The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-04-05
The Amnesty Resolutions.


There seems to be some confusion of ideas re-
spccting the amnesty resolutions adopted by the
General Assembly during tho ssesion which has
just ended.
The objections urged against these res olutions
are, first, that they interfere with the right of
the Attorney General to prosecute and with the
power of the Governor to pardon second, that
they are impolitic and wrong.
The law officer Of the State. charged with
the duty of prosecuting offenders, can look only
into the suiticiency of the testimony. If that
be strong enough in his opinion to reasonably
secure conviction, his duty is to proseeute.-
With the propriety or policy Of such prosecution
he has nothing to do. Especially is this the
case with the prosecutions in question In
these all the facts were examined and all the
witnesses obtained by the investigating commit
tee. The briefs in the cases were made ND un-
der their direction.
Now if ii be remembered that the investica-
ton was inauguratcd by the Legislature, that it
was conducted by one of its committees and
that this committee made their report to the
Leusl".,.--, ---.~N, ts--,,, ~ arimr,teu rnau
Legislature has the right to express its opinion
as TO the course of action 10 be followed upon
the results of its own work? If then the Leg.
islature upon receiving the report and cxamin-
ing the testimony should come to the conclusion
that as to one class of offenders the prosecutions
should be pressed, and that as to another class
amnesty should be extended, who can COM plain
Certainly not the Attorney General for lie had
no concern with the motives policy of the
prosecutions. lie neither Instituted nor advised
them. lie simply acted under the direction of
the Legislature Surely not the Governor. His
views were well known and frequently expressed.
The resolutions met with his approval
With regard TO the policy of the resolutions
they received almost the unanimous concurrence
If both houses, iii one of them after an earnest
debate.
,1nl Il ~. =
the ringlcodcrs. They except only the tools and
instruments i'll the frauds.
They open the door 10 general amnesty for
political oifcnscs in this State, which may release
from persecution eight hundred Of our own
citizens.
They save the State from the expense attend
ing number of prosecutions the only result Of
which will be the punishment Of persons whose
power to do harm has ceased.
They calm the excitement which followed tho
last election, and aid the Governor in carrying
out his plans tor restoring peace in the State
| and for encouraging whole people to devote
their time and labor to her material develop
meat. CHARLES II. SiMONToY.
EARLY COMPLETION OF THE SpARTANBuRG AND
AsmvILLE II. R.-Tho Spartanburg and Union
Railroad was originally built by the State of
South Carolina endorsing its first mortgage
bonds. These bonds with the road became the
property of Messrs. McAden. Austcll and Inman
AS the gentlemen named are materially in,eres-
ted in the early completion Of the Spartanburg
and Asheville Railroad, and are large stockhold-
ers in the same, proposition was made by them
to President Duncan to assign to him these
bonds at fifty cents on the dollar end receive
therefor in payment first mortgage bonds of the
Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad. This pro-
position accepted by President Duncan.
AS there is not the slightest allegation of
fraud against the Spartanburg and Union Rail
road mortgage bonds, these bonds will be com
promised at 30 cents in the dollar and new State
bonds issued therefor. These consolidated bonds
can readily be cashed in New York and her mon
ey centres. We learn that the amount Of the
Spartanburg and Union Railroad mortgage bonds
is $475,000 This amount compromised at so
cents in the dollar, will net the handsome sum
of S237, 500. With less than oneh of this
amount, every dollar that the Sparan5urg and
Ashevillo Railroad Company owes can be extin-
guished and the road completed to this point.
Maj. Duncan has placed the people Of Wes-
tern North Carolina under additional obliga-
tions for his uniring efforts in their behalf
| They may never be able TO reward him pecuni-
arily, but if he will locate in our midst we will
elect him to any Office from Governor down to q
member Of Congress. The people becoming
FATAL CASE OF STABBING.--On Saturday eve
ming lsst in the upper portion of York County,
on Kings creek. of stabbing occurred,
which resulted fatally by the death of the woun-
ded man on Monday. The parties to the affair
were Robert Etters and W. J. Dover the former