The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-08

The Savannah Republican publishes con-
rincing evidence OF the corruption OF Harrison
Reed Governor Of Florida. The reader will re.
member that II was stated short time since that
Reed had been arrested and placed under bond I'm
New York City. The precise character or the
charge against him WAS not made known, hut IL
probably had some connection with his dealings
with George W. Swcpson, who is mentioned In the
AFFIDAVIT copied below. The Republican says tina.
this affidavit Is subsuntiatcd by others that Il has
neither room for nor patience 10 publish:
In the case OF the County commissioners of Jcircr.
son County VS. George W. Swcps0n, Harrison
Reed. Governor, and Others. In chaliccry. State
Of Florida, Duval County. SIS:
On this Sth day OF October a. ID. 1860, before me-
Charles L.. Mathcr, Clerk Of the Circuit Court I'm
ciizen Of the State Of Florida, who being duly
sworn, says: That on or about the 18th day OF
june a. D. 1859, during the session Of the Lcgisla-
letter written by George ". SwcIsom, and nd.
dressed 10 Harrison Reed. Governor OF Florida;
hat depOncnt knows the handwriting OF said
SwepsOn, and his signature wi,s OF the said Swep-
son; that said letter stated That II would lie deliver
orby Mr.. Littlcicld, and further stated tIni Swep,
sun had paid the said Reed, Governor, five thou
sand dollars In New York City. some time
taken q morigagc on the said Reeds property in
Tnllahassec; that said liitlccld would return to
him the mortgage and would pay said Reed seven
Thousand dollars his approval OF the bill or act
which the said I,lttctie!d would have introduced
Into and passed by the Legislature; that according
Ia tiiis deponcni's hest remembrance and bplicf
the contents Of said letter were as follows: .You
remember, Governor, on agreement in New York,
was 10 give You fourteen thousand dollars for
calling the Legislature together and using your
Influence 10 secure the passage OF the bill. Five
thousand I paid you hi New York, for which
hold mortgage ON your properly In Tallahassee.
Two thousand Mr.. littleiell will hand you when
he reaches Tallahassee. When you sign the bill
lie VIII give you seven thousand dollars and re-
turn to yo,l your mortgage"
That there Is mortgage on record in Leon
county ol tile property III Tallahassee, mortgagcd
by the said Reed 10 said Swepson and that Short.
" before the recent departure OF said Reed to the
North: according to the best knowledge and be-
lief or deponent, the said Reed Inquired OF the
Clerk OF the Circuit Court OF said county If the
said Swcnson had not sent u release or said mort.
gage for record. stating that 1t had been paid and
tliat he the said Swcl,Son, hatl promised to send
tue Clerk Il release OF the SAME for record; that
Swcpson To said Reed was at the time ncr"nhc. nnr.
fore meniiOnc made, and the same was sworn to
before duly appointed AMI lawfully authorized
notary, IN! that the same is now in existence.
SIiERMAN CoNANT.
Sworn 10 and subscribed before me this the sth
day OF October, y. u. lSG9.
onAs. d. MATuEn, Clerk
Florida correspondent OF the Republican
writes:
II SHOULD he known that Major Conant was an
onlccr OF that rank In the United Suites army,
has been in FlorGa ever since the close OF tile
war. is now Deputy United States Marshal and
thourh an uil3iSgulsed Republican In his politics.
amd though in olicc either military or civil, nearly
al the Willie since he came to the State, has ever
conducted hinseif with courtesy towards our
people. True II is, he Is an uncOmpromisiug cue
my OF Reed, yet nobody that have met ventures
to question the literal accuracy OF the statement
contained In Ills a;davlt; or doubts hut that Reed
was bribed to Convcnc last summers extra scs.
sion or The Legislature. ana WAS paid for his sig
nature or Swcpsuil, Iittieiield, Sandcrson &c Co.'S
railroad bill. OF course all honest Republicans
are outraged at the mlnniy which his Excel
lelcy has brought upon their party; and are, be-
ilerc, prepared to unite with the great body OF the
substantial people OF the State 10 give him his
deserts, which, rs you truly say, would be the
pcnitentary.
But, unfortunately, Il blush MS Floridian to
own i'll Reeds patronage and Swepson's money
npoii snHiem ohr-ow people,. Large suu,s llnye
been paid by both 10 lawyers, Swepson paying
cut OF his pocket, or out Of the earnings OF our
railroads, CT which lie has obt aimed Illegal ami
tas ci,arget fraudulent possession. aud Reed pay.
ing out Of the State Treasury. These legal gen
tlelncn have, or course, done nothing wrong
when Oferetl heavy retainers by Swepson, Reed
X Co. rs their counsel. 1t Is not to he expected
that they would refuse them hut the misfortune
Is that the very men to whom our people
are usoneti to look for leadership and
guidance. with money In their pockets re.
ccved from the corruptionlsts cannot be e.:-
pected 10 rally tile people, anl arouse public
indignation against their own clients Swcpson 40
one OF his Jacksonville lawyers has proclaimed,
counts his wealth, not by thousands, but by mil
lions. What then, is TO become Of the virtue OF
poor Florida when tempted by the money which
he Is able TO offer to her officials? hut not alone
government officials and lawyers and ncwspa-
rers; some OF our leading capitalists and business
men are in the rng-tlirectors or managers or.
stockholders In the railroad schemes or Swcpsun
littleield Co. need not say how unequal tic
contest hetween the poor smpe-minded, honest
people or the State ON the one side, against the
combined power OF Reeds patronage and Swep.
sons money OIL the other. To use Macaulay's
language, 1t would be like fight between sheep
antt wolves, or between men and ilends.