The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1900-10-26
Suit Of Uncle Sam
Will Be Withdrawn.
STATE WILL NOT HAVE TO FIGHT IN
THE SUPREME COUKT
Full Si"9mcnt of tho Cnsc-Atluru, Cor
crai Hcltngcr Explains why the
suit will Not DO Prcsscu
(Tho State, 23d.)

|
ing much commont III view Of the
fact that it involved about quarter
Of million dollars, will be with
drawn from tho United States Su-
| promo Court and will not be pressed.
1t will be recalled that very soon uf-
! tor tho notice Of the suit was received
Attorney General Bcllinger won't on
to Washington and remained there
about Il week. " hen no returned
ho would havo nothing to say about
tho matter, for tho reason that he
was not thcn in position TO state
what course would DO pursued. Re-
comfy, however, no was formally no.
tliiod Of tho action indicated above,
and yesterday in rcply to letter re-
coivca from Now York by tho Sccrc-
tary of State MIR. Bcllingor prepared
tho following, which is II full state
mont Of tho whole thing:
Gcntlomon: Rocrntly tho Sccr,-
tary Of State, Mr.. NJ. Il. Cooper, re-
colvod from you tho following lottcr:
Wo understand that somo time ago
suit WAS brought by tho Attorney
General Of tho United States against
your State to recover on Sl25,0
principal and Sl23,7S overdue in
tcrest on bonds issued in 1856 to
complete tho State House. 1t IS also
stated that tho bonds maturcd in
1881, but principal and interest wore
nevcr paid.
Will you kindly advise us as to
the present status Of tho litigation?
If any decision has bccn rendered in
tho case wo should be glad to have
tho text Of the same. Any informa-
ton that You may favor us with in
regard to this matter will bo greatly
appreciated We desire It for pub
llcution."
Inasmuch as this case has boon in
tho hands of this Office, Mr. Cooper
requests that answer tho same,
which / now beg to do as follows:
Your information is correct as to
the amount of bonds held by the
United States government, the date
Of issue Of tho samo and tho amount
Of interest duo upon tho samo, aa
well as the date Of maturity. 1t is
truo that no part Of tho princi pal
seems to have boon paid, but tho in
tercst was met up to and including
the year 1868. by thu Act Of Con-
gross approved March 3, 1890, 80
Statutes, p. 1856, it was provided in
Section I that "tho Secretary Of the
Treasury bo, and is hereby author
lied and directed to institute any act
or proceeding which he may think
advisable against any State or it's
Representatives to SECURE tho pay
mont Of tho principal and interest OF
said bonds or stocks," referring to
the bonds issued by this State and
now tho subject Of yonf inquiry. In
pursuance Of this authority demand
was ,nado npon the Department Of
Justice at Washington by tho Secre-
tary Of tho Treasury to take such ac-
ton as might be necessary to secure
tho liquidation Of tho indebtedness
Thcrcupon suit WAS brought in the
Supreme Court Of tho United States
against this State for tho sum Of
$258, ,70O, and tho Gov rnor ana At
tornoy General served with process
on tho 2oth day of juno, 1900, n
copy OF tho bill reaching this office
on tho Both Of June, 1900. Although
it subsequently transpired that the
sundry civil Act OF Juno 9th, 1900,
which you will note was passed. 10
days before snit began, provides that
so much of the Act first reforrod to
Gas authorizes or directs the Secre.
tary Of tho Treasury to institute any
suit or proceeding which he may con
sidcr advisable against any State or
it's representatives to secure tho y.
ment of the principal and interest ol
any bonds or stocks," etc ''is horeby
repealed, and the Secretary is here
by directed to discontinue and te
dismiss any suits, actions or proceed
ings which have been taken under