The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-20
Senator Corbiu as the Champion Of
Judge Garpent.2r:ssstss ~

Senator Corbin as the Champion OF
Judge carpent2r:ss
es.sIt may be, urged by The few Who look more
closely to. the source OF the stream than to
the limpid purity OF tile. current, that the
praise of the General kssenblyfof South
Carolina, in the year 1869, is very small
thing, and not distinction to be seriously
desired. And yet The members Of that very
honorable body had their moments of reason
and disinterestedness They had not been so
long under the dominion Of the Scott Ring
that they loved uutruth for untruth's sake;
and where their pocket nerve or their per-
sonal fame was not affected, they did, upon
occasions, speak and act with cemmendable
frankness and evident sincerity.
In December last, Senator Cain then, as
now, the unconpomising foe Of corruption
''and wrong" but not then guilty OF SELF
qualification in clubbing himself the cham
pion Of R. E. Scott, made vigorous attack
in:the State Senate upon the Hon.. R. B. Car
penter, then the judge of this circuit, and
now the candidate of the Union Reform
party for Governor of South Carolina Cain,
according to the Legislative report printed
in The CHARLESTON NEWS, OF December IL,
called in question both the legal ability and
the judicial fairness of Judge Carpenter, and
was stoutly supported by Beverly Nash,
also colored senator. Senators Donaldson
and Leslie took up the cudgels in behalf OF
Judge Carpenter, whose main-stay, how
ever, was Senator David T. Corbin, Presi-
dent of the Senate, United States District
Attorney, City Attorney, &c., &C., &c.
Senator Corbin is a lawyer Of ability, who
holds high position in the Radical party,
and he listened with marked iRpatieace to
the ignorant abuse in which Cain and Nash
indulged. Selling the first opportunity, he
vindicated Judge Carpenter romthe charges
brought against him, and, latter an eulogy
s'of the talents, energy AMI industry" OF
Judge Carpenter, he took his seat.
Five days later, ION December 14,) Senator
Corbin submitted the following letter, which
was referred to the Judiciary Committee:
CHARLESTON, 8. c., December 10, 1853.
Hon. d. T. Corbin, President Of the Senate,
Cokan,bia, s. c.:
SIR-A charge has been made against me,
as appears from your published proceedings,
BY member of your honorable body, In bis
| place on the floor of the Senate, that have,
as Judge, been unjust to the colored people
OF my circuit.
If this Is true, then am unworthy to re-
tain the important and responsible position
now occupy; if false, am entitled to Vlndt-
cation as public as the accusation. Inasmuch
as am unable to meet it in this general and
sweeping form, I respectfully ask of your
honorable body that the charges be made
specific, and for full and thorough inVestiSa-
ton Of my official conduct.
.. Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
R. B. CARPENTER,
Circuit Judge
It is to be presumed that Senator Corbln,
the chairman OF the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee, had his heart in his work, and that
his investigation Of the accusations levelled
at Judge Carpenter was both keen and
thorough. This, at. all events, is the only
conclusion which con be drawn from the
following report submitted to the Senate by
Senator Corbin:
REPORT OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON THE
LETTER OF THE HON. B. B. CARPENTER, JUDGE
OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT.
In THE SENATE, January 81, 1870.
The judiciary Committee, to whom was re-
ferred the letter. of Hon. R. B. Carpenter,
Judge of the First Circuit, OF the 10th Of De-
cember, 1869, setting forth that charge had
been made against him by a member Of the
Senate, In his place on the floor OF the Senate,
that he (Carpenter) had, as a judge, been un'
| Just to the colored people Of his circuit; that
If this was true, he was unworthy to retain
the important and responsible position he now
occupied; if false, he was entitled to avindi'
cation as public as the accusation; that, mas
much as he was unable to meet 1t In this gen,
eral and sweeping form, he respectfully asked
of the Senate that the charges be made specl-
flc, and for full and thorough investigation
| into his official conduct, have had the same
under consideration, and beg leave to report
That no charges have been, or can be, by
your committee preferred against the Hon.. B.
B. Carpenter.
That, after waiting some time for charges to
be preferred, your committee made special in
qulry Of those who, if anybody, were expected
to present and sustain, by proof, any charges
of official misconduct and they expressly dis
claimed any purpose of presenting charges, OF
of having any knowledge or evidence Of Off
clal misconduct on the part Of Judge Carpen
! ter.
Your committee, therefore, report that moth
ing, 30 far as they can learn, exists to splly
the official reputation Of the Hon. R. B. Car
penter, and they pray to be discharged from
the further consideration OF this matter.
Respectfully submitted.
D. T. CoRBIN, Chairman.
Report adopted.
]. WOODRUFF, G. S.
This report declares that those WHIT
were expected to be present and sustain
any charges of official misconduct had dis
i - Ins& n