The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-08
WHITTENORES LAST CRIME

GENERAL BUTLER has received despatch
from the notorious Whittemore, informing
Congress that the cadet-peddler has been re-
elected by 5000 majority. We have already
in these columns, alluded to the question soon
to be raised in the House by the appearance
of Mr.. Whittemore to be qualified as a men,
Der. If Mr.. Whittemore was to be tried be-
fore judicial tribunal for the offense of
which he stands confessedly guilty, his punish
ment would not only be fine, or imprison-
ment, or both, but an act of Congress de-
clares that he must thenceforth be ineligible
to any Office of honor or profit under the Gov
ernment. If Whittemore's guilt was a matter
of doubt, Congress might hesitate to reject
him on the face of an apparent endorsement
of his constituents; but the proof of his guilt
was SO overwhelming that he made no de-
fense, and even admitted the sale of the ca
detship and the receipt of the consideration
and escaped an almost unanimous expulsion
by cowardly resignation.
Another question of grave moment may
demand the attention of Congress in connec-
ton with the case of Mr.. Whittemore. Con-
gress has assumed to decide elections in South
Carolina against the verdict of the ballot
boxes, and without the stereotyped pretext of
fraudulent voting or dishonest returns. 1t is
not questioned that the qualified votes,
honestly polled and as honestly computed
and certified, defeated Messrs. Hoge and Wal
lace, now sitting as members from the Third
and Fourth districts of that State. They
were admitted because it was proven, or
alleged to be proven, that more than enough
of legal 0oterS aoere Sntiaaidated from vOting
for Hoge and Wallace to haze elected Mem.
By this bold assumption of power over the
management of local elections, Congress ad-
mitted two Republicans from South Carolina,
against whom popular majorities of about
1000 each were given. If Congress can thus
supervise the mere political machinery of
elections, a feature that presents itself in
Whittemore's reelection demands its careful
scrutiny.
We have before referred to the corrupt
ring of adventurers' that now rules South
Carolina, and has made Republicanism term
of reproach with every honest citizen of that
State. After Whittemore was driven from
the House, he demanded from his fellow
plunderers a reelection to vindicate himself.
Governor Scott had but to take the stand
demanded by every consideration of official
and personal integrity, and Whittemore
would have been driven from South Carolina
as he was from Washington But he could
not strike at the disgraeed Congressman
without striking at himself.
Congress has decided that either laws or
individual action calculated to intimidate
legal voters vitiates majority, if employed
in furtherance of that majority. Will it now
inquire into the laws and acts of officials of
South Carolina, by which the defeat of White
more was rendered impossible, regardless of
the vote cast by the people? If the Repub-
licans in Congress do not vindicate the name
of the Republican party from completely with
the systematic corruption and lawlessness of
the banded thieves in South Carolina and
other Southern States Republcanism will
become a kissing reproach both North and
South, and the better elements of the nation
will accept any form of opposition to over
throw the adventures who cloak the
most shameless wrongs under the shadow
of the Republican party. Let Congress
meet this question now with promptness
and determination that will demonstrate to
the nation that it can have no sympathy or
fellowship with the political highwaymen who
are now roaming through official channels in
the South, in the name of Republicanism;
and the Republicans in the North, and the
Republicans in the South, will be saved from
the defeat that must inevitably follow open
disgrace Let Whittemore be met at the
Threshold and sent back, because he left
criminal, and returns doubly criminal by the
frauds he employed to effect his pretended
reelection, and honesty in the South will
take courage and bring forth good fruits, and
Republcanism everywhere will be vindicated
from completely with the vampires who have
SO basely prostituted Republican power in
the Southern States.
"THE EPISCOPAL REGIsTER."-Messrs. Nc
] Gala & StaYelY. Nos. 237-9 Dock street