The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-12-13
Editorial Correspondence.
.CoLUMDIA, S. c., Dec. 6, 1877


uros of legislation havo yet passed
through the Legislature. Tho usury
bill. the passage of which Ihave hero,
tofore expressed somo doubts, is, at
this time, and has been TOR tho last
tour days, under discussion, with o fair
prospect of it's protraotion for several
days to come. Of its final passage, by
very decided majority, l havo not,
at this time, the least doubt.
Tho committees appointed at the
Special session of the Legislature last
spring to investigate tho frauds on
tho State Government, undor Ropub-
lican administrations, and tho legality
Of tho bonded indebtedness Of tho
State, have not yet submitted their
reports, and, of course, the oxtcnt of
their discoveries has not yet been
mado public; but rumor has it that the
bond committee discover cd that about
two millions of tho funded debt, under
what is known rs the scaling act, is
fraudulent, and will recommend that
that amount be eliminated from tho
settlement of tho public debt under
that act. This is more rumor; but for
its foundation I am lead to believe
there is somc good reasons. Outside
OF what has already been madc public,
L know nothing rs to tho Develop
ments made by the investigating com.
mittco. and will not oven venture an
opinion.
Tho election of Associate Justices
OF the Supreme Court to fill the vacan.
CLOS occasoned by the expiration of
tho term of Judge McIvor and tho re-
sIgnatIon of Wright; q Judge of the
1th Circuit, vice Northrop, appointed
United States District Attorney; an
Attorney General of the State, vice
Gen. Conner, resigned; q register of
mosno conveyance for Charleston
county, and Speaker of tho House
OF Representatives, vico Gen. Wallace,
has absorbed most of tho time of a
majority of tho members, and. until
those matters woro off of our hands.
not much Legislative work was cxpcco
ted. Tho candidates were all nom;-
mated hy caucus of tho Democratic
mombors of tho General Assembly
which, OF course, was equivalent to an
election.
On Monday night caucus was held
10 nominate candidate for the posi>
tion of Associate Justice, held bv
Mclver, and rs there was no opposi>
tlon, he was unanimously nominated,
and on Tuesday following was unani,
mously elected, receiving tho entire
vote OF both parties in each House.
On Tuesday night another caucus
was held TO nominate candidates for
Tho other positions. General Wallace
had no opposition, and was unani
mously nominated. For Associate
Justice, vico Wright, tho candidates
were Col. A. @. Haskell, of Columbia,
eX-Govornor NJ. Il. Bonham, of Edge
field, and tho Hon. w. d. Porter, of
Charleston. Two ballots wcro taken.
Haskell leading in each, whom on tho
third ballot, Bonham was withdrawn,
and the contest narrowed down beo
tween Haskell and Porter, and Has
keIl was nominated by very decided
majority on the third ballot, and his
nomination was mado unanimous.
For Register of Mcsne CONVEYANCE
OF Charleston county, there were sew,
cral candidates, but Maj. G. Kcrrison,
Jr'' was the successful ono, and all the
gentlemen, rs above mentioned wcro
elected by joint ballot on Wednesday
following, without opposition. /.
For Speaker Of the House, tho cans
didates before tho caucus were, M cssrs.
Sheppard, Of Edgofcld, Orr, of An-
derson, and AIdrich, Of Barnwell-
The contest on Wednesday night be-
tween Sheppard and Orr was close
and exciting, Mr.. Aldrich having been
Withdrawn carly in the contest. Each
candidates friend stuck to his man with
bulldog tenacity, and at half past IL
, l.