The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
MIR. WEsLEr,s REPUDIATED SCRIP
A Prospect Now That south Carolina May Be
Made to Pay an Old Debt.

COLUMBIA, 6. c., May 2O.-Good lawyers hold
that n recent decision of the United States gu
preme Court in the agricultural Hail. case
will result either in the State having to pay n
debt OF 81 ,10O,O 900, which has been hanging over
1t for twenty-five years, or openly repudiating
what the court declared to be a just obligation;
and public sentiment hero is opposed to tho lat
ter course.
Six years ago Agricultural Hall In the city Of
Columbia was sold, the Department of Agricul-
ture having been abolished with the opening of
Clemson College. The property was bid in by
f. b. Wesley of New York, who, according to
the terms of the sale, paid So. 900 cash, gave
bond and mortgage for the remainder, and had
the privilege of paying all cash at any time be-
fore the expiration Of the mortgage. Thereafter
Mr.. Wesley, through Mr.. Lyles, his attorney in
this city. rendered to the State Treasurer, in
revenue bond scrip issued by the State, the re-
mainder Of the $50, 900 purchase money. The ten
der was refused. Gov. Tillman had the property
instantly taken in charge by two armed men.
possession of It was refused to Mr.. Wesley and
the State Dispensary was established in the
building. Mr.. Wesley sued for possession. He
won his case in the Circuit Court and this deci-
sion has been affirmed. The purpose OF Mr..
Wesley is to force the State to forcclose. when
tho validity of the revenue scrip can be passed
upon. The State has constantly endeavored to
keep the question Of the validity of the scrip out
OF the court. as it is practically certain what the
result will be.
Tho history OF the scrip and Mr.. wcsley's
claim is as follows: Some time prior to 1872 the
State Of South Carolina, under the acts Of the
Legislature, placed its guarantee upon $4,000
900 of the bonds Of the Blue Ridge Railroad
Company. and these bonds were placed in the
hands of the officers Of that company and were
pledged in the city Of New York for consider.
fetS 5nms Oh pO medde an act Sh to M providc = for lst The ' re.
demption and cancellation OF the bonds pledged.
and for that, purpose authorized, tho issue OF
81 ,so0, 900 Of revenue bond scrip. mmon
known MS Blue Ridge scrip. and the officers OF
the state undertook to procure the surrender OF
Of Columbia, both Presidents q banks; went to
did not then own one dollar of tho securities
Of the State Of South Carolina. and was IN no
pany:- Tho South Carolinians represented to
Mt, Wssley the great impDrtanccc etc to he finances In n5G
Ridge bonds retired. and urged him to advance
that there should be placed in his hands
ccurity. Mr.. Wesley. did advance the sum of
$500 in cash. and with this sum redeemed
chiscl and punctured the bonds and the coupons
they now are in a mutilatcd condition.
Mr.. Wesley received his 81. los, 900 in revenue
bona SCRIP. anu nus always m1lnIhlncl ina ne
the vault OF the Carolina National Bank IN this
eeiHty; where i has been since the transsetion in
s~ertion OF q claim against the state by reason of
his expenditure Of this sum OF $a+4.92? for her
have his claim committed TO n commission.
The validity of this scrip is denied by the state
upon the technical ground that in its form 1t il
open to the objection that it constituted bills
e. credit; and Nth that at It's Issue Tss prohibited nnh by
that ground, in 1873. the Supreme Court Of
South Carolina. the court consisting Of Justices
Moses. Miller; and Wright, ruled th2, the scrip
was invalid. The question OF the validity OF tho
scrip had been twice before in tho United States
Supreme Court; but no decision has been given.
A prominent lawyer said to-day:
"!hfter n very thorough study OF the whole
subject my mind becomes strongly convinced
that i TN, nnon n"l I'D iEh of This 1sn,s scrip l. eyer s s9n%rS,y
Court II will be maintained: and that the state
OF South Carolina will be Obliged TO provide for
receivable for taxes. And il its validity is once
s1uarely affirmed by the United States supreme
Court there will be no means Of preventing its
being used for the payment Of all taxes due to
the State, and the state could only prevent the
some satisfactory provision for the retirement of
MI. Wesley could have obtained recognition
of the validity OF his scrip by the use of money.
A gentleman now living in Columbia was pres;
emit at an interview between MIR. Wesley and
the filing Of the decision by tho state supreme
Court In the case nhove referred to. Moses, after
was supposed 10 be At issue, in that ease, pro
posed that IL he would deposit the sum Of $40,
Sno in us snoh the TSiHiy yV a" st ' tb , sGssi s It " IN fSSnr t 81
the validity. OF the scrip such a decision would
be forthcoming within three days. MI; Wesley,
taking, from his pocket a silver dime, held il on
the end OF his finger and replied TO Moses that II
he could purchase u decision in favor OF The
validity OF his claims for that coin he would
spurn to do so. 4 decision against the validity
of the scrip was filed II few days thereafter.