The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-09-07
Highest Style Of the Art.
TxxB NEW YORK TREBUNx OK
WHlTrKM0HE
raE MARTyaED MEMBER.

] TdE MARTYRED NEMDER.
| y , - 7. '---s Il
Mr.. b. F. Whittemore, member of
tho late House OF Representatives from
the First Congressional District Of South
Carolina, was found guilty upon ire
fragable evidence of official corruption,
Ii. e., of selling a oadetship at West
Point. He said that ho sold his ap-
poioting power and ofioial, authority
that he might give the nouey to his
uesdy constituents. A more extraordi.
nary plea never came from representa-
tive-it waa, 10 fact, the confession of
new crime. Finding himself in q tight
place. Whittemore saved himself from
expulsion by reaiyoiug; he went back
to his constituents, aud they, grateful,
doubtless, for his poouniary consolation,
sent him back to tho same Congress
the House not caring to stupify ITSELF
and being, by the provisions of'ths con.
stitution, sole judge Of the qualifications
Of its own members, returned him his
credentials. His grateful constituents
showed signs of sending him still to the
next Congress; but Mr., B. y. W., in q
letter exhibiting tho virtuous exaltatiou
Of Mr.. Pscksnitf, and thinking it doubt
full whether the next House would prove
moro plaeabie than the last, has de-
olincd in a letter of mingled dignity,
wrath, aud sorrow. He recites his
many services to the body polite; he
declares modestly that for "ive years
and more he has been identified with
South Cardinals destiuy;" II have
tried" he says, "to d. my duty wher--
ever duty called )" he suys, ~ have re-
ceived," he declares, "gcnorous mnjori-
ties "my acts," he urges, shave been
veal; )" aud here am, he might havo
said as good as twice kicked out oi Con-
gress, aud with every prospect, should
1 be re elected, of being Kicked out a
third time Aud all through "Logau
tho willfal deceiver !" 81 am the victim
"of All unprecedent and unconstitutional
"act. The sacred rights Of electors
shave been subverted! Magma Charta
"has been despised!! Law, reason,
"justice, precedents, have been disgra-
"ced!!! We, the governed, have no
"longer the prerogative to say who shall
"govern US |" Aud all through tho
assumptions of "Logan, tho willful de-
oeiver." Verify, Mr.. Logan has great
deal to answer for. Aud so on, through
quantities of what we must be excused
for calling tho very purest fabdood!e
Hold hard Mr.. B. f. Whittemore
Stop moaning and grooming and signing
and turning up the whites of your eyes
for moment! Don't you see tho main
question is whether or not you took the
money! You were either knavish or
foolish, and, in either case, you have
proved yourself to be unfit for a seat in
the House of Representatives Wheth~
or you be an ass or something morally
worse, does not make the least difference,
except to your own conscience. A man
who, in perfect innocence, commits a
peniteutiary offence isn't the person
to assist in makingthelaws of the Repub-
lie. He may be modle of mature
picty, the most patriotic creature breath
ing, very incarnation Of benevolence,
but the place of honor and safety for
him is the private station.
Yet we should not fail to express our
admiration to Mr.. Whittemore's course
in refusing to be again a candidate.
Whatever credit he is entitled to, let
him, in the name Of common humanity
receive. He keeps off the course, he
tells US, lest by permitting himself to be
reelected he might "coufuse his best
aud trucst friends" His "iriends" will
be grateful, or at least they should be.
We assure him that there are very few
Republicans in the country who will
not be profoundly, thankful to him for
the self sacrifcing spirit which he has
exhibited. He reminds us, in some
sort, of these gentlemen who, aftor
compulsory emigration to ponal set
tlemcnt, declared that they cleft their
country for their couutry's good" Go,
Mr.. Whittemere, if such arc your fee:-
ings-go, wherever you please (provi-
ded tho officers don't nab you for tho
penitcntary), aud may you DO happy!
As the pr.l. said to Gil Bias, "Wo
wish you all manner Of prosperity and a
little more sense !" Your misfortune is
that you have been found out. I'm
doubtedly there were many members Of
the last, as there will be many members
Of tho next Congress, who are not bit
better than the unhappy Whittcmnrc
but they we're or will be shrewi and
sharp fellows, knowing how to cover
their tracts. The fact is, Mr.. w. Gf
we may credit his letter. is altogether
too good for Congress, and if he shon!d
be sent back to Washington, he might
be like the simple. minded girl. VII"
used to inform the Justice of the Poace
that she "was ruiucd again"
-.------oS-.-------
| MARNIisO LIFE.
Good counsel from q wife and IN 9TH.