The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-01-14
Ben Hill Broke Loose in Georgia.

Ben Hill and Governor Colquitt. The
cause has been given before but may
be repeated. Several years ago the
North Eastern Railroad, Of Georgia,
desired State endorsement for her
bonds, and the question arose whether
Governor Colqlitt was authorized or
not by law to make tho endorsement.
1t was claimed that tho road had not
fulfilled the conditions as to length
Of track laid-no consecutive twenty
miles, VIC believe, having been laid
at any point along the line. Cover
nor Colquitt at first hcsit,tcd to sign
the bonds, but times got hard and the
Atlanta Rolling Mills were about to
gobble up the road for iron furnished.
AS the OCCASION was urgent, Governor
Colquitt, after hearing argument,
decided that it was for the good Of
the road and Of the State to endorse,
and he did so.
A few months ago, Senator Hill
announced that he had discovered
fraud in connection with this matter,
in that one Murphy, who is a clerk in
the State trcasurer's office, had re-
ccived eight thousand dollars from
the president ofthc Rolling Mill with
out the knowledge of its directors,
for his services in procuring the
signature Of the Governor. Senator
Hill claims that he made no charges
whatever against the integrity Of tho
Governor, but expected that OH
evidence Of this private contract
being given, Governor Colquitt would
Immediately discharge Murphy. On
tho other hand, Governor Colquitt
defended Murphy, maintaining that
tho payment was in the nature of
legal fec and not Of a bribc; and in
bitter letter demanded Legislative
investigation Of the Islanders" against
himself. The committee exoncrated
the Governor from all blame, and
also, to Senator Hips disgust, went
further, and found that Murphy hud
been guilty Of no wrong, yet recon-
mcndcd that the Legislature in future
make such transactions penal offences.
Mr.. Murphy put on his war paint on
his own account and sailed forth to
slay his accuser in tho streets, but
rcf1ained from executing his purpose
and Senator Hill at the same time.
This affair has caused great commo-
ton in political circles. Senator Hill
Msclaims any feeling against Governor
Colquitt, while the latter says that
Hill is a masked enemy, and in
striking at tho Gov crnor is aiming n
blow at the "organizcd Democracy"
Senator Hill has just published a
three column letter to the people Of
Georgia, calling on them to rise in
their might and crush this monuments
nj fraud. He certainly argues from
high ground, whatever be his motives,
taking tho position that public Office
should mover be used for private
gain. Under the guise Of loyal fees
almost every fraud has been perpc-
tratcd, and the hundreds Of investiga-
tions lately instituted by Congress
have been made to consider just such
cases as tho one in which Murphy
figures. lIe denies that Murphy was
lawyer. Ho was bat a salaricd clerk
of the State. The bondholders had
such advocates as Toombs and Brown
and jackson, while Murphy himself
employed lawyer, giving him four
hundred dollars. lie adds, "Haye we
a Governor who needs to be cnlight-
cned by clerk2 Did tho clerk un-
dorstand tho official duties of the
Governor better than the Governor
himsclf?" Hc continues, "If the
treasurcr'S clcrk can take money to
influence the Governor, why may not
the treasurer himself take it for the
same purposo?" The following swocp-
ing accusation is made:
Murphy is not the only man who
has used public Office for private gain.
and who is growing rich OH a small
salary. Like the ancient Hydra, this
crime shows many heads already. I
see III report to the General Assem-
bly,, that Stato-house officials are
actually parties to contracts with the
State, and executive officers of the
State arc also lcssccs Of the STATED If
the Legislature will do thoir duty, in
stead Of spending their time iiycsti-
eating irrelevant issues, trying to i'm
peach honest witnesses only because
they tell tho truth, and that, too, by
tho testimony of personal enemies,
and allowing attorneys to fish for
evidence to try their cases in court,
th0Y will not rcat until thnx fnrrot ont