The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-02-03
t.l.JIsJJMB{l,l1 ,Ss gfs. q,
Gsassslag aosai1g Z 1s5sasiTy ll,'ii ! s;sss.
ThG Atfsrh w az; iiaarrai;ia 3 Repots.

IstN
rsy AtlpitAs,sy,;s,as assF,..,,ia R.'pseis.
We havSS before ns the report of At.
torney General Melton to the General
Assembly Of The 6ases argued. tried or
conducted by him in the Supreme
Court and Oircpit Courts during the
past year, with information in relation
to the criminal laws of suoh observa.
tions and etetements 40 in his indg.
ment the criminal Jurisdiction aud
proper economical administration of
the criminal Law, warrant and require.
It is prepared with che usual care aud
expressed ip the, usual clear Language
of thee bRosr. sIs treats OF over forty
Gases; emongst,them that OF the State
.e~ relatione Morton. Bliss & Go. ps.
8. L39 Hoge.' Compsroller-G General.
Proceedings have been discoutiu uued
In this ease, because the General AS
senbly Of tha last session repealed ,he
provision OF the Law which author,z"i
the Comptroller ''to give notice Of the
ratel orr per oensum :nssessary to ba
levied upon the taxable property of
the State" The 'subsequent enact.
.ment OF the Atstute to, tedeemjthe vo.
,lnme OF the nnhlio debt contributed
likewise to this result. by providing
rfor an equitable adjustment Of the lia-
.bility Of the Statsa Oh the bonds in-
volvsd 10 these proceedings. The
further laot 10 mentioned. that Senator
DGnns ahaFmanl Of a com mnittee ap.
pointed2at thelast session Of the Gen
eral,Assembly to ascertain what bonds
had been hypothecased by the Finan-
:. eiai Agent as collateral aecurity for
State loans and to report thereon, had
>'oalled the attention of the Attorney.
General to; facts aseertained in the
: course Of hisp investisations. (which
->sended 70 invalidate@ considerable
i, portion Of the bonds embraced in these
:. proceedings, and included in the terms
>-ofthe Consolidation ACT. and urging
Npon me (hin) thedpty OF taking pro.
ceedings TO enioin che several officers
Of Che Efeaplisg Department from
cafISiagjato opssationif b aSc6 OF The
Act as relates to-, these bonds. until
'sheir validity and obligation could be
passed upon by g1he opurta." After
consultation with Che Treasurer, the
Attorney General declined to take the
sosiaR grpnosed, a. III ~ admits. however,
<&hatasvefat naasters 'oa objection wera
presented By Senator Dunn. which.
'ander other citcn mstances. would have
,dshanasd Isfiouiss conai aideratioh.N The
circumstsnces which, in his view, jus
tiled him ia the conrse he pursued,
are, thss athsf', proceeding. if taken.
would at best have diminished the
amount OF the debt by less than
$1,000. 600, aud, on the other hand 7
by ssPpsnipg the iaettlement. would
probably have increased it by more
than SO. 600. 600. and would likewise
have,tended tosimpsir confidence in
the debt aestIemens. aud 2 postponed
the restoration OF che States cxedit.
Besides. he eays. in the, csaes at.the
suit of:Motton. Bliss & Co.,, facts were
alleged agaibss the validity of each
class Of bonds. Of like character and
of equal force toithuse now suggested
by senatoriD Dunn, aud The Supreme
Court declined TO allowainquiry into
them. end I auimadysrted upon the
Attorney General foIr. calling in ques.
tion the good faith and obligation Of
this debt. a HWve understand this
etatement correctly she Attorney
Gsnstal deSidsd nnons his course Of
aotion not from considerations of Law,
but of hdenos:| He aoleinas tho right
tqsxsfoise his discretion ne q public
%smSss M ld nldetsrnining the.tnoss proper
and jadioions eonree, for one to pursue
who ID identifiad with the State admi.
nsstration id q measure of policy which
1t regards as vital to its success. The
question being. then. OF this oharao.
ter. ..wo take leave TO- differ with the
Attorney General az to the conclusions
IN which ha cveioa5 ia 49,