Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-12-23


sdent.
Rev. J. J. Neville, who has been laboring SC
pleasantly among Ms for four years past, has
been sent to the Aiken and Langley Circuit, in
Aiken County
Rev. A. W. Moore, who has just completed
his first year oil the Walha!la Circuit, hes been
sent to Bisbopyllc Station in Sumter county.
Hon. j. G. Colt and tho Bank Bills.
Tho Senate on the 18th instant passed q con-
current resolution cxoneratng Col. Colt from,
all personal responsibility for the loss cccasioned
TO The State in connection with the funding of
The bills OF The Bank of The State. The rcsou.
ton met with hn: litle opposition, Senator's
Mnl'er anu Mi'fcr being the only ones who
| opposed its passage by open argument Senator
AIitef stated that there was great opposition in
| his county to the election Of Col. Colt 10 tho
| Office Of Compiriler General but he had assured
| his constituents that Gel. Colt would fulil his
| promise to make good 10 the State tho loss oc
casioncd By the abstraction OF The bank bills
| from his office. Senator Miller wes ready TO
cXoncra'e Col. Colt from any moral blame in
The matter, bat thought hc haG net exercised
quo vigilance III reference to The funding of The
bii!H' 10th Senators expressed confidence in
me integrity OF Col. CoiI, bnt opposed The
resolution.
We DO not believe The resolution should hoyc
pissed. We oppose every net whereby the
legislature assumes the rreroGative of IL court
ana eNuS's oii'ciaia, for ninries resulting to
The Sa'c in The management of their offices.
nc k"oW COL Colt and regard hir, honest,
upright and free from moral blame 3ut wle
thcr he be liable fer the loss or abstraction
Of the bills, from negligence or the want Of
that caution, rrudcn; men exercise in their
private matters, Or officers arc required to nx
crcisc as public officials, is question for the
courts and should have been left to be settled
III Inc ordinary course Of judicial iuycstiration
We go not pretend 10 say n jury, under tho
law and facts of tic case would not boyc
acquitted him Of all legal liability, nor does Tho
result, whatever il might have tocn, alter the
proper course for the decision rs 10 his lio-
b'i'ty. 1t is rrnciplc Of law that trustees.
gnardians, &C., rs also public oliccra arc bound
10 '"c exercise oi HAT caution in their Offices
'""' prudent man would in his own nlln;rg,
ana II By the negligence OF ~ public onicrr a
wrong; or an injury bcla.3 the State or an indi
ViduGl, the officer is liable. Is not this riaht
and docs not The decision of The oucgtion of
negligence belong 10 thc courts? II is n bad
precedent and will have its fellows in the
future legislation of the State These .cxon.
Grating committees" n"c becoming too common
an" tEey always work injury to The public TO
have expressed confidence in the honc9ty and
good faith OF Col! Colt and left his LIABILITY or
non liability from negligence to The proper iri
bGnal would have mc! universal approval.
iii the days OF Radical rule several instances
occurred OF the Legislature relieving the sure
''cS OF county Ireasurcrs for moneys lost or
h'cEc" 10 be stolen. We remember q case from
Abbcvi'c, in which several thousand dollars of
tax money were taken from safe in ono of tbc
public Offices. Some Of the s,irc,jes of tho
County Ircasnrcr were Democrats. and strong
petitions asking their relief from liability he.
cause OF the want OF blame for tho loss, signed
~ some or the leading citizens and lawyers of
Abheviile, were forwarded TO The Senate and
letters written 10 Democratic Senator'S. Then
as now VIC opposed any interference by The TIC
gslaturc, holding that their liability should he
settled by the courts. They were relieved.
several Democrats voting for tho resolution
)
petition to relieve the surc,cs Of tho defoul,ino
Treasnrer OF Grecnvil'c was presented TO tho
Senate and was also passed. These prcccdcnts
arc dangerous ard il is bcsi,cs an invasion Of
The legitimate province Of the courts, which
alone, under the law, should relieve or fix tho
Liability Of officers for losses sustained
IN Inc case of Col Colt, it will be remembered
tha the loss Of the bills from his Office was dis
covered after his nomination on The State ticket
lor comptroller General. Some of the press of
thc state thought, under the circumstances.
"ho'hcr nomination. should be made for tho Office
OF Comptroller. A. meeting of the Executive
Committee Of the Stale assembled and after in
Vcsigaion pub!ishod statement cxprcsoino
confidence in Tho absence of all moral blame on
the part OF Col. Colt, and in his integrity and
patriotism, and further stated that Col. Colt had
promised and would make good all losses sus-
tanned by tho State. Under this statement his