New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-07
CADET-WHlTTEMORE.

CADET-WHlTTEMORE
| Whittemore, member OF Congress from
South Carolina, it will be recollected, was
expelled from his seat last winter for hav-
ing sold West Point cadetship for fit
teen hundred dollars. The fact was
proved, and finally admitted by himself.
He pleaded, in extenuation, that the
money was used for a good purpose,
namely, electioneering. Congress prop
erly regarded this plea as lame one, and
passed the resolution of expulsion, not be-
fore, however, Whittemore got his letter of
resignation read at the Speakers desk, at
the last moment, with view to avoid the
disgrace of being cast out. This move,
however, did not serve the intended pur-
pose, for the resolution was passed, and
stands recorded in the archives of the
nation.
The appeal made by the accused, that
the money was devoted to extending the
area of freedom" and ''rallying the waver
ing and the back-sliding around the good
cause"-to use his own threadbare politi-
cal slapg-had but little effect in the body
of Republican members, although there
were a few, par sans to the very marrow,
and of vague Judgment as to the difference
between right and wrong, who were taken
by it.
What aggravated the case in the minds
of many men was, that the expelled mem
Der was clergyman and chaplain during
the war. Thus, according to those who
condemned him most severely, he stole
the livery of heaven to serve the devilin.
The cheek and GOODNESS exhibited by
Whittemore during his trial seem to indi-
cate an absence of moral sense. There
was neither shame, indignation, nor fear
in his countenance willie his case was
being discussed, with O considerable de-
gree of excitement, by his colleagues, and
when the verdict of the Chamber was
made known to him he was not humiliated
or cast down by it. What strengthens
this supposition is, that the day following
his expulsion, he repaired to Sunday
school in sight of the edifce whence the
verdict was pronounced against him, and
addressed the children on their duties as
'good little children ," it is fair to pre-
sumo that he did not fail to advert to one,
honesty, and-for all that is known to the
contrary-perhaps held himself up as
bright and shining exemplar who had
always practised it. 1t is possible that,
by working his mind up TO a hot and
frothy condition, and, possessed as he
seems to be of an imperfect moral develop
ment, be persuaded himself that he was a
martyr. And here, doubtless, is the secret
of his reelection. The voters in his dis
trict are composed chiefly of people Of un-
trained faculties-not from any fault of
their own-who are unable to form any
just opinion touching the case of their
Such material became plastic in his |
hands, when he went among them as |
martyr and class leader. The Reverend |
Whittemore is their preacher, and it is
said camp meeting exhorter of the most
effective description. One can imagine
he effect of his passionate exhortations,
blending the Lords cause with his own,
IN the emotional and unenlightened
minds of the blacks. One can understand
low he talked to them-how he had
prayed and watched in the political
1ethsemane, borne and sweat under the
eavy cross Ct an unjust accusation; been
eviled and smitten on the Calvary of
Japitol Hill, with the thorns of persecu-
ion around his temples. and all this for
hem-his dear, beloved constituency.
They naturally took fire like finder, and
oted for the almost crucifed, in shoals
1t now becomes an interesting question
s to what Congress will do. The South
arolina constituency has the right to a
preventative of its choice, and Congress
eclares him to be ineligible. Going to
10 capital as he DOES, with new creder-
ais, they must swear him in or expel
i'm again.