bonds.
except to fix the price ut which they
should be sold. This was the case as
regards bonds to redeem the bills re-
oeivable. to authorizs loan to pay in
terest on the public debt, and bonds
for the relief of the Treasury, with the
further duty as regarded bills receiva.
BILE to fix the time for their redemp-
tion, and in the case of relief of the
Treasury bonds, to give directions for
the use nf the bonds issued under the
Aot as collateral security. And so of
the Act for the conversion of State
securities. 1t conferred no duty and
no power on any officer except the
Treasurer and Governor. The Attor-
ney-General, which Office Mr.. @. then
filed. had no duty or power in the
issuing of bonds; neither had the
Financial Board. As regards his opi-
mon as Attorney General to Cardozo.
Secretary of State, it was to the effect
that his duty in sealing bonds was
mer5ly ministerial. aud that he was in
no way responsible for the issue of
bonds to the Financial Agent. He
further testifies to the honest motives of
all the members of tho Financial Board.
He proceeds in the same way to deny
for himself and the Financial Board
that he or they directed the Financial
Agent to make fictitious entries in his
books, so as to disguise the affairs of
the agency. In connection with the
Sinking Fund Commission, he was not
party to the fraudulent sale of the
State stock in the Greeuville and Co.
lumbia Railroad Company: nor was he
present when the disastrous sale of
the State stock in the Blue Ridge Rail.
road Company was made. His views
were laid before the board, but not
adopted. The bond purchases by the
Sinking Fund Board were made in
good faith. He gives unqualified de.
pial to all other statements which i'm
pute to him improper action in con-
nection with this board. It is only
when he comes to the Land Commits.
sion transactions that he has any re-
grets to express OF the action be took
as member of the Advisory Board. at
the same time denying that he acted
carelessly or dishonesty. As regards
the board which was appointed to take
charge Of the agricultural land scrip,
its "every act was in strict accoraance
OF law" (Here we are lreminded of
the famous passage in Pixies Pros.
trate State: "They pick your pockets
by law; they rob the poor and the rich
alike. by law; they conAscate your es-
tate by law" Concerning the thou
sand other idle tales respecting his
partnership with Kimpton, his pecu-
mary interest in various schemes
which were intended to draw money
from the treasury, and the pecuniary
benefit derived from his connection
with the State Government, Mr.. @.
puts in general and emphatic denial.
He says that he was never approached
with bribe in any form. nor was his