The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-15
SOUTH CAROLINA.


THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FRAUDS or TEE
cAnPET-BAG REGIME--NEMEsIs OF RECON-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE coMMIs-
sIoN-s SILENT, BUT DREADFuI,-A CHALLENGES
FROM EX-GOVERNOR MOSES.
COLUMBIA, August IL, 1877.
The commission appointed TO investigate South
Carolina finances endowed with powers CON-
potent OF the laborous duties assigned
10 It, Representing. it does, the spirit Of reform,
which was the first characteristic OF the body which
called it into existence as committee, aud being
moreover kind OF connecting link between tho two
eras which lie before and behind 1t. the committee
has, Byron like suddenly awakened 10 find itself
famous, and works to-day with many ANXIOUS eyes
turned upon the very Nemesis Of reconstruction.
PERSONNEL COMMISSION
word as to the personnel OF this historic body NAV
not be inappropriate The commission consists OF I've
members OF tho General Assembly, two Of whom were
appointed by the Senate and three by the House Of
Representatives The chairman Senator J. r. Coch.
ran, Tor many years past member Of one the
other branch the Legislature and who has managed
throu his long experience fair char.
acter Tor respect OF both political par.
tres. He is in other words, an independently In poll
tics and has never aligned himself with either tho
democratic republican factions He was solicited
I'LL his present important position both account
OF his long experience and consequent familiarity
with affairs of State and for the sake
OF tho impartial character thus bestowed upon
tho proceedings Of the commission. The choice, II
may DO said, has been fully justified in both partcu-
lars, as he has shown great ability In finding and
tracing old clews unknown to his colleague while the
fact OF his presence and presidency has relieved tho
commission small measure Of tho charge Of
partsanshp frequently preferred against it both at
home and abroad
HIS colleague Senator Mutze (democrat, is a lawyer
OF Lexington county, in this State, and bears good
reputation IN his profession and an unimpeachable
one IN the General Assembly, where nc has also
long served US a member other of the two
houses The remaining three are, OF course, all
democrats, and all are gentlemen against whom
public private fault has been alleged. even by
their enemies. Tney respectively Mcssrs Shcp.
pard, Muller and Dibbe Mr.. Sheppard rising young
lawyer of Edgeaeld county, Mr. Dibble lawyer from
Orangburg, aud Muller an intelligent and well 10 do
farmer OF Lexington. All are young men with the
exception of Mute aud Muller both of whom what
is known vaguely middle aged men.
THE COMMISSION.
The committee above constituted assembled Two
months ago and began It's labors by passing u reso-
luton that proceedings should be conducted with
the utmost secrecy for the sufficient reason, as al
inevitable failure in the prosecution OF the work 1t
had ~ view similar ground had been taken by SINH
lar committees before, aud had proved untepate
each instance, as BY some means or oth'r all that
done ia secret was invariably obtained aud
proclaimed from the house tops as It
cessive day within twenty-iour hours of the
doing. The history Of this commission has how
ever. presented notable exception to this rule, as
II had enforced It's determination In the most con.
elusive manner Tho members themselves were
sworn TO secrecy every clerk and every witness
who mas brought before them mas been subjected
10 the rigorous requirement. SO we'll have they
followed out their programme thus far that NO
ono been Informed OF any contemplated arrest
until such arrest mas been actually effected and
the arrested party on his way. IN charge oi con:
stable, the committee room, wneio he was required
10 answer 10 the unknown charges preferred against
him. Curious eyes and ears have been steaaiasty
bafiied tho presence OF The barred doors, behind
which the committee ever holds Its sessions, aud the
inquIstive or interested outsider has ever been re-
ceived with only the biandcst and most childike
smiles in answer TO his most eager or most cunningv
devised heterogeneous.
PRETENDED DEVELOPMENTS.
AS the committee is thus determnedy retccnt
and os the witnesses Always bound by tho mos.
promising secrecy US 10 what they have been called
upon to testify, ana as the majority of the witnesses
have been themselves the accused parties, and have
had this additional motive tor Keeping silence It
difficult 10 understand upon what grounds ambitious
correspondents have based thor claims 10 belief in
their sO-caled revelations other than upon tho lguor
Of their distant readers All such developments
may be dismissed with the single comment that they
utterly worthless matters Of TACT The single
Of tho testimony gwen by Ex-Governor +. J.
Moses may be taken Illustration An enterpris-
ing correspondent OF New York paper, WIRING
IRON Charleston, gave, the 5n inst, purported
"a detailed Of had trauspred IN the
committee room ut his examination The fact is that
Moses examined by SUBCOMMITTEE, In private,
with no one present but the TWO committeeman ana
the witness, and the evidence then aud there taken
sealed up Moses presence ana 30 remains, sub.
jcct 10 the future action OF the committee Us whole.
The subject with the natare Of tue evidence gwen in
any instance, Is wholly unknown aud equally unob-
tainable by any person whatsoever Nor Is II
known who Is likely to be affected by the ''rcveia-
tons, aud 1t may BE- SAID once Tor all that no change
Of tho policy heretofore observed by the committee
VIII DO affected At any time or on any OCCASION.
have bceu informed ny committeeman that they
have accomplished ALL and more tnan all. that was
expected OF them, and that the publication OF the
dence would be, in his own words "heii and damna-
tion' 10 many men VINO now natter themselves with
irusory dreams OF their immunity from notice and
prosccution but this evidence no concluded will not
be made public IN whole or In part IL TACT or suggcs
tion until has been used proper purpose aud
submitted to the General Assembly.
LETTER PROM EX-GOVERNOR MOSES
Tho following letter, addressed by Ex-Governor
Moses 10 the Chairman OF tho committees, VIII DO de-
vcrcd MOI row, and promises 10 result something
OF interest If his challenge IL accepted
To the Hon. JOHN X. Cochran Chairman Joint Special
Inves,gasting Committee Columbia. . q. -
ton and that Of tho members Of your committee to the fol-
dated Charleston. s. o. August s. and addressed to the
is calculated by republicans who ought that
during Moses and Goyernorship not less than
In the the patriotic purposes involved
appointment OF committee and In that the
portunty may be afforded al republicans ought
TO know" to the perp tratio OF frauds the
Treasury and bring forward tho testimony by which tho
guilty authors thereof may be discovered would
spectuy that the writer OF article
terred Whose be doubtless easily
together with those whom he derived
be summoned before your committee 70 establish they
either In whole part the truth OF the accusation
which Is contained in the words above quoted.
The time for general and unsupported denunciaton has
by What the people want proof the idle words
of em6tcrcd. trembling cuprts, who sought the
themselves in the robes OF innocence and purity
and with curses Willy those who have pointed
their spotted garments beneath ensanguned with guilt
and crime
Le. them all forward with their proof They will
have another opportunity An authorized,
spunsiblo tribunal waits thcm-tO
their testimony and determine have CRIME
Ia
The state Treasury and oer public officers furnish
aud the vouchers. Let them be examined
tbereom let be decided who among ali the
has the htne injury her innst