Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, February 28, 1878, Image 1

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le wis m. gritist, Proprietor. J ^it Jiilieptntitnt Jfamilg ftetospper: Jfor % promotion of tjje Ijolitieal, Social, Hgricnltural aitb Commercial Interests of t|e jJonfJj. | TERMS?$3.00 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE. VOL. 24. YORKVILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, FEBETJARY 28, 1878. NO. 9. JU ?riginat Jfotg. Written for the Yorkville Enquirer. MARIPOSA; OR, THE HEART OF A BALLET GIRL. CHAPTER XV. One day, as Posy was sitting aloue in her room, her attendant having gone out on an errand, a note was brought her by one of the hotel waiters, who said there was no answer. She opened it and read the following: "I entreat you to be warned ,;n time, and cease at once to encourage the advances of a certain gentlemau who pays you great attention. They can never result in happiness to you. On the contrary, you will bitterly repent if you allow them to contiuue. This is not written in idle malice, but from the sad experience of a suffering heart. One Who Wishes You Well." 1' - ?- ?A n/l mitb Knr .rosy was greauy surprioeu. auu uv. surprise, emotions of a less agreeable uature were mingled. This anonymous communica tiou was by no means the first she bad received ; but none of the others had regarded auy subject but herself. Usually they had been testimonials to her personal charms, sometimes impertinent, occasionally absurd, and generally flattering, but to none of these had she ever paid the slightest attention. This however, was of graver import, and concerned soraetbiug lyiug nearer to her heart. It set her thinking very seriously, and in thinking, she discovered plainly, for the first time, that Allan Lambert had made himself master of her affections. What was to be the upshot of it all ? Innocent-minded as she was, she was not so simple as to be unaware of the social difference between them. She knew well enough that if he ever married her, such a marriage would be deemed a mevalliance by his family and friends. Marriage! Her cheek crimsoned at the ver^ thought. Why, he had never even spoken of love to her. And if he did not mean marriage, what right had he to seek her out and try to win her love ? Poor Posy had read in his glances, his pressure of her hand, the inflexions of his voice, the knowledge which he had not openly revealed to her, and it had hitherto only brought her joy. But cow she began to fear that danger might lurk in this uncertain happiness. It seemed to her that it would be wrong not to put an end to it at once. While she sat meditating very earnestly on the subject so startlingly brought to her consideration, Margaret Fanning came in. Though of plain origin, she was a woman of good sense and discretion, and Posy did not hesitate to confide her trouble to her. Margaret read the note and threw it aside with an expression of disdain. "Anonymous letters ain't worth nothing, Mariposa," she said. You've got enough of 'em before, that you never noticed a bit." " Yes. But thTsli different/ Do you reaTIy think I need pay no attention to this?" asked Posy, only too willing to be assured. Margaret thought a moment. "I'll tell you what, ray dear," she said, preseutly. It won't do not to be careful. I don't say but what there might be something in the background that we don't kuow about. You let tue show Mr. Lambert this note the next time he comes, and see how he'll take it." "Oh! uo, no,"cried Posy. "That would be showiug him that?that?people think?I tneau, I daresay he has never inteuded anything, except to be polite and kiud, and I wouldn't have him dream that we thought of anything more." "Never mind," said her attendant. "If he don't meau anything, it'll only put him on his guard, and make him stop coming here so extra often ; and if he does?why, it'll be no surprise to him, that's all." Margaret had her way. When Allan next came?that very afternoon?she went to receive him instead of Posy, and showing him the note, asked him bluntly and without circumlocution. if he knew who could have written ! it, and what it meant. Allan's brow flushed redly with anger as he read it. "I can't even guess who is the writer of this," he replied. "All I know is, that it is nonsense, and worse than nonsense, from beginning to end. Margaret, I swear to you that I have no intentions, towards that innoceut child, but what are perfectly right and pure." "Ay, sir. But theu, what are those intentions?' rejoined Margaret, shrewdly. "And she aiu't a child, either, as you called her just' now. She's a woman grown, aud she has a woman's heart." Allan was silent for a moment. He felt that Margaret was right; but he was not prepared to be brought thus to bay. What toere his intentions? Surely not evil ones, as he had said; but if his conduct implied more than 1 ~ . .. -J rvn?rn?>in tuAiil/) rwvf fKo roculr , ne Wtti? icaujr LU lUiUi, v?UUH4 uww buv iwou.t, I be an evil one, though uo evil had beeu medi- j tated ? His irresolute nature was dismayed by the j problem suddenly presented to it, to be solved. Margaret, who was watching him keenly, | read his iuward perturbation in his face. "Don't you think, Mr. Lambert, for a sin- j gle minute, that Posy would ever look at you again, if she found out or believed, that you had been intentionally misleading her, or even that you repented of the attention you have shown her," she said, in an emphatic tone. "She never encouraged you by a look or word, from the first. She's not one of your light-minded, giddy sort, as you ought to know, by now. She took your civility in good faith, as she supposed it was meant. I don't say but what it pleased her; but she's ready enough to give it up, and if you say s>?, it had better be done at once." "Is she ready to give me up ?" asked Allan, in a low voice. The thought of losing Posy, of relinquishing the charm aud joy of his life, smote him with a sudden pang, that shut out the consideration of everything else. "I don't know about giving you up. She never had any claim on you, that 1 know of, to speak of giving up. She's ready, as I said just now, to give up what she supposed to be your friendship, if she fiuds it's nothiug but show and pretence." "But it hasn't been show and pretence. I tell you, I am perfectly sincere, and I'll tell her so, too. Where is she? Why is she avoiding me now ? As to that confounded note, she ought never to have given it a thought," said Allan, indignantly. "Let me go to her, Margaret. I must see her and explain." Margaret laid her baud on his arm. "Mr. I I Lambert," she said, below her breath, and looking searchingly into his face, "take heed ! of yourself, and make no promises that you are not able to perform. I tell you, if you j wrong that girl, you'll have your sin written up against you at the Judgment Day. I ain't supposing you to be deliberately bad. But there*8 more ways of wronging her than one." j j "You need have no fear," said Allan, with- ' drawing himself from her hold. Half re-as' sured, half doubtful, the old woman left him, | ! and sent Posy, as he had desired. She came in, timid, tremulous, trying to be dignified and cold, but failing signally in the j attempt. In another instant Allan had her I hands clasped in both his own, and was pour- i I ing forth eager protestations and vows, de- j derations too ardent to be misunderstood. "Posy, never doubt me again ; never believe that I can love any one but you, now and forever! It would break my heart to , part from you. Tell me that we will never j part," he cried, eagerly, quite overborne, for | the raomeut, by the resistless force of the emotions which swayed him. "Mr. Lambert," Posy said, very pale, but' resolute to carry out an intention she had formed, "I am only a dancer and you are a gentleman. I know,and feel, that this makes ; a great difference between us. What would your relations say, if they knew what you : have just told me ?" j "It makes not the slightest difference to me, Posy, what anybody says. As to your being a dancer, that difficulty can be settled easily enough. Give up your profession and | marry me at once. As ray wife, no one will ! daresay a word against you." What could she do but yield ? All her doubts, all her difficulties, seemed to be swept away like cobwebs before the wind. Her hap' piness was too great for her to realize. It j was like a bewildering dream, j Before Allau left her that day, they were ! j formally engaged. He had even placed on j her hand a ring?a family heirloom?as a seal j to the contract. Anxious now to be guided ! by his will in all things, she asked him wheth er she must give up the stage at once, or finish her Dresent engagement. "Give it up at once, my darling," he promptly answered. "You belong to me now and not to the public." "What reason shall I give?" asked Posy, i timidly. "Mr. Boatwright will be angry, and besides, if I break my engagement, I'll forfeit raj pay, and then what will the San Francisco management think ? They will lose by it, you kuow." "Oh! hang the San Francisco management," Allau exclaimed. But he reflected that the breaking of Posy's contract would iu- : volve expenses which he himself was certain- j ly not prepared to defray. It was unpleasant to have these practical details forced ' upon him at such a moment; but it was one of the disagreeable results?and one of the least disagreeable, unfortunately?of the dilemma he had got himself into. He bethought himself a moment, while Posy meekly < awaited his decision. "How much longer is your engagement I here?" he asked, at length. "Only three nights," she replied. 1 "And then ?" "And then I am going?was to go, at 1 least?to Galveston." "Posy," Allau said, after another pause, ' "It frets me beyond endurance to have you continue on the stage, now that you fairly be- I long to me; and if I were a rich man you ' should throw all engagements henceforth to ' the winds, and I would be responsible. But, * unfortunately, my darling, I am not rich ? did you kuow that, Posy? Did you know that I am really only tolerably well off? What many people, in fact, would call poor." Posy smiled. This announcement did not j! trouble her iu the least. j1 "So as you have entered into these engage- j raents, and cannot break them, I suppose !' there is nothing for you to do but to carry !, them through," he continued, reluctantly. "I i ought not to put a barrier in the way of your earning money for yourself, either, until I can ; claim the right to take care of you and give ' you all you need." "It is all the same to me," the girl answer-1 ed, cheerfully. "J don't mind the employ- j ment, except so far as it is distasteful to you. j I don't want you to be ashamed of me, you | know." "Ashamed of you! That I could never be," he fervently rejoined. "But, Posy, remember, when you go away from here, don't let new faces distract you and lead your thoughts from me. I am half afraid to trust you, so far off!" "I dou't thiuk you mean what you say," replied Posy, simply. "I would not be worth your love, if you could not believe in my truth." Her eyes, so frank and fearless in their gaze, met his as 6he spoke, and thrilled him through with their innocent revelation of the ; love he had awakened in her heart. He j drew her close to him, and his lips met hers in one long kiss. At that instant he would | have cast fortune, family, all social aud \ worldly considerations, to the winds for her j sweet sake. What a pity it is that illusions of life are ' so often rudely destroyed by the chilling, practical breath of reality and common sense! When Allan had taken leave of his poor little fiancee, the high temperature of his spirits aud his hopes sank at once to zero, and his outlook into the future seemed a very cloudy one, indeed. He was as ready as ever to acknowledge the potency of Posy's charms ; - ? - - j but would he find in these a compensation for | all, that in murrying her, he must relinquish ? What would his mother, what would the world say, to such a match? And then? alas that it should be recorded !?his thoughts reverted to Helen and her fortune, and the j brilliant prospects that his possession of both J would have opened to him. His mood was not enlivened, on reaching home, by the discovery that his mother was in a great fume ahout something. He would have passed her without notice and gone directly to his own room, but she detaiued him. "Allan," she began in a severe tone, "I wish particularly to have some conversation with you." Allan groaned inwardly. "Oh ! mother, I not now," he rejoined, with ill-concealed ira- \ patience. "And why not now? Now is as good as any other time. But I never get a chance to talk to you five minutes, of late. You seem I to have so many engagements abroad." "Go oo, then," he exclaimed, throwing himself into a chair. "Anything to please you. Only do be quick, for my head aches and I want to go up stairs." "I will not detain you long." Mrs. Dashwood looked out at the door to see that no one was within ear-shot; then carefully closed it again and turned the key in the lock. "What momentous preparations," observed her son, with a forced laugh. "Not so momentous as ihe subject in hand," she replied, solemnly. "Allan, will you give me some explanation of your conduct during the past few weeks ?" "What conduct?" he asked, not without auailine inwardly, for he did not know how much she might have found out. "Your most singular, and I must add, ungentlemanly treatment of Helen?of us all," answered Mrs. Dashwood, with rising excitement in her look and tone. "Open and marked neglect of your father's niece, who has, at least, a claim upon you for the common courtesies due to any young lady staying under the same roo'C tb say nothing of any stronger claims, implied previously by your attention to her. Continued and prolonged absence from home, at the most unaccountable hours. Do you not call this strange conduct ?" "I am, I hope, sufficiently master of my own movements not to be obliged to give an account of how and where I choose to spend my time," replied Allan, haughtily. "Your solicitude, mother, to accomplish your own ends, sometimes carries you a little too far." "Now, come, Allau, don't take that tone with me," said his mother, more gently, for she was really afraid of pushing him so far as to arouse his obstinacy, and defeating her own purpose. "It is natural that I should be solicitous about the behavior of my only son, especially when it is open to misconstruction, and liable to eutail upon you such disastrous results." "What results do you mean ?" "What results? Why, the loss of Helen, aud all that that Iobb implies. You must confess that this, with your present prospects, would'be no small calamity." . His "present prospects!" How little did she know what those actually were! "Helen has never engaged herself to me," he replied. "Aud I have no assurance that she would have me if I were to ask her." "Have you ever tried?" asked his mother. "You know I have not," was his impatient reply. "Then why delay trying ? The fact is, Allan, I have arrived at the conclusion that you don't want to try. Am I right or wrong ?" "I am certainly not in a hurry about it, and I wou't be pushed or dragged into doing it against my will," exclaimed Allan, losing his temper, and rising angrily from his chair. "If this is all you wanted to talk about, I think we had better let the subject slide before it leads us into a quarrel." "Aud you won't tell me, either, what you have beeinTbmg with yourseirduflbgybur frequent absences from home?" "Certainly Dot. I am not auswerable for that to anybody but myself." "Very well. I admire your wisdom and far-sightedness beyond everything. But I will only say this, that if you don't speedily make up your mind in this matter, you may be too late. Helen has already received a proposal ?" "A proposal?of marriage, do you mean ?" "Certainly ; I can mean nothing else. She has a proposal of marriage, at this moment, under consideration, and I have a very strong idea that if you do not come forward at once, she may give it a favorable answer." "Who is her suitor?" asked, Allan, interested, in spite of himself. "Her cousin, Mortimer Forester." "Mortimer Forester !" He uttered the name withu contemptuous laugh. "Do you mean to jay that she can possibly be thinking of marrying /um/" "I ouly tell you the facts of the case, as your father, but an hour siuce, told them to me. Mortimer has made a proposal to Helen, through him, with the expressed entreaty that she will take a week to consider it in, before giving him an answer." "That's a little differeut from the way in < t .. i j 1? | ? WHICH you ItU me tu uuucioitmu it at Uiot, said Allan. "As to bis requesting her to cousider it, that has nothing to do with the matter. I don't suppose the answer has cost, or will cost her, a moment's deliberation." "You speak very confidently; but let me tell you, a man's personal merit or attractions has not so much to do with his being accepted as you think. Many a girl has married from jealousy or pique," said Mrs. Dashwood, her thoughts, reverting, possibly, to her own case. "Jealousy! I don't see what jealousy can have to do with it." "Jealousy of your supposed preference for another. Pique at your cavalier treatment, and a desire to show that you are no less an object of her indifference than she is, apparently, of yours." "Why should she, or any one, suppose that I prefer anybody else ?" "When a young man has been paying marked attentiou to a lady, and suddenly withdraws it without any ostensible cause, that conclusion is a very natural one to arrive at." "Oh ! well, all I can say is, I've been tormented enough about it, and don't want to hear auy more," he answered, walking towards the door. His mother followed him and laid her hand upon his shoulder. Allau?my dear Allan, I beg you, I entreat you, not to let any feeling of resentment towards me influence you now against your own interests," she exclaimed, in a beseeching tone. "Reflect on the importance of the chances you seem so wilfully resolved to throw away ! Whose good am I striving for if not your own? What motive but your good can 1 possibly have in urging you as I have done?" "Well, mother, well. I admit that you may mean it for the best," he rejoined, submitting, not without mauifest restliness, to her caress. "Of course I know you don't want the money for yourself, and I am sure I have no desire to quarrel with you. But you cannot understand how fatiguing, how irritating it is to a man to be nagged, nagged, nagged at continually on the same subiect, until it's like pulling a blister on a tender place. It wearies me beyond endurance." "And you won't be guided by my advice, and make the attempt?" "I dou't know?I can't say. Not now, at any rate." And then he left her to worry and enrage herself afresh over his wonderful, incomprehensible stubbornness, and insensibility to bis own opportunities. She did not really believe that Helen would accept that disconsolate widower, Mr. Mortimer Forester. But she did believe that the longer Allan procrastinated in making a proposal to her, and the more careless he showed hiiuslf of winning her regard, the more irrevocably his chant e of ever gaining the coveted prize was slipping away. [to be continued.] fpsttllaitfotis fUading. PUBLIC FRAUDS ! First Installment of the Joint Investigating Committee's Report. The Joint Investigating Committtee submitted a partial report on Tuesday, 19th instant, as to the result of their labors iu unearthing "public frauds." We re-priut the tko flrtlnmkia iUl 1U rr I LI? IIUIU HIV VUIUIUWIU acv^wvv* The joint committee appointed under a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly, at the special session of 1877, "to ascertain 1 whether any improper or illegal use has been | made of the public funds or credit of the State," beg leave tf report, upon such special subjects of investigation, as they deem complete, and to make supplementary reports from time to time upon the residue of the matters before them, until the entire evidence and conclusions are reported. The committee respectfully invite attention to the evidence aqd vouchers submitted with this report, under trie head of supplies. The abuses have been so great and of such a palpable nature, that the most credulous person would hardly believe that such frauds could be perpetrated under the forms of legislation. History fails to cite an instance which can be compared with such a carnival of frauds and extravagance as has been held in South Carolina, by and through the purchase of supplies for the members of the General Assembly. In this connection we submit a number of the accounts against the State, also a few individual accounts of the average "statesmen" of South Carolina under the late regime. We not only make the assertion, but present the proofs, that the whole country may see how one of "the old thirteen" has been robbed and laid prostrate, through ignorance on one side aud corrupt adventurers ou the other. Our report is necessarily elaborate; the charges are so erave that we deem it unwise to make them unless substantiated by evideuce which no one can doubt. 11' the simple statement were made that Senators and members of the House were furnished with everything they desired, from swaddling clothes aud cradle, to the coffin of the undertaker?from brogans to chignons, finest extracts to best wines and liquors, and paid for by the State, it would create a smile of doubt and derision ; but when we make the statement, and prove it by several witnesses and the vouchers found in the offices of the Clerks of the Senate and House, all will, with sorrow, admit the truthfulness of this report. For your guidance we cieera it essential to place uuder appropriate heads the class of supplies and the evidence referring thereto. We first call your attention to the evidence of Mr. Woodruff, who was Clerk of the Senate at the time, and necessarily cognizant of everything concerning the furnishing of supplies. He says: "Uuder the head of supplies was embraced anything that a Senator chose to order." These orders were generally given through the Clerk, and the accounts were rendered aguinst the Clerk of the Sena te. At first the orders were moderate, and included only stationery and postage stamps, but they gradually increased until they assumed gigantic proportions. In the commencement of this business of furnishing members, they gave "onfeft On?the ulerha to-deduct the~aruuu?S from their pay, but very soon the orders largely exceeded their pay, and the accounts were theu included in the report of the committee on contingent accounts, and pay certificates thus issued for almost every description of merchandise. In additiou to this, pay certificates were drawn and turned over to the chairman of the committee on contingent accounts for collection and distribution. As these matters became common, the Senators claimed that all their expenses should be paid by the State, or in the language of Senator C. P. Leslie, "The Stale had no right to be a State, unless she could pay and lake care of her statesmen." Mr. Woodruff says, and the vouchers and certificates prove, that gratification certificates were frequently issued for the benefit of the Senators. Senators Jervey aud Gaillard, of Charleston, and Senator Cain, of Edgefield, also corroborate this testimony, and acknowlfOitititroi] a twipiinn nf lW fritHfl* cwgc bliat UUCJ lUl/ti ?V,ll (V VI ?..W ....... uleut certificates thus issued. A. 0. Joues, Clerk of the House, testifies that supplies were furnished under the head of ''Legislative expenses, sundries and stationery," and included refreshments for committee rooms, groceries, clocks, horses, carriages, dry goods, furniture of every description and miscellaneous articles of merchandise, for the personal use of the members. Your committee find upon examination of the vouchers in the Treasurer's office that in one session there was expended under the respective heads of "supplies," "sundries," and "incidental expenses," not less than ?350,000, ?125,000 of which were spent for refreshments, including the finest wines, liquors and cigars. We can only prove how universally this system of fraud was practiced and carried out by the bills and individual accounts turned in as vouchers, a portion of which we submit with the report and the evidence of Woodruff and Jones, clerks, and sergeant-atarms Williams. Woodruff testifies that the practice became so general as to embrace nearly every Republican and several Democratic Senators. Such accounts came to be regarded as privileged matters, and the Senate rule requiring all reports to lie over one day was generally suspended and the report considered at once, and the accounts ordered to be paid without a dissenting voice. Senators left their accounts with the chairman of the committee on contingent accounts. When settled in this way, they were generally returned to Senators receipted. We find there was a regular system by which these accounts were passed upon by the Senate and House, through the manipulations of the committees on contingent accounts. The following example will suffice: The committee would report that they had considered the account of A, B and C (which were honest claims) and fouud them correct, and would recommend that they be paid, hut ! after the last name on the accounts, we, in most instauces, found the ominous words"and ; others," or "sundries and others," which being | interpreted, meant fraud ! j Woodruff continuing, says, "the committee i to audit the contingent expenses of the Senate, j claimed the right to order what they pleased _ J :__t .J. .u?:_ ?l,Q ! &I1U 1UCJUU6 It 11J men iCjJUiL uiiuci iwu uuuiv ! of "sundries aud others." Jones, in his evi| dence, speaks of them as "queer accounts," and says they were generally paid under the head of "and others." Your committee find | it necessary to classify the various supplies furnished, in order that you may perceive the j magnitude of the robbery, and the ruthless j expenditure of taxes to provide for the pleasJ ure and comfort of our "statesmen." Under the class of refreshments, we ask atI tention to these facts : A room in the State : House was fitted up, wherein to serve "wines, I liquors, eatables, and cigars,"to State officials, ! Senators, members of the Mouse and their friends, at all hours of the day and night. ! Woodruff's evidence is, that the largest bills were rendered for refreshments, including the best liquors and cigars, which were served up in a rooui adjoining that of the Clerk of the Senate, and kept open at all hours, and was visited daily by State officiuls, Judges, Senators, Members of the House, lawyers, editors, newspaper reporters and citizens generally, irrespective of party, and that they discussed | matters, State and national, iu the most agreeI ahle manner, overctheir "sparkling glasses." Not satisfied with the establishment of a bar room in the capitol, they employed a porter, j who had charge of the "refreshment" room. ,; The porter states that for six years the State House bar-room opened at 8 o'clock in the i morning, and kept open until 2 to 4 the next morning ; that during that time some one was constantly there eating, smoking, or drinking, - - j 'L o?i? c j UIJU H1BL OUIJUBJ ivruicu UU CIWJJUUU 1U bug , rule, aud he says "he never saw a bar room I equal to the State House refreshment room, for drinking, smoking and talking that a I large majority of the members who assembled in the room, were Republicans, but that Democratic Senators aud Representatives were there also. He mentioned the names of Senators Bieman and Holcombe, and Representative R. M. Smith as daily visitors, "that many of the members would be at the room before breakfast, hunting a drink, or eye-opener." He could not estimate the exact amount of liquor drank, but asserted that it averaged several gallons per day, with a considerable amount of wine, ale and porter thrown in. The best cigars aud wines were furnished, and that often what he considered a good article would be rejected. He could not keep a sufficient amount of cigars on hand to supply the demand, as many of them filled one or two of their pockets when leaving, and would frequently carry off a bottle of champagne in the same way. He is porter now, and says that no refreshments are served, as that business stopped when Governor Hampton took charge of the State House. It will be observed that the State furnished a room, a porter, and refreshments for our "statesmen," while they were plotting how to rob the people they pretended to represent; ready to vote for any measure that would enrich themselves at the public expense. In addition to the refreshments furnished at the State House, large quantities of wines, liquors and cigars and other things were sent to the hotels, boarding houses and residences of the State officials, Senators, members and nir fptDnrlo TMfl ia ahnum Ku fhfi Vflllflh ers and accounts rendered, and the evidence of Woodruff, who says, that "the matter of refreshments, like others, assumed the largest proportions, and orders were given for liquors and cigars which were sent to the hotels, boarding houses and residences of the members and their friends." Clerk Jones says that the most extravagant accounts were rendered for refreshments for committee roomB, and that he found it useless to remonstrate. Sergeant-a^-Arms Williams testifies that the House did not keep a refreshment room, that be was ordered to buy wines and liquors for the members, and that he did buy them from Mr. Gibson and Mr. Solomon. His evidence is corroborated by Mr. Gibson, and the orders given him, a few of which we submit with this report. Among the members thus furnished we find the names of T. Hurley, member from Charleston, P. Simkins, from Edgefield, J. D. Boston, from Newberry, James A. Bowley, of Georgetown, Speaker 8. J. Lee, of Aiken. We submit a specimen order given to Mr. Gibson, for James A. Bowley, which was delivered in one day : "One box champagne, one box of port wine, one box whisky, one box brandy, one box sherry wine, three boxes cigars." Mr. Bowley was one of the leading colored members of the House, and chairman of the committee of Ways and Means, and it is easy to understand why he reported favorably upon the enormous tax levies and appropriation bills of the Hnuse. We append an order to Mr.-Gibson from Rev. W. M. Thomas, member from Colleton, aud chairman of the committee on claims: "Mr. Gibson, there is a mistake, the order calls for two boxes of wine, pleaso send the other." W. M. Thomas. Mr Gibson, in his evidence, says: he was paid in legislative pay certificates for all supplies, and that he always furnished the best articles. We also refer to the evidence of Wm. M. Fine, who kept a restaurant jn this city, and who says he furnished supplies consisting of "eatables, wines, liquors and cigars to different legislative committees, for which he received pay certificates," and that the largest amount issued to him at one time, for these supplies, was tfi.suu. Hardy Solomon, a dealer in groceries, has numerous large accounts among the vouchers. He testifies that he furnished Woodruff and Jones with supplies, but not as clerks of their respective houses, and that he was paid by the State Treasury on presentation of the pay certificates which were issued to him for his accounts. In connection with the evidence of Mr. Solomon we call attention to his itemized accounts, which were sworn to by hira and annexed to his evidence under the head of supplies, wherein appear the names of the following persons to whom he furnished "refreshments F. S. Jacobs, Senators John Wilson, W. E. Holcombe, D. Bieraan, J. H. White and C. D. Hayne, Governor R. K. Scott, Comptroller General J. L. Neagle, Lieutenaut Governor Ransier, State Treasurer Niles G. Parker, Speaker F. J. Moses, Representatives C. C. Bowen, J. Felder Myers, S. L. Duncau, R. H. Humbert, Dr. B. A. Boseman, ? Miller, ? McLaughlin, John B. Dennis, B. Byas, W. J. KcKinlay, John Dix, R. M. Smith, W. H. Jones, Nelson Davies, and General William Gurney, County Treasurer of Charleston. Your committee also find on the examination of this itemized account, and the evidence adduced before us, that Messrs. Jones and Woodruff made payments on several occasions by check and cash; nevertheless, on examining the payments made by the State Treasurer to Mr. Solomon on pay certificates issued to him, it is shown that he has drawn $6,000 over and above his entire account, and worse still, these certificates were all isssued before the 1st of March, 1873, after which ! time he was paid otherwise. We also find j that in the year 1872 there were issued to | him certificates to the amount of $24,380.50, | while his itemized account shows there was ; only due hira for the years 1871 and 1872 ( $11,203.48, proving that he was paid $13,177.02 over the amount claimed to have been | furnished by hira. Comment is unnecessary. We know of no better method of illustraI ting the reckless expenditure of money for I this class of supplies, than by referring to the accounts rendered, some of which will be ; found appended to the evidence, and we call attention to accounts designated "Exhibits W 2" and W 3," in Woodruff's evidence, 1 ? -- VC 1. A 1QTO j where it ia snown mat on lYiarcu *, aui*, j Solomon furuished the Seuate 81,631 worth : of wines and liquors, and on the 7th day of ! same month 81,852.72 worth, aggregating : 83,483.75. This amount was purchased for the Senate within three days. Large amounts were furnished the House at the same time, and to the Senate during the same week, by other parties, all of which is shown by the vouchers. We also call attention to accounts ; in the evidence of A. 0. Jones, designated as I numbers 251 to 26:1, inclusive, where it is I shown that Mr. Solomon aloue furnished the I House with 85,877.15 worth of wines and i liquors within two months. Mr. Solomon says he had no difficulty in making collecI tioos while they did business with him. Thus j it clearly appears that bills contracted for j the gratification of our "statesmen" were | promptly paid, while the vilest criminals were pardoned to keep them from starving, and turned out upon an outraged people. The unfortunate inmates of the Lunatic Asylum were at the same time suffering from want of proper food and clothing. The free schools [ were closed and teachers unpaid. These fraudulent expenditures were not confined to any particular year, as will appear by the vouchers turned over to your committee. We now call attention to the accounts of George Symraers, mentioned in the evidence of Mr. Woodruff, designated A A, AB, AC, AH, aggregating 83,157.80 from March 1, 1871, to the 7th day of same month, amount' ing to more than 8450 per day for wines and j liquors for the Senate alone. The evidence i and vouchers are not confined to Solomon, Fine, Gibson and Symraers, but prove that Messrs. Cooper & Taylor, Wm. Kennedy and ' Joseph Taylor, citizens of Columbia, also ! furnished supplies of the same character. We | insert a literal copy of one of the bills found | among the vouchers of the Clerk of the Senate : Columbia, Feb. 22th, 1872. Gov. A. J. Ranxicer, Dr. To Joe Taylor. for licours <ft segars and other articulars, $280.0C Kecuieved paymen Joe Taylor. This trade was not confined to Columbia, as shown by the vouchers of Messrs. Klinck, Wickeuberg & Co., of Charleston, and others, or to the State, as proved by the accounts ofKuhn & Co., of Philadelphia, dealers in wines and liquors. We call especial attention to their accounts designated as C 15, in the evidence of Woodruff, amounting to 81,680, furnished to Senate at one time; and to No. 83, in evidence of A. 0. Jones, amounting to $2,088 for the use of House, and delivered in one day; also to account of Mr. Symraers in Woodruff 's evidence, designated as No. 16, by Woodruff, in which sweet meats and delicacies of every kind that could tempt the epicure were supplied. This is only one of many such in our possession. In addition to the parties above designated, we find that numerous other persons furnished "refreshments" under the head of "supplies," and rendered bills against the State for amounts ranging from 8100 to $3,000, as will be seen by vouchers attached to the evidence. The prices paid for these supplies were ' most extravagaut. In Woodruff's evidence there is an account designated as No. 11, in which Mr. Symraers charges $20 per gallon for brandy, sherry wine $10, whisky $8, ciA1 A 1 AA T_ 1 I . 1 i ] _ i. . / gars 5iu per iuu. id me uemizeu account ui Mr. Solomon the prices are equally as unconscionable?lager beer $4.50 per dozen, brandy by the dozen (quarts) $40, cigars $20 per 100, champagne $40, by the case, port wine $40 per dozen. An estimate cannot be found of the amount of wines, liquors and cigars used in a single session, but enough is shown by the bills rendered aod the certificates issued to demonstrate that to have used all that was purchased, every member of the House and Senate must have consumed one gallon per day, with a few extra bottles of ale and wine thrown in, and smoked not less than one dozen cigars within the same time. During this era of "elevation," while the average statesman was deprived of the enjoyment of his accustomed luxury?the succulent watermelon?it is not strange to find him seeking the luscious fruits of tropical climes, hence the bills of Messrs. Brookbanks & Co. He (Brookbanks) says in his evidence, "that be was connected with a confectionery and fruit store, that he furnished such articles as were usually kept in such establishments, and that he rendered bills made out under the head of 'Sundries,' and received iD payment legislative pay certificates." We submit a portion of these accounts autf refer to those designated as Nos. 51, 56, 60, 68, 69 and 74, aggregating $1,080. Woodruff says "those accounts were for fruit and cigars furnished the Senate." We also refer to the evidence of A. O. Jones and John Williams, concerning other accounts of a similar nature. We cannot better illustrate the effrontery of Carolina's leading statesmen at that time, than by referring to an account designated as 211, in evidence of A. O. Jones, where it appears that Gen. Wm. Gurney, Treasurer of Charleston county, claims to have furnished refreshments to the amount of $1,500; but strange to say, the itemized account of Hardy Solomon proves that Gen. Gurney was the *? * ti? c o?i >? recipient OX supplies irum ouiuuiuu o siuiC| J and that the State paid for the same. Sergeant-at-Arms Williams says of this: "I know of no supplies being furnished by Gen. Gurney, nor do I know anything of No. 21 J, referred to in A. 0 Jones' evidence." We now proceed to show the enormous expenditures for other purposes. The first we shall consider is that of FURNITURE. We fiud that there has been paid out within four years, for furniture alone, over $200,000, and of this amount Mr. Berry and Mr. Fagan, furniture dealers, testify that at the present there is at the State House only $17,715 worth appraised at the prices charged for it, a list of which was sworn to by them and is attached to their evidence. This includes $325 worth of furniture purchased by Attorney General Melton, and paid for by him out of his contingent fund, and at this time is in the Attorney General's office. Mr. Berry says he furnished a large number of committee rooms outside of the State House, as well as bed-rooms. He remembers furnishing the rooms occupied by W. J. Whipper, T. Hurley, T. B. Johnson, J. E. Green and others, and some of the rooms he furnished as often as three times. He also furnished rooms at Mrs. Randall's for Speaker Moses. Traded furniture to member for pay certificates, and furnished almost all the offices in the State House every session. In continuation he'states that be furnished at least forty bed-rooms, but does not know who occupied them all, or what became of the furniture; but he was paid for it in legislative pay certificates. We ask reference to the evidence of Sergeant-at-Arras Williams, on the subject of furniture. He says he purchased a lot of furniture from Mr. Berry, consisting of beds, tables, washstands and bed room sets. Some of the rooms thus furnished were occupied by W. J. Whipper, W. H. Jones and James A. Bowley. He does not know what became of the furniture, but endeavored to collect it, and i1 i? T r> TV T A T> U.. was loiu uy o. d. -L/euuia, unities xi. jjunicj, Benjamin Byas and Charles Minort, that he had nothing to do with it. Consequently, he troubled himself no more about it. He says the rooms over the South Carolina Bank and i Trust Company were furnished also, and were occupied by Senator Y. J. P. Owens, T. HurI ley and \V. H. Gardner, and that he alsofur| uished Speaker Lee's room and other private j rooms at the boarding houses of members with fine carpets, stoves and other furniture, and that they were claimed as committee I rooms. He says: "I cannot undertake to ex! plain the accounts of Mr. Berry. I know that large quantities of furniture were furnished by him every session, and that as soon as the General Assembly adjourned it disappeared, and I was compelled, under the order of the Speaker, or some committee chairman, to refurnish all the rooms as soon as the Legislature met." "These rooms," he adds, "were outside of the capitol buildings, and he believes the furniture was stolen by those who had charge of it." W. K. Greenfield testifies that the rooms he rented were newly, thoroughly, and in some instances most extravagantly furnished, every fall, about the time the General Assembly convened, and that the furniture was removed by different persons, and not by regular dealers, and looked as if it was being divided up among them ; that he rented the rooms with the understanding that they were for public business, but they may have been used otherwise, and that he was generally paid for them, with legislative pay certificates, i John B. Dennis testifies that he purchased i furniture for forty rooms, including the offices i of the Governor, Attorney-General, Comptroller-General, and the hall of the House of ' Representatives. His evidence proves most i conclusively that a majority of the members , of the House combined against the persons , who furnished these goods and demanded to be paid for voting for the claim. Thus the bills were more than doubled, and certificates i issued for them. The New York firms and Mr. , Berry received only the amounts due on their ; accounts. Benjamin Byas, chairman of committee who reported favorably on the raised i olaima ranaivoH a rortifinatft to tho amount of i $12,319.50. The remainder was divided beI tween fifty other members as follows: W. R. Jervey had $2,100 which he was to divide between himself, T. A. Davis, W. C. Glover, J. J. Hardy, P. P. Hedges, Abram 8mith, J. W. Lloyd, J. A. Bowley and Or1 Iando Levy, all members from - Charleston county, except Bowley, who represented Georgetown county. Humbert, of Darlington, received a certificate of even $1,000, which he was to divide between himself, Alfred , Hart, S. Sanders, J. Long, Frank Adamson, John F. Henderson, Hastings Gantt, R. Tarleton and Fortune Giles. Asbury L. Singleton, of Sumter, received a certificate fbr $1,150 to divide between himself, E. Cain, H. C. Corwin, E. Ferguson, R. Gaither, 8. Gary, A. S. Holmes, Barney Humphries, S. Milton, Wm. Littlefield, J. P. Singleton, Alfred Moore, E. M. Sumter and Jared Warley. H. H. Hunter, from Charleston, demanded, and received for himself, a certificate for $750. J. H. White received a certificate for $250 for himself. B. G. Yocum one for $1,500. W. J. Whipper one for $3,000. A. O. Jones one for $1,000. W. H. Jones oue for $1,600. Joe Crews one for $3,000. Lawrence Cain one for $500, which witness says he bought from Cain afterwards, and Cain in his evidence admits receiving a small consideration on account of this matter. P. J. O'Connell received one for $1,000. B. A. Norland, one for $700. C. J. Andell one ' for $500. B. F. Berry one for $100. J. D. Boston one for $250. Wm. Dannely one for $500. Mitchell Goggins one for $100. S. J. Keith one for $100. Wm. Kennedy one for $100. W. H. Gardner one for $1,500 for himself. F. J. Moses bad one certificate for $5,000, and does not know how many more, or exact* ly the amoants. We have not (owing to the want of time) ascertained who collected all the certificates referred to above, but find that B. Byas, B. G. Yocem and T. Hurley collected theirs through the Treasurer's office, or by Bonanza warrants, and that the $5,000 certificate given to Moses was exchanged for a State Treasurer's due bill for that amount. Accounts Nos. 33, 34, 35 and 36, refer to this claim, and are referred to in A. O. Jones' evidence, where the vouchers prove that more than $17,000 was allowed as interest on $45,000 for seventeen months. Most of the certificates thus issued are in the Treasurer's office, and have been paid, but tbey do not bear the endorsement of either of the firms named, towit: Mical Davidson & Co., or Stewart, Sutphen <fc Co. Gen. Dennis says that more than $12,000 of these certificates were divided between Speaker Moses, Clerk A. O. Jones, Niles G. Parker, Tim Hurley and himself. Your committee find that a large portion - -of IBB rmuauietll'certincates issued to pay the difference between the legitimate amount due for furniture, and the amount to whi<?h it has been raised, have been paid. After a careful examination of the furniture in the State- House by General Dennis, he af firms "that there is not left there more than one-half of what was purchased, and very few of the clocks, which were of the finest quality, costing from $150 to $600 each; and that out of several mirrors, which cost $600 each, only one remained." From the report marked No. 73, "Exhibit A," to which we referred in evidence of A. O. Jones, it appears that Benjamin Byas, chairman of the committee, reported in favor of the raised claimed which defrauded the State of at least $45,000, but unfavorably on so much of it as referred to paying W. E. Rose a small amount due him for boarding the upholsterers who were sent from New York to place and arrange the carpetings, furniture, Ac. Gen. Dennis also testifies that "in the spring or summer of 1869, C. P. Leslie, Land Commissioner, purchased a lot of furniture from Mr. Berry, ostensibly for his office, but in reality for his residencesays "he was in Gov. Scott's office afterwards and heard an altercation between him and Leslie, which was caused by the bills being sent to Scott for payment; Scott swore he would not pay them, but did eventually do so, from some fund or another." The bills of Mr. Silcox, made out in Mr. Leslie's name, prove that furniture was supplied by the State to some of her distinguished statesmen as far back as 1869. The private bills of State officers, senators and members of the House, referred to in the evidence of Woodruff and Jones, include the names of those who were the recipients of supplies, and are as follows : Lieutenant-Governor Ransier, LieutenantGovernor Gleaves; senators C. P. Leslie, L. Wimbush, Frank Arnim, H. E. Hayne, B. F. Whittemore, H. J. Maxwell, C. D. Hayne, Y. J. P. Owens, W. E. Johnson, J. M. Allen, J. Hollingshead, Robert Smalls, W. B. Nash, S. A. Swails, Geo. F. Mclntyre, E. S. J. Hayes, Jas. A. Green, John Lee, J. E. Green ; representatives Jas. A. Bowley, Tim Hurley, JoseDh D. Boston. J. B. Dennis, C. H. Sperry, S. J. Lee, P. Simkins, P. R. Rivers, W. M. Thomas, W. H. Jones, F.J. Mose3, Benj. Byas, Nelson Davies. It is no longer a matter of surprise to your committee that members who only received six dollars per diem, could, in a few weeks after their arrival in Columbia, obtain elegant furniture for their rooms, Brussels carpets for their floors, and recline on Oriental springs and sponge mattresses, while their constituents were being hounded down by the inexorable tax gatherer to pay the price of those luxuries. CONCLUSION. Your committee feel assured that no language, by way of comment, would add force to the simple statement of facts attending this era of revelry, embracing peculation, embezzlements and robberies of a character hitherto unknown in South Carolina. The perpetrators are covered with infamy and dis-~ i grace, and should be pursued during their I natural lives with the sword of Justice hanging by a thread over their heads. But in justice to the honest taxpayers of the State, what can be said to relieve those merchants and dealers who participated in their profits arising from such stupendous frauds ? The testimony submitted shows that these persons either were reckless of the interests of the people of the State, or winked at, connived at, or colluded with the robbers to fleece the people?a collusion as humiliating as the facts are disgraceful and culpable. We regret to place this on record ; but it is true, and the facts as proved justify your committee in joining with the good people of the State in denouncing such conduct now and forever. John R. Cochran, Chairman. H. A. Meetze, On part of Senate. S. Dibble, G. Muller, J. G. Blue, Cu part of House.