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


Tools-The Price OF an Average Legislator in
the Days Of Aud Lang Syne--worthIngton
the Agent and Co.Iaborer In Bribiug Members
Suggestive Thoughts for Hayes and tho
United States Senate.
The full text of the report by the spe-
cial joint investigating committee. which
was submitted November %, 1877, is as
follows:
10 TnE HONORABLE TIE SEsATE AND TIE House
,oF REPRESENTATIVES,:
Inc undersigned who were appointed Joint
Investigating Committee, under q concurrent reso.
luton OF the General Assembly, adopted june g.
1877, rud by tho said resolution instructed to
invcs gate concerning any improper or illegal use
OF the "public funds or crriii uf the State " and
concerning any illegal disposal Of property by the
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, and to cause
legal proceedings to be instituted in tho promises
and also to Investigate the election OF Hon j. j.
Patterson TO the Senate OF tho Unit States ON the
loth OF December, 1872, and to asce in whether
the Hamo was procured by corruption and bribery"
respectfully report:
That shortly after te close of tho special session.
the committee was organized and proceeded 10 the
work assigned to II, and has been In session up TO
the present time.
After several weeks spent in the investigation Of
books and papers I'm tho Treasury. and the exnmI
nation OF persons who had been connected with tho
administration Of the State government in It's ya-
rious departments during tho past nine years, II
became manifest to every member OF tho commits
toe. and to the Attorney General who had cordinIly
assisted with his valuable advice that IL was ne
eessary to secure for the Sno the testimony OF cer
tain witnesses who lind been themselves impli.
Gated In the transactions they would be called upon
to explain, In order to obtain evidence, oral and
documentary, sufficiently conclusive TO JUSTLY tho
institution o. legal proceedings In behalf OF the
Slate With q reasonable prospect Of successful re-
suit.
Feeling that 1t was unworthy OF the dignity OF
the State, that any perHon, however heinous tho
uiiuisu eT6o,i, saSs:.5 - ce.i.A tc cnswAr nm
stroIg suspicion merely. without such proof as
would warrant conviction bsfor an impartial court
OF Justice and would compel the ac1uiesence of
pnelic opinion oil over tho land, the course was
adopted OF receiving such amount OF testimony
as wonld leave no room for reasonable doubt Of
quit peioro subjecting an TO accusation or mr.
rest. In order to accomplish this end, IL was me-
cessnry to grant immunity to such persons as
were able to furnish testimony OF sufficient value
to the State, to Justify tho clemency bestowed y
is gratifying to be abo to state that in every Ia.
stance where such u course has been adop;e ed the
members OF the committee lave been unanimous
In their opinion Of it's expediency and In their re-
commendatlon TO the Attorney General to grant
the immunity usual TO States ~i.pess and Tint the
Attorney General In the discharge of his prerurn-
tive In the premises has in every instance deemed
IL proper 10 adopt such recomme nj datons of the
committee and in cases of specisl Importance, has
materially aided the committee in advance Of their
conclusions with his experience and judicous coun-
sells. HI these instances restitution has been a.
quired whenever tho State had proper clair,
mnintainnble In the courts, to tho extent of the
probable recovery by the State, had proceedings
been promptly instituted aud vigorously prose-
cuted.
The result has been thct large amount has been
realized for tho State already. without the attend
ant expenses or litigation. The grand Jury Of the
county OF Richand. fairly representative OF every
hue OF political sentiment In the community. have
presented bills OF indictment In everv case sub.
United TO them on the testimony obtained by the
jnries, In every case 80 far tried have returned
verdicto against the parties accused and the iures
IN every have been composed OF citizens at
ieast one-half whom werc OF the same race or no.
ilcal party US the prisoner convicted by their YER
diet. "
In addition, tho committee has in its ,onsessjon
great deal OF valuable testimony, aud hor,es TO
accomplish still moro substantial resulta In the
present incomplete siate OF this testimony ami in
concerning matters already In litigation or likely
to become tho subject or proceedings criminal or
civil, or both, the committee being satisfied that
Important interests OF the State would be seriously
imperilled by giving publicity Ut this time to the
evidence which has been accumulated, earnestly
recommend that the ssme bo withheld from publi.
to exist
In explanation Of tho time consumed by the
committee In its investigation, it appears sufficient
to state that n the vouchers In the state Treasury
had to DO and were exnmincd and thst at the cut.
set 1t was tedious process 10 break through the
walls OF silence which screened the frauds which
had been perpetrated, and that tho field once
opened grew broader at every step, covering a
period or ntne years OF the 5tate's history and
embracing all important operations Of the govern
In addition to this, various members Of tho com.
mittee were charged with other Important duties,
and were consequently unable 10 devote them
selves exclusively TO tho prosecution OF this work.
The committee desires further to call tho nttep-
ton OF the General Assembly to another disadyan-
taSe under which its labors have been thus far
prosecuted In the concurrent resolution the
powers nf tho committee ara but imperfcctIy de.
nned, and no appropriation was maie ut the last
session to meet the necessary expenses
The witnesses whn:; e was important to exam
Inc wego scattered all over tile State and in some
instances were beyond the limits of the State and
hal al -
pressed q 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 railroad COM
panies In the state We're requested to transport the
rnada, the members of the committee pledgipg
themselves individually and officially to urge the
speedy payment Of the charges for this service
These accounts will DO submitted, properly
OF them by the General Assembly 10 hereby earn
estly recommended.
To meet other expenses which conld not await
this session, his Excellency the Governor In order
that the committee might carry on their lahors
assisted from his contingent fund TO tho amount or
$500. a full statement Of the expenses already
incurred, and en- estimate OF the amount necessary
to complete the work assigned to the committee,
Will be furnished an6 the necessary appropriation
Is hereby recommended.
In regard to thu election of ohm j. Patterson tn thu
Senate CT the United etates the committee, having
been instructed ITO ascertain whether tho nane was
procured by corruption and bribery" and having
IN this matter received no instruction from the
deem 1t duty 10 submit the testimony which ao-
companies this report Tho following is a state.
ment OF the facts Escertained by the committee:
lhere wore thTec prominent candidates for tho
United states Senate In tho winter Of 1872 Hon. x.
IL Elliott, then member OF Congress from the Third
District, Hon. II. X. Scott who had inst varated