The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-07-25
..HoNEsTn JOHN PATTERSON.


Carolina Convicted BY the Testimony Of Ills
ToOls-The Price Of an Average Legislator In
the Days Of Aud Lang Syne-Worthingto
tho Agent and Co.Laborer In Briblng Members
Suggestive Thoughts for Hayes and the
United States Senate.
The full text of the report by the spe-
cial joint investigating committee, which
was submitted November %, 1877, is rs
follows:
To TIE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND TIE House
or REPRESENTATIVES,:
The undersigned, who were appointed Joint
Investigating Committee, under concurrent reso-
luton Of tho General Assembly, udopted June s,
1871 and by the said resolution were instructed to
investigate concerning any improper or illegal use
Of the "public funds or credit ur tho State" and
concerning any illegal disposal Of property by the
Commissioners of tho Sinking Fund, and to cause
legal proceedings TO be Instituted In the premises,
and also to "inyestigate the election Of Hon. D. j.
Patterson to the Senate Of tho United States on the
10th Of December, 1872 md to ascertain whether
the same was procured by corruption and bribory,"
respectfully report:
That shortly after the close Of tho special session,
the COMMITTEES was organized and proceeded to tho
work assigned to II, and has been In session up to
the present time.
After several weeks spent in the investigation Of
books nnd papers In the Treasury, and the exnml
nation of persons who had been connected with the
administration OF the State government In Its va
rious departments during the past nine years, 1t
became manifest to overy member Of tho commit
tee and to the Attorney General who had cordially
assisted with his valuable advice that 1t was nc
cossary to secure for the State the testimony OF GER
tain witnesses who had boon themselves impll-
Gated In the transactions they would be called upon
to explain, In order to obtain evidence, oral and
institution OF legal proceedings in behalf Of the
State with reasonable prospect of successful re-
suit.
Feeling that It was unworthy Of the dignity Of
the State, that any person, however heinouS the
ofrense charged, should be called to answer on
strong suspicion merely, without such proof as
would warrant conviction befor an impartial court
Of Justice and would compel the acquieSence OF
public opinion oil over the land, the course was
adopted Of receiving such on amount Of testimony
as wonld leave no room for reasonable donbt OF
guilt before subectng my one 10 accusation or ar
rest. In order to accomplish this end, 1t was me-
cessary TO grant immunity to such persons as
were able to furnish testimony of sufficient value
to the State, to justify the clemency bestowed. It
Is gratifying to be able TO state that In every In.
stance whore such course has been adopted. the
members of the committee have been unanimous
In their opinion Of It's eXpedency and In their re-
commendatlon to the Attorney General to grant
the immunity usual to States witness, and that the
Attorney General In the discharge OF his preroga-
tive In tho premises, has In every instance deemed
Il proper to adopt such recommendations OF the
committee and In cases of special Importance, has
materially aided the committee In advance Of their
conclusions with his experience and judicous coun-
sells. In these instances restitution has boon re-
quired whenever the State had proper claim
inaintunnble In tho courts, TO tho extent OF the
probable recovery by the State, had proceedings
been promptly instituted and vigorously prose-
cuted.
Thv result has been that large amount has been
realized for tho State already. without tho attend
county of Rchland, fairly representative OF every
hue OF political sentiment In the community have
presented bills of indictment 10 every case SUBJ
lnitted to them on the testimony obtained by tho
committee, with two excepttonS and the petit
juries, In every case 80 far tried, have returned
verdIcs against the parties accused, and the ures
In every instance have been composed OF citizens at
least one-half whom wcrc OF the Same race or po-
tca party as the prisoner convicted By their YER
dict
In addition, tho committee has in Its possession
O great deal of valuable testimony, and hopes to
accomplish still more substantial results. In the
present incomplete state Of this testimony, and in
view Of the reserve necessary TO be maintained
concerning matters already in litigation or likely
to become tho subject OF proceedings, criminal or
civil, or both, the committee being satisfied that
important interests Of tho State would be seriously
imperilled by giving publicity at this time to the
evidence which has been accumulated, earnestly
recommend that the same DO withheld from publ.
cation until the reason for secrecy shall have ceased
to exist
In explanation of tho time consumed by tho
committee In its investigation, It appears sufficient
to state that oil the vouchers In the State Treasury
had to be md were examined; and that at the out
set 1t was o tedious process TO break through tho
walls OF silence which screened the frauds which
had been perpetrated, and that the field once
nnanai brnn1pr n eton COVERING
period OF nine years Of the states history, and
embracing oil important operations OF the govern
ment.
In addition to this, various members of the COM
mittee were charged with othor Important duties,
and were consequently unable to devote them
Delvcs exclusively to the prosecution OF this work.
The committee desires further to call the atten-
tlon o. the General Assembly to another disadvan-
tage under which It's labors have been thus far
prosecuted. III the concurrent resolution the
mowers Of tho committee aro but imperfectly de-
fined, and no appropriation was made at the last
session to meet the necessary expenses
The witnesses whom II WAS important to exam
Inc wero scattered oil the State and In some
instances were beyond the limits OF the State, and
most OF them, on being summoned 10 attend, ex-
pressed willingness to do so, but pleaded the
want OF means OF travel, and OF Subsistence during
tho attendance before the committee. In order to
meet this emergency, the various railrsad COM
panes IN the State were requested to transport the
Witnesses Ol INC ONcE lutiE ICopeShNo
roads, tho members of the committee pledging
themselves individually and officially to urge tho
speedy payment Of the charges for this service.
These accounts will bo submitted, properly
voucbed, and the eary and favorable consideration
Of them by the General Assembly is hereby earn
estly recommended.
TO meet other expenses which could not await
this session. his Excellency the Governor, In order
that the committee rnicht carry on their labors,
assisted from his contingent fund to the amount Of
$500. A full statement Of the expenses already
incurred, and on estimate Of the amount necessary
TO complete the work assigned to tho committee,
will be furnished and the necessary appropriation
Is hereby recommended.
In regard to the election ohm j. Patterson to tho
Senate of the United States, the committeo having
been instructed ITO ascertain whether the same was
procured by corruption and bribery" and having
in tbi. matter received no instruction from tho
General Assembly to institute legal proceedings,
deem 1t duty to submit the testimony which ac-
companies this report. The following Is state
- a.