Year: 1874

q S7s


gal disposition has been made OF any proper
ty in the hands of this board, it was not done
with my consent, as the present Attorney.
General, who was directed to institute legal
proceedings to recover property illegally dis
posed of by the sinking fund commissioners,
can testify. ,,
I am charged with responsibilities for the
losses arising to the State from the transac'
tions of the land commission. Upon this
point 1 frankly say that have always re-
GREETED exceedingly the action which L was
led to take in some instances, as member OF
the advisory board of that commission, but l
deny that in any instance I acted carelessly
or dishonesty. was, as member OF that
board, charged with the duty Of consentlng to
the purchases of land recommended by the
land commissioner. Of course, I could have
no personal knowledge Of the lands. l never
in a single instance had personal knowl'
edge of any tract of land purchased for the
State. I acted, from the necessity OF the
case, solely upon the information and repre-:
sentations of others. Subsequently learned
that some of the lands purchased were not
worth the price paid, but no member OF that
board can be charged with dereliction Of duty
on that account, unless it can be shown that
he had some knowledge, or had some reason
to believe or suspect, that the information
presented to him was incorrect, or that the
purchases were improper or undesirable at the
time they were made. In the case, for in
stance, of the Schley purchases, so-called, the
board was informed by persons who were
certainly competent to judge, and who were
directed by the board to make inquiries con-
cerning those lands, that those lands were de-
sirable. In that case acted upon evidence
which I was as we'll warranted in trusting as
any evidence for any other purchase.


If there be man anywhere who can say
that ever had any personal connection of
any sort with any purchase made by this
board, or that communicated or acted with
any party to any sale, with view to promote
such sale, or that was ever remotely interest
ed in any sale of land to this board, let him
be named. Once for all, say there is no
shadow of foundation for such charges or in
situations. No man can prove them, and no
man will undertake to prove them.


Of the charges made against me in connec-
tion with the board appointed to take charge
of the agricultural land scrip, little need be
said. Every act Of that board was in strict
accordance with law. The sale Of the scrip
was made at full and fair price, and after
careful consideration and inquiry by the
board. The proceeds were Immediately in.
vested in State bonds as directed by law.
Subsequently, those bonds, while in the hands
of the agent Of the board, were pledged for
State loans, and are still held in New York
as collateral security for about $4,000 lent
to the State. OF the legality Of this use of
these bonds it is not now necessary to speak.
They were pledged by the agent under claim
of authority conferred by an act Of the Cen
eral Assembly. The board were not consult
ed in this matter, and never in any way con-
sented to the pledging Of these bonds.


The thousand other idle tales, born Of the
personal and political malice and mendacity
with which this community is 90 remarkably
afaicted-such as my reported partnership
with Mr.. Kimpton my present or past pecu-
mary interest in various schemes which were
intended to draw money from the treasury,
and the pecuniary benefit derived by ME from
my connection with the State government
do not deserve even denial. They are, each
and all, false in every particular and every
sense. Not only have l not received pecunla:
ry profit from any transaction in which l
have had an official duty to perform, and not
only have 1 never been interested in any
scheme which was hostile to public interests,
but can say, with honest pride, that no man
ever yet in South Carolina approached me
with bribe in any form, or solicited my Of
fetal or personal consent or cooperation in
any dishonest measure or action. Such de-
gree of respect has at least been shown me-
While denouncing me in public as corrupt
official, my defamers have never ventured to
solicit the aid which they would now convince
the public I have been swift to extend to all
corrupt and fraudulent measures. The little
property which now possess have acquired
neither by corruption nor speculation; but l
have earned it by honest and honorable Ia
Dor, and I defy the world to produce
evidence sufficient to excite shadow of
a presumption to the contrary. l acknowl-
edge mistakes, and I regret the consequences
of some acts in my official career. I desire to
see those consequences repaired and desire
it all the more because they have resulted in
part from my acts but to every specific and
every general charge involving moral delin-
queDcy or conscious wrong in any official ac-
ton in this State, I give my absolute and SOL
emn denial. D. H. CHAMBERLAIN


Columbia, August 10, 1874.


THE AIRLINE RAILRoAD.-It is known
that the Richmond and Atlanta Airline
Railroad became involved at the time of the
late panic. 1t is stated that the line was only
just completed, and possessed no rolling stock,
nor had it any earnings made. In conse.
quence, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
which held a majority Of the stock, failed to
pay the interest due last January. The first
mortgage bondholders at once formed them
selves into sort of mutual protective society
and deposited 100000 worth of bonds out
of the whole $4,248,000 issued in the Farm
ers' Loan and Trust Company. They held
meeting in New York on Friday last, and it
appears now that the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company has agreed to transfer the majority
of stock which they hold to three trustees,
who shall have power to elect majority of
the directors The meeting appointed Mr..
Moses Taylor, Judge o. H. Palmer, and Mr..
R. A. Lancaster, trustees, and determined on
the following course of action: A supple
mentary mortgage is to be issued explanatory
Of the first mortgage, and calculated to facili-
tate 8 foreclosure if such should at any time