Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-14
APROTEGE OF CAMERON.

The developments In regard TO the cleo
ton Of United States Senator by the South
Carolina Legislature, make the affair still
more disgraceful. The Washington CORES
pendent of the Cincinnati Commercial
writes, Dec II, as follows:
"Mr. J. j. Patterson, the Senator-elect
from South Carolina, VINO has since his cleo
ton been arrested Gu q charge Of bribery,
halls from Pennsylvania. He was formerly
editor of the Harrisburg Telegraph, Gen.
CamerOn's organ. In 1864 he ran for Con-
gress Ia The Nineteenth District of Penn
vauia. and was defeated. During the war
he was interested with Cameron in the
mule and horse contracts, the ex-
posure of which resulted in Cameron's
expulsion from Lincoln's Cabinet. About
five years ago he went to South Carolina
and Joined Gov. Scott, and the ring that
plund6red that State and ruined its credit.
Like Scott, he managed to make large sum
of money, and then became ambitious Of
political honors. Two or three weeks be-
fore the Senatorial election in South Caro-
lima, Patterson visited Harrisburg and was in
CONSULTATION with Gen. Cameron, his son
Dom Cameron, and several other members OF
the Pennsylvania ring. 1t is stated by promi-
nent Pennsylvanial.s here, who are said
TO be familiar with the facts and circOm-
stances, that Cameron raised large sum
Of money for bis friend aud protege-some
say as much as thirty Thousand dOllsrs-fOr
the purpose of securing his election TO the
Senate. At all events Patterson went to
the State Capitol of South Carolina with
some IF. y thousand dollars, and gave out
that he intended to spend that amount on
his election, Of course among his friends.
Patterson's plethoric purse frightened e.
lott and Sawyer, the other prominent can
didstes, to such degree that they did not
make any fight.
st appears, however, that Elliott, who is
ambitious to be Senator, put ups jo5' on
Patterson, to use a common phrase, in con-
junction with some Of his negro brethren
in the Legislature, with view to cisquaiiiy
him for the position. Elliott, so the story
goes, advised his colored friends In the
Legislature to take Patterson's money and
then turn States evidence against him.
Patterson, it is alleged, paid at the
rate of $500 to 81 900 each for
votes, and altogether his election will
cost hin about $4,000. As soon as the
election was over the negroes proceeded TO
carry ou5 the programme as prepared By
Wit to the effect that they had been bri5ed.
Psterson's arrest followed. a curious cir
cumsiance of the election was That James
l.. Or was a warm friend OF Patterson
1t is stated that Senator Cameron urged
upon TIE President the nomination of Orr
for the Russian mission, and that the con-
sheraton, so far IS Orr was concerned,
was that he should help Patterson. The
impression here is that the negro Elliott
W Il, after all, be elected Senator"
The Washington correspondent Of The
Cincinnati Gazette, Grant organ, says;
at is telieved by we'll informed observers
here that the whole proceeding thus far i
paIt Of a deliberate arrangement amonI
corrupt colored Republicans to obtain Pat
tersoH's rewards, and subsequently, to cleo
Elliott" The Elliott who appears to hay'
played 20 prominent part in this case o
biihery and corruption, is a negro membe
of CoGeress from South Carolina, an
should he expelled from the House c
Representatives, if he is guilty Of half tina
is laid 10 his charge. Neither should Pat
terson be allowed TO come into the Senate
The exposure of these corrupt practices ar
enough to bling republican governmen
iato coniemp'. They are the legitimat
out cropping of carpet-bag rule, which ha
been encouraged and upheld by the Grant az
ministrstion, not only in South CarOlint
but in ether Southern States, for instanc
Louisiana and Alabama. When shall "
have an eud of this seeihing corruption?