The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-03
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.
Greenwood and Augusta Railroad.
TAE"r'S RESOLTTIOSS

TAFT'S EaSoLUrIONS.
Senator Taft introduced the following re-
solution which was ordered for consideration
tomorrow:
Whereas 1t appears that a fearful mortality
has prevailed during the past season amongst
the ouvicts leased from the pcnitcntiary: ana
Whereas it is alleged that such mortality
has resulted in Il great measure from INC IN
sufficient and unwholesomc food, improper
clothing, i'll ventilated lodging and cruel
frcanlent inflicted on its victims; and
Whereas it is further alleged that no In
quest has been taken OF any one OF inc many
casual or violent deaths which nave taken
place amongst them; ana 4.
Whercasit is the duty OF the General AS
sembly to provide for the redress OF grieVan-
ces, and for the prevention OF their continu-
ance and repetition. particularly IN tne rase
of those who, being restrained OF their llpcr-
~ nv law are unable themselves to apply to
the authorities Of the law for relief II pro-
lection; therefore,, be IT
Resolred by the Senate, the House OF Rep
resentatives concurring. That a committee
of three on the part of the Senate and -
on the part of the House of Representatives
he appointed to make immediate inquiry
into the circumstances attending the deaths
which nave taken place amongst the con
vicis leased from the pcnitentiary during the
present year, with power to colnpcl the at
tendance Of persons and the PRODUCTION OF
papers. and to report the rcsulto o. thelr illQIl-
~ to the present General Assembly rs early
as practicable.
Fesobrcd, That until the report of the said
m shall lave been received ana ac-
ted upon by the General Assembly, the boaru
of Directors of the P~enitcntiary be, and they
hereby are, requested not TO hlre out any con-
yicts from thai institution.
Cr1TTBNDES's RESOLUTIONS.
lust before the Senate adjourned Mr.. Crit
tenden introduced the following concurrent
ronolutionS. which were, on motion OF MI.
Taft. made the special order for next Mon lay,
to be considered in connection Win inc otiler
resolutions bearing upon the SAME SUBJECT:
Whereas. 1; most revolving account OF al
legged cruelty and inhumanity OF treatment oi
a norton Of the convictS Of the state Pcnl-
tertiary, who were hired out by the Doaru OF
directors TO work upon various pubic cntef.
priseS, has been published In q prominent
journal of this State and. whereas thc
charges there made, although resting mainly
upon the statements OF the conVicts them
selves. both white and colOrcd, are SO revolt
ing in character as To shock the lcelthSS VI.
Justice and humanity IN the bosom OF every
ripht-minded man. and If true, to call Tor I'M
mediate and condign punishment upon me
heads of those guilty or OF responsible lorr'
such heinouS offence; therefore,. be IL reSol-
we'd by the Senate of South Carolina, the
House of Representatives concurrlng;
LIST. That the committee on the Pcnitcntia-
nv OF the Senate, and the committee on the
Pe~nitcntiary OF the House of representative
are hereby appointed a special Jnimn co'i niih
zee ~ NCSIlSuCS WV '"N "
mower to send for persons and papers, ana m
structions to report at the earliest prhcticaplc
period during the present session OF the ueh-
eral Assembly. ho
Acknowledgement sufficient evidence has
been obtained by the committee TO warrant
the prosecution of any person or persons lor
cruelty, neglect or inhum;tnlty toward any
prisoner or Convict OF the State PenltentlarE.
under his or their charge or supervision, II
shall be his duty and he is hereby required
forthwith to prosecute and bring to punish.
ment those who may be proved guilty oil
said charges.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE,
Mr. Hask ell rose TO Il question OF privilege
and sent 10 the Chaira copy of the Abbcrlllc
D,rsy and Banner, of November -, 1871, lie
ASKED that the Clerk might read the lolloW-
ing paragraphs from an article printed there
in:
TIE RAILROAD CnNrICTS-TlIE DEFENSE OF
THE GlEESwor - AUGUSTA RAILROAD
p~IEECroES-IIOw TIIE C0NNICTS HAVE HEEN
CARED FuR-TIlE True INwAEDNEsS OF TIE
Observation-Disclosures,
After carrying out the wishes of The Board
of Directors Of the Pcnitcntiary we hoped our
troubles. were over and that We should DC
permitted TO proceed with our road prosper
ously especially Hsappropriatc treat lncnt Tor
scurvy mas not only improved the hralll
and strength of the remaining convictS bet
their spirits also. judge then of our surprise
, when ON the 9Th day Of October Supcrinicild
turned up at the stocliaie. inspected the same
and the c~onvicts without giving any notice
TO our President, surgeon or Superinlenucit
or saying IL word as to their object: We nev,,
bradley received, on the 18th OF Oclo-
brr last, q copy OF II resolution
Of the Penitentiary Board. passed at u special
meeting Of the board when only g" mem
| ,..,, ,..., ,N,.nSnnf nri1nrinVn S IN i'm nlnuultg
IL return all the remaining. conflcts i'll
Work for us eX ept eight. in conformity with
, the Recommendation of DR.. Taylor, dated ?th
instant. From all this it would seem that
| there was Il desire TO break up orr railroad
entirely and have all the %convictS returned
TO the pcnitcntiary, either 10 be supported
in idicncSS at the expense OF the taxpayers
or TO cut Il canal and build factories rs well as
operate them for the benefit OF ColunlDla NJ
the expense Of the rest OF the state. it Is
true the Greenwood and Augusta Ruilrotd Is
OH the extreme western verge of the state
but II is an important link in the railroad
system of the state, us II will he an extension
OF the Port Royal Railroad, especially, when
completed to partanburg and also TO Andcr.
son, us II will be in time, and connect oul
great seaport, Port Royal, with the great
Northwest. Therefore all the people III
western Carolina arc deeply concerned in It's
early completion, particularly the counties
Of Beaufort, Colleton,. Hampton Aiken
! Elgefield, &c. Also, the following signatures
TO S:lQ Qrtlclc. L. II. DIaulcS, EIcsloeIt. "
u. Tillman, Vice President; a. NJ. Aiken,
Secretary. Il. w. Lites, W. X. Bradley, A. b
Kennedy, X. II. Middleton, Jesse Stone, W.
L, Parks, Joseph Merriwether, +. NJ. Burk-
s,.lter. q. W. Nixon, J. ID. Neel, j. &. Max
well, b. Reynolds, Jr., J. n. Dendy, >. b.
Hodges, J. I. Parks, j. l., Presley and L. f
Riley.
The Clerk read the paragraphs, and Col
Haskell then taid:
MIR. PEAKED This is the first time tcat
haveihad occasion to rise on this floor to
question Of privilege, and l hope 1t may be
the last. Had | been aSSailed personally
should not have trespassed on the House
and / would not do SO now before this House
but tor the fact that one signer is q mcmbel
of the House. Chairman Of the Pcnitenliar!
Committee and member of the ROard OF Dir
ectors Of that institution. But so long as
sit here rs u representative OF Richland Coun,
w, will not allow any such unfoundcd llbc
to pass lnchallcngcd. now pronounce II t
be u libel against my county. AS 10 one gen
tleman. DR.. g.. w. Taylor, asSailed in the nr
ticle. l would say, by way OF explanation
that he, as q physician of high reputation
was requested by the liOnrt
1 of Directors to visit the stockud,
as an expert, and he went in the performance
Of professional duty. Any such charge rs !
implied against him personally | think un
worthy OF notice. AS for the other gentlemen
named in the article, they were officers of thu
institution, and, acting in the performance 0
their duty, need neither defense nor explana
ton.
SENATE