The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-11
Governor Scott and General Hampton

General NJ. C. Butler, the candidate of the
Union Reform party for Lieutenant-Gover-
nor of South Carolina, delivered speech at
Pickens Courthouse, in the course OF which
he preferred against R. K. Scott, Governor
of South Carolina, series OF specific charges
of corruption in office, neglect OF duty, per-
sonal misconduct, and public and private
treachery. One of these charges reads as
follows:
llth. charge that shortly preceding the
last Presidential election, Governor Scott SAID
to General Hampton and two other gentlemen,
that he not only wished the State to SO Demo-
cratic, but wanted to use his influence to that
end. as he was tired OF the negroes, and would
make enough of them resign their seats IN the
Legislature so as to give the white men ma
/! jority in that body.
| This charge created a profound impress
sion. The colored people were completely
staggered, for it proved to them that their
boasted protector was ready to sell them out
| ito the Democratic party at the very time
when, according to the Radical oracles, they
were most in danger OF losing their personal
and political freedom. So. indignant were
both whites and blacks, that Governor Scott
was forced from his hiding place, and print
ed the following paragraph in his official
organ:
|, 1lth. Governor Scott explicitly denies that he
ever, in the whole course of his life, expressed
to General Hampton, or any Democratic lead
er. the wish that the State would ''vote Demo-
cratic" or that he has ever said that he was
tired of the negroes, or promised to use his
influence TO induce them to resign In order 10
ill their places with white Democrats. He
af1irns that he was repeatedly urged to DO
these things. that he encouraged Democrats to
talk and to make such propositions as they
u!,.dsed. but that he never for moment ac-
ceded. and that he did frequently declare such
things to be absurd, and Impossible for him to
do, This is thus reduced to mere question OF
vcracIty between individuals. Each will be-
lieye his own.
This is plain and categorical denial OF
the truth of the statement made by General
Butler. Only one mrn-General Hampton
himself-could decide the question OF TACT,
and that is now done in manner both can
did and unmstakable. In his letter to Gen
cral Butler, printed in our issue OF yesterday
General Hampton says that Governor Scott
made to him the following pledges:
lst. That he would use his influence TO
make the State so Democratic.
I'd. That he would endeavOr to induce
sufficient number Of the colored members OF
the Legislature to resign so that the whites
might secure strong representation in both
houses
Sd. That he would appoint to office, when
ever he could do so, such men as were re-
commended by the Democratic party.
Governor Scott is now in a very unenvla-
BILE position. Either he was misrepresented
by his official organ, or he authorized u
statement which he knew TO he wholly false.
In the former case, to clear himself OF one
embarrassment he must admit that he di3
say lust what his official organ declares he
!ia not say. III the latter case he stands be-
fore the people, white anu black, as man
who is guilty of deliberate mendacity with
out parallel even in the history Of The Ring.
II matters little which horn of the dilemma
he choose. In any case, he is shown to he
destitute OF principle. and unworthy OF BELIEF.