The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-03-24

claims ass suffemgby tIeir|pAS ment.
For all such l hSve profe agdg ~ mpa-
n.y. audy&ouldtRgsGy de M yVhiagato
relieve t6e". Bubspeak akine.ssfIe al.
ly of the vast majority of hose claius,
what are they, and what %do-sttiey
represent d They are, ,a,fotsItheSmost
part, the unpaid balance of the cert,ti-
oates jlsssosa gsS dulriipgt9e IaitfoaE y ears,
under tho guise OF Legislative ,xpeu.
hes Of various kinds. That ocrtii.
oates for Legislative expenses hayo
been pads the coyer For vast ftauhs
no man will dispute. They are uni.
versally regarded, as the ,lsstaeulmiua a.
ting evidences of prevailing system
ot. o"rupti'n Which has disgtnced our
State and offended the nation. The
Stats has already paid on account of
such cluims un aggregate amount
which, if we wero not f.m,liar with
the f~cts, would pass tho bounds Of
belief. '."s ....' ~. .1,.0I
Since the regular session of the
general AssenbIy for l87u-7l, tn E
State had paid pri,r to tie present
session, ON account Of legislative cx
penses, tho vast sum Of 81 ,68l,' 90.
According to the regi try alleauy
made by the clerks Of the two houses
under resent resolution OF the
general assembly, there are still out.
standing GAINS Of the classes en-.
bruced by tho rrescnt act to the
amount Of 1888 900, of which amount
over 100000 CONSISTS Of claims
fr Legislative expenses. Is there
never to Ibe n'n end to payment
Of suoh '''i ex oense, :? Is the
fact that such claims ARE outstandins
t. be successfully pleaded i" justifica-
1ion for their payment without re.
gard 10 protent ability of the our
pt ople z ....'> -. "
speak, therefore, with accuracy
As well as with Justice when say
that these claims as whole, do not
constitute an obligation which the
State is bound to recogms, or liuui-
date until her honest and valid IN
debtednes ss and tho annual expenses
Ut her government have been fully
met. Certainly they cnnnot, with
my consent, be mad the occasion of ii
levy OF taxes in addition to the un.
preoedented amount already la,ied
or the present year.
His principal rcsou for thus veto.
ing tho bill consists in the character
of the Co"m;ssion. W. B. Nash
md ". Is. Gulicls, arc two of the
three commissioners, and Gov. Oh. m
berlain has not that confidence in
them which would induce him to rest
this delicate settlement in their
hands. He says. t..:r'... 80
"But, if | could overlook all other
objections to the act. there remains
one objection which would. under apv
circumstances, forbid MY approval
Of the act. | mean the okaracte ei
'as a whole, Of the commission na med
in the act. Upon this point | srcak
With reluctance which all lust mei
will appreciate, but | ain publia
officer, bonnd to discharge an i,n pera
tive rdolic duty, anil while speak
with reluctance must speak with
'crfect pl.inness. The commission
named does not, as IL whole, cons
"and my CO. iidcnce for the work s..
''gncd to 1t. | am equally conGden.
does net as whole, command
he confidence of the public for thai,
So'k. The duties required of the
"mmissiou demand the highest char.
'cter for intelligence, honor and in
:orruptib'lIty which the State can
furnish. by no fault or agency Of
nine l m furccd to declare thtt. il.
my judgment, the commission name:
III the act does not meet that de
nand. The amounts involved are
COO great, the frauds believed to b.
involved in the claims to be examiu.'
ed are to widespread and pervading,
the temptations to collu>i. II AID
bribery are too powerful, to allow mt
60 coLsent to placing these duties in
tn, bands of any man whose circum
ct .nces aud associations excite the
taintest doubt of his iufl .xiblc deter.
mination to stand an insurmounta.
ole barrier to the further advances
Of corruption and fraud.
The views now expressed compel
me to withhold my approval of the
present act. / should be blind if i
had not become fully aware that N,
action will give dnep offense to man,
members of the general assembly.
regret this, but trust the lesson
is nearly learned by all that public
duty is my onl y master. 1t is no,
my nature to seek or enjoy conflicts,
esuecially with those wiz whom ]
have had pleasant personal or pollti
Cal relations, but there is no loss or
failure which seriously dread, ex.
cept the failure to sec my duty and
the loss of courage to do it. Yer,
respectfully,
d. II. CHAMBERLAIN,
Governor Suu;h i,,rnl,,,o