The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-14

In which tho spoils were distributed. |
The colored men insisted ths: they did |
not get their proper share, and that the
white men were gradually monopoliEing |
all the positions of profit. This was no.
tably the case in tiio matter Of the Land |
Commission. Ir seemed 70 be o close /
corporation into which its members were
afraid TO admit new comers. The colored
men, under the lead of Whipper, Elliott
and DeLarge, at that time the most prom
inent members of the House of Repre-
sentatives, resolved to break down this
combination, and to take TO themselves
and men Of their own color the admins
tration and the spoils of the Land Com
mission.
To effect their object, they chose o
most favorable moment, II was in the
spring of 1870, when one Of those period
ical outbursts Of public indignat, IN over
the fraudulent issue of State bonds by
tho Financial Board was at its very
height, and the meWhers of the Finan-
cial Board (Scott, Chamberlain and
Parker, who were also members of the
Advisory Board Of the Land Commis-
sion) were trembling in their seats over
threats of investigation and exposure by
the Republican Legislature, which was
then in session. They were anxious that
the General Assembly should adjourn,
and, after hard work to that end and
liberal expenditure Of money, had at last
succeeded in inducing the two houses TO
adopt concurrent resolution providing
for theie adjournment sine die within
day or two.
| Just at shis time the colored men made
their strike: The rest of the story will
teH in almost the very words which are
| contained in the testimony given before
the investigating committee.
F. j. Moses was at. that time the
Speaker Of the House of Representatives,
and possessed considerable popularity
among the colored men of the party, as
he had oftel exerted himself to preserve
harmony and unity between the two ele-
ments composing tho party. Two days
before the General Assembly was to adj
journ, Moses was sent for, and requested
70 attend meeting held at the room of
Robert G. DeLarge. He testifes that,
on reaching the place, he found DeLarge,
Elliott and Whipper in great state of
excitement and Indignation over some
special fraud committed by the Land
Commission, in which great deal Of
money had been divided, the chief recip-
tents of which were white men. Moses
was informed by the colored politicians
that they had deliberated on the matter,
and had positively determined to demand
that the Advisory Board should ut once
dismiss or remove Leslie from his posi-
tion as Land Commissioner and custodian
of the funds appartaining to its admins
tration, and that they should appoint in
his stead one Of their own number. r.
lnV Vorr
mar, was the person named by them for
the Office. They asked Moses. as man
Of Influence with the members of the
Advisory Board, to convey to the board
this determination, and also to state to
them that wero their demands not ac-
ceeded to at once, they would get the
Legislature to rescind the concurrent res
olution providing for immediate adjourn
ment, and would Immediately enter upon
q legislative investigation into the frauds
committed by the Financial Board. This
would inevitably lead to the prompt i'm
peachment of Scott, Chamberlain and
Parker. :.
! Recognizing in this state of affairs
great danger to the existence of the par
ty, Moses says that he undertook the
mission, and at once went in search of
the Advisory Board. The first of these
whom he met was Neagle, the Comp
troller General, to whom he communion
ted his apprehensions. Neagle immedi-
etely suggested that Moses should go with
him to Scott. He did so, and they found
the latter at the Executive mansion.
When their story was told, Scott became
evidently very much disturbed in mind,
and said that the demand made by the
colored men must be complied with
promptly, or it would lead to great disas-
ter, political as we'll q. personal. A
meeting was thereupor .ppointed to be
held that night Mt the use of Miles G.
Parker, and accordingly scott, Chamber
lain, Parker, Moses and Nengle assem-
blsd :hsEs, .ad discussed Al length the
peril involved in the situation.
Il was unanimously determined that
Leslie must bc got rid of and DeLarge
appointed in his place. Moses was re-
quested 10 go and bring Leslie to the
meeting. After he had returned with
the latter, Chamberlain las the special
! friend ga3 srFpo.sooE c. Lssiis) uaioided
to him what was proposed, and asked
that, in view Of the danger which stared
then. in the face, he (Leslie) should con-
sent to hand in his resignation. But. to