The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-11-16
From The IYushinytou Post

ed, against Ex-Governor Chamber
lain in South Carolina, is based on
the evidence of the men who en-
gagged with him in the alleged
fr andnlcnt transaction. The scheme
of having the State buy lands in
large quantities and sell in small
tracts on time TO citizens for agri.
cultural purposes, originated with
Chief Justice Willard, Of the State
Supreme Court. The Reconstruct
tion Constitutional Convention
passed an ordinance enjoinins upon
the Legislature the passage of a
law providing for land commission
to buy and sell the lands as con-
templated. The law provided for
land commissioner and an advisory
board, consisting Of the Governor,
State Treasurer Parker. Attorney
General Chamberlain, Secretary of
State Cardozo, and Comptroller
General Neagle. @. p Leslie, a
carpet hagger from Brooklyn, WAS
appointed commissioner, and $780,
QUO was appropriated to give the
commission u start Before any
money could be paid out for land
the commissioner was required to
approve the purchase in the first
place, and then it had to be ap-
proved by at least majority of the
beard.
The first 100000 appropriated
was exhausted in short time, and
thcrc was nothing to show for it,
whereat there was much grumbling
among the negro members of the
Legislature, who had promised zach
OF their colored constituents a forty
acre tract Of land on long credit.
The commissioner and the board
asked for an additional appropriate
tion Of 4S5O01000, bat the eolored
legislators, who were in the ma
.Jority, refused to pass it unless
Leslie should retire and give the
place to DeLarge, q colored man.
1t was patent to everybody that ull
the money appropriated for the
commission was Eeing stolen, and
the negroes, who regarded the
scheme as especially for their benefit,
argued that one Of their own eSlor
would not defraud his race. Leslie
was informed of the status of affairs,
and he emphatieally y refused to re.
sign. This made the situation aMk~
ward for the ring, as they could
not get any more money with Leslie
in, and it would not do to force him
out, because he could make 1T un~
comfortable for tho State adminis-
tration, who had been sharing in
the spoils.
Finally Leslie proposed to resign
and turn over his books for $4,000
in cash. On tho assurance that he
would retire in favor of DeLm'ge,
the Legislature appropriated $500.
900 for the board, and out Of this
sum the Hell Hole Swamp" tract
was bought at a cost to the State
of $4,000. The land was utterly
worthless and is yet Itis swamp.
covered with water all the year, and
never can be made valuable, as it is
incapable of drainage but $4,000
had to be raised for Leslie. This
worthless property was sold TO the
State for $120,000, of which amount
$4,000 went to the owners of the
swamp and 100000 to to ring.
Leslie got his $4,000 out Of the
margin, and tho balance of $50.o0O
was divided among the others who
managed and carried out the trans
action. The record shows that the
sale was approved in due form by
Leslie as commissioner and then by
Parker, Neaglo and Chamberlain,
as q majority of the board. 1t was
upon tho evidence of Parker and
Neagle that the indictment against
Chamberlain was recently found,
and they have sworn that he knew
all about the transaction, and was
priyy to the scheme to get Leslie
out Of office by paying him $4,000.
During the exis ence Of the board
it expended nearly q million of
dollars, for which the State still
holds a, lot of worthless lands.
Chamberlain was a member of the
board, and approved NEARLY all the
expenditures. The defense made by
Chamberlain and his friends is that
ms time was 50 much occupied with