The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-02-17
WANTS a HEARING.
Attorney General Bellinser Appeals
70 the Legislature.

Gen. G. Duncan Bellinger, who was
member Of the commission that is
criticised by the legislative committee
has prepared card in which he de-
mands a hearing for himself and
the other members of the commits
sion. His card reads as follows:
I was astonished to see in the press
thata report By the joint committee
to consider the several reports Of the
commission on the completion of the
State House and facts relating thereto
hai been submitted to the General
Assembly, as the report unmistakably
impugns the character Of the mem
bers Of the State House commission,
authorized and directed ito complete
the State House." Of which commits
sion I was member, for, from the re-
port, it is obvious that no member Of
that commission testified before the
committee, and l beg to submit that
from my own experience that 10 mem
Der was even allowed hearing. re-
quested and demanded Of Mr.. j. O..
Patterson, member, Of the commit
tee, that I, as member Of the State
House commission, should be heard
and requested that humble privilege.
He informed me that he had seen the
chairman, the Hon. Robert Aldrich.
in reference to the matter and that
such a privilege would be granted. l
have been continuously in the city Of
Columbia or the town Of BarnWell, the
home of these gentlemen since this In
vestigation began. My request was re-
fused. / was allowed no showing. /
informed Mr.. Patterson that if l was
denied hearing that would appeal
to the General Assembly. I now do
so. now ask that all parties con-
cerned be allowed showing Other
members asked the same privilege. 1t
was denied. We now appeal to the
sense OF justice of the General Assemb-
ly and to the public at large for a
showing, a hearing that has never
been denied to the humblest repre-
sentative of the Anglo-Sazon race.
Without hearing an attempt has
been made to cast stigma upon the
names and reputation Of Governor N.
B. McSweeney, Secretary of State N.
r. Cooper, State Treasurers W. II.
Zimmerman and R. n. Jennings,
Comptroller General J. P. Denham,
Chairman Of the Finance Committee
of the Senate George S. Mower, Chair
man Of the Ways and Means Commit
tee of the House j. Harvey Wilson,
Representatives W. J. johnson and
R. J. CAN'T and myself. 1t Is incon-
cei7able, unfair and inhuman that
such a report should be made without
a hearing, for, as citizen Of State
that I have attempted faithfully to
ser-e, have always believed and now
believe that the noblest feature Of our
Government is "A law which hears
before it condemns, which proceeds
upon inquiry and renders judgement
only after trial" My appeal is to
the General Assembly for this priVl-
lege. AS l am not member Of the
General Assembly, and this is the only
avenue that I have to appeal to them
for a hearing: I hold no public office
except that of member Of the board
of trustees Of Clemson College, to
which I was elected by the General
Assembly, without a dissenting voice,
and as citizen and member of the
State House commission ask full,
fair hearing privilege to give an
account of my stewardship in this mat
ter. Truly this is not an nnreason-
able request!
@ Dnncan RellinQef