The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-05
GRANT. AND REFORM.
A LETTER FROM JUDGE CAhfES
TEE TO THE PRESIDENT
IS THE ADMINISTRATION BACKING WHIT


IS THE ADMINISTRATION BACKING WHIT
TEMoRE.
We find the following letters in the Ne"
York Sun of Saturday last:
TO the Editor fthe Sun:
sIR-on the 18th inst, the enclosed was sent
through the postot1ce:
Inasmuch as the Presidents letter to Mr.
Chamberlain has been widely published, and
does me and the patriotic gentlemen who are
acting with me injustice, may ask the favor
of an insertion in your paper of my letter
The facts stated are known by all Wel-in-
formed people in South Carolina.
Very respectfully, yours,
R. B. CARPENTER.
Charleston, S. c., September FL.
JUDGE CARPENTERS LETTER TO PRESIDENT
GRANT.
To the President:
DEAR S1R-Enclosed please find published
copy of correspondence purporting to nave
taken place between your Excellency and D.
II. Chamberlain, Esq. Knowing your love Oh
trurn and Justice, feel confident that your
note was written under misapprehen-
sion of the facts, and without acquaintance
with the characters OF the men who are now
ruling South Carolina-men who are bringing
infamy upon the party of which you are the
honored head, and to whichI belong.
Two years ago, when Governor Scott went
into office, the people of this State were bank
rupt; the planter had neither stock nor agri-
cultural implements, or even seed; and the
laborer was without food. The liabilities of
the State were nine millions Of dollars; they
haze been increased more than ten millions.
The Executive officers and prominent men,
bers Of the Legislature were all poor, AID now,
with one or two exceptions, they are rich;
bribery has been the ordinary inducement to
make laws, and open and shameless corruption
has stalked unrebuked through the State Capt.
tol.
To perpetuate this seate Of things, Governor
Scott, in violation of the State and National
Constitution, and of an act to organize the
militia, has raised an army of fifteen thousand
colored men, quartered them in the various
counties, armed them at vast exp.lse, and
distributed ammunition as If on the eve oil
battle. Under an infamous law passed by the
last Assembly, the Governor has appointed
three election commissioners in each county;
they appoint The managers OF elections to re-
,ceive the votes, fix the places for voting, and
receive from the managers all the votes cast
at the different places, count and destroy
them, and their certificate is the only proof OF
The number OF votes, and for whom they were
given, and they are allowed ten days to make
their returns. Governor Scott was applied to
officially BY the. Union Reform Executive
Committee to appoint one of our party in each
county; he declined. Of the ninety-three ap-
pointed, twenty-four are members of the pres
ent infamous Legislature; a large majority of
them are candidates, and they are all, with in
significant exceptions, the corrupt tools Of the
present disgraceful administration.
The convention that Nominated Governor
Scott was packed VITA his creatures, and
where this process did not shcceed, the regu-
lar delegates were excluded and his friends
admitted, as in the case of Senator Sawyer and
mis- co-delegates from Charleston. The chair
man of the committee Oh credentials and plat
form, the prime mover In these outrates upon
party organization and usage, was the Rev. B.
F. Whittemore, who, having been ignomini-
ously rejected by Congress, found congenial
spirits and labor in the State Convention, and
who is now candidate for the State Senate
from the County of Darlington.
In brief, the nomination was fraud upon
the party, as the administration had been upon
the people.
have the honor to be the standard-bearer
Of the 'Union Reform Party" its platform Is
the equality OF all men before the law without
regard to color or previous condition. 1t is
union of coed men against bad, of the honest
against the dishonest, and its object is to re-
form the State Government "0nly this and
nothing more"
have canvassed in conjunction with repre-
sentative men large portion of the State, and
have yet to hear from any one on the stump
or in private conversation any attack made
upon your administration or yourself. If this
movement had been directed against the Re
publican party, neither my name nor influence
would have given it the slightest support.
On the contrary, have everywhere
announced myself member of the Ma
tional Republican party; and that l had
labored for your election and sustained
your administration. A large majority OF
our candidates for the General Assembly
are Republicans; under the, circumstances, it
is difficult to discover how our success would
tend to give ''the control of the Slate to the
enemies Of the party which supported you,
and which supported our armies and main
tanned the Union" Am wrong in denounc-
ing upon the stump the concealment OF facts,
and fraudulent representations, by which
your Excellenoy was induced to write to Mr..
Chamberlain?
have the honor to remain,
Your most obedient servant,
R. B. CARPENTER.
Cheraw, 8. c., September I, 1870.