The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-03-02

"tto"eeneus WILD county treaSurerS to for.
- ward shelr mQneygto him by express, at his
sxpense; almost daily, aud when the periods
arrived for the county treasurers to remit
! thsNfaedA y qe tt was done BY checks, ,ppon
Mr.. Sniomon's bank. ssRTf y
- TIE eRseE'of this ,pernicious agreemsnt be-
tween Mr. Solomon and the county treasurers
was To- entirely disatrange my plans Of, resa.
httns the amount Of money in his bank.
demonstrated with several county treas.
urers, and they told Mr.. Solomon, who came
to me and charged me with a desire to ipure
his bank. .i.t..
And now mark the conseouepces Of
my action in behalf Of the interest of the
State Mr. Solomon goes to the general as.
sembly and has had put through bill to
make his and another bank the sole and ex.
elusive repositories Of State funds That bill
now awaits the action Of him whom wise
Providence has placed over the destinies of
South Carolina at this critical period.
In reducing the amount of State funds IN
the hands of Mr.. Solomon, I acted solely with
view TO the proper protection of the State
against loss and disaster, which had reason
TO believe was impending. If the general
assembly think had no reason thus to fear.
lot them call for the list of assets which were
furnished by Mr. Solomon, and on which the
board acted in reaching the conclusion that
the funds Of the State were not safely kept.
acted on evidence throughout and acted
with the sole object OF saving the State from
loss by reducing the balance on hand In Mr..
Solomons bank to such an amount that If his
threats were carried out, 10 hold all the funds
in his bank as an Offset against his State
claims the loss to the State would be as small
as could possibly make it,
AS have before shown, I had right to do
this under any proper construction Of the
Law; and, If had no strict legal right to do
it. acted for purpose which, to say the
least should not subject me to censure; but I
htmbly submit to the verdict of faithful and
vigilant care for the States interest. +tHS4
Ihave now examined and answered the
several charges made against me by the com.
mittee. I have placed my defense on the
broad and clear ground that have violated
no law, have failed in no duty, have omitted
no precaution, but have stood, asI was bound
to stand, as the guardian of the interests of
the State at all times.
In submitting this reply, soy distinctly
that ask no favor nor immunity from the
full responsibility for my acts This investi.
CATION and its results have given me no pain
save in the evidence it has afforded me of the
haste with which those who have personal
objects to attain will pervert their public
functions and powers to the attempt to strike
down a public officer who stands In their
way.
Called, as was, to the administration Of
the treasury at a period when our State credit
was utterly lost our treasury empty, and
every public interest and institution on the
verge of collapse with duties more arduous
and responsible than were ever before placed
upon any treasurer Of the State, have the
happiness to know that my btterest personal
enemies cannot point to one error in my ac-
counts, to the loss of one dollar out of the
many millions entrusted to my care, or to the
diversion of one dollar from the object to
which the law had deyoted it.
1t would not have been strange If had
suffered both from my own occasional inad-
vertence In the midst of my duties, so vast and
complicated, or If had been made the victim
of some Of those to whom might have en-
trusted the performance of duties connected
with my Office I congratulate myself not
ouly that my own care and rectitude have
saved me- from errors of my own, but in no
instance has the confidence repoaed by me In
any Of my assistants been abused.
My single aim has been to do my duty
fearlessly and faithfully. The obstacles which
have hitherto surrounded me are now greatly
diminished by the presence of one as gov
ernor whose sole aim is to redeem our State
government from its past discredit and to
restore good will to all our people.
In that work I profess myself to be, on all
occasions and under all circumstances, q cor
dial and unialteing co-laborer with the gov
ernor, and have the consolation of knowing
to-day-a consolation Of infinitely more value
to me than the plaudits of the sef.seekine
politicians Of the hour-that have earned
his confidence and esteem in the discharge of
all my duties. both as an officer and as one
who loves the State and seeks in all ways
to build up its prosperity, aud advance the
honor and credit which are now daily re-
turning to bless all our people.
T. EADnO1O Gtoka Traae,,-a.