The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-04
The Colossal Robbers of South Caroli-
na--A Leg gisIature Packed with Scoun-
dreIs, Black and Whttc-Let the South
Carolina Legislature Adjourn to the
State Prison.
Correspondence OF the New York SUM-
COLUMBIA. S. c., December 26.

to lain comfortably hidden by the veil of OBJ.
scurity, and the well filed Golfers of two de-
lectable carpet-bag PRICES have. been made
to9pour out their treasures copiously Into the
depleted pockets OF their colored brethren,
who legislate for their constituency at the e1-
.ceedlngly cheap consideration of six dollars
per diem.
THE CAsUs BELLI.
It will be remembered that e1-Congressman
G. G. Bowen, after his pardon by the Presl-
dent, turned bis eyes toward the Gubernato-
rial chair of South Carolina. His first object
was to ruin Governor Scott's chance for re-
nomination. He took a seat in the Leglsla-
ture. This was easily done. Being sort Of
prince among the unlettered colored inhabi-
tapts of the sea islands, Bowen had merely to
get one of the legislators to resign and signify
his desire to be elected. Upon presenting
himself for qualification In the House some of
the colored members entered protest against
his admission, and the ex-Congre ressman, rs-
ing to explain, promised to expose the frauds
Of The Ring and make the pilferers of the pub
lie treasury disgorge. Having obtained his
seat, one Of the first acts of his new official
career was to introduce resolution for the
appointment of q committee of five to investi-.
gate the alleged overissue OF BONDS; Inc In
committee having been appointed, With Mr.
Bowen at its head, submitted report IN
which they charged the Governor and treas
.urer of the State with having fraudulently is-
sued over six millions Of State bonds, and
recommended that the House s'take imme-
.diate steps to bring to justice those who had
defrauded the State and ruined her credit"
BowEN's FLANK MOVEMENT ON SCOTT.
The recommendation contained iu:this re-
port was adopted as the sense of the House
BY an overwhelming majority, and Bowen
fhararpnp fnnmadtata1v. .fntr06urad q rnqO1n.
ton to impeach Governor Scott and Treasurer
Parker of high crimes and misdemeanors In
office. This was the signal for the fray. Bis
Excellency at once perceived that bis time for
acHon had come, and as promptly began his
Preparations for the fight. His funds were
properly arranged for distribution among his
friends In the Legislature, and market forth
with opened for the purchase Of votes. Dur.
ing the consideration of the resolutions,
Bowen made speech In which he openly ex.
posed the frauds of the Statehouse Ring.
General Whipper. the black member from
Beaufort, fought by his side, and the entire
battle was carried on by these two, assisted
by few struggling colored members and the
handful of white Democrats In the House.
.. scoTr's AABUscADE.
These two newly made Reformers prolong-
ed the battle until the 22d, on which day the
General Assembly had agreed to adjourn for
the Christmas holidays. Their object was TO
stave of vote until the reassembling of the
Legislature, when they hoped to be able to
obtain two-third vote to impeach the Gov
ernor and treasurer. But his Excellency was
too sharp for them. he poured out his money
Tim Hurley swears he spent $l00, 600
bought votes right and left, and Issued pro-
clamstion convening the Assembly In extra
session on the following day, and 80 forced
vote whereby the impeachment resolutions
were defeated by vote of 63 to IL. To those
unacauainted with the wire-workings Of the
Legislature o.. South Carolina, this action
would appear somewhat strange on the part
of the House after 1t had adopted Bowen's re-
port, but the trouble is Governor Scott has
too much money, and having used 1t with an
unsparing hand, can afford TO snap his fingers
at bis opponents.
RorTENNEss UNPARALLELED.
When the impeachment resolutions came up
for consideration the question resolved Itself
Into mere matter OF how much each vote
was worth. Governor Scott, having made
enough money out of the State treasury to
pay the trifling consideration which the mem.
bass of this Legislature demand for their votes,
and Whlttemore, the three reformers, and
laugh their threats to scorn. The highest price,
am informed, that was paid for vote by the
Governor was SIS, 900, and that the recipient
was Dennis, the Statehouse furniture man.
Jimmy, be 1t remembered, was the chairman
lust cited, and as such signed the report de-
nouncing the frauds, and recommending that
its perpetrators be brought to justice. Two
DAYS before the adjournment Of the Leglsla-
ture, Scott sent for Dennis to call at his Office:
The conversation that followed is reported
nearly as follows:
Governor Scott. Well, Dennis, what the
hell do you mean to do about this impeach-
hf,efnncs9
Dennis with wink.) Well, don't know,
Governor, but guess the House means busi-
ness
Governor. Business. the devil! Don't the
scoundrels know that can send one-half OF
them to the penitentlary? Have they not
me? What is the matter with that id rascal
Hurley? WHY'S he raising such howl?
Dennis. I don't know. But Hurley is hand
in glove With Bowen, and means to show
light.
to prevent its reaching the House until alter
the holidays,
Dennis. That's all right, but the House
threatens the committee with expulsion un-
less report is banded them in the morning.
Governor. Well, you will have to fix up a
report, and If you do the proper thing I'll give
you that check, and keep mum about your
1sss $sr: to sell out to me in New York last sum
ut should be stated here that in pursuance
of this agreement Dennis did, on the follow
ing day, submit an informal report from his
committee, which whitewashed the Governor,
and reported that there had been no fraudulent
issue of bonds.)
Dennis. I'll do 1t; but you must manage to
keep Bowen silent BY springing some JOB on
him. It will take about S60,0O0 or $75,O00
more to do the business.
Scott I'll attend to that. You look out for
the report -
The servant (enterlng.) Mr.. -, of the
New York Sun, would like to see your Excel
lency.
Scott. Tell him I'm not In. Go, Dennis,
now, and look sharp after that report.
This terminated the interview, and on the
following day Dennis did actually present the
whltewashed report, and voted against I'M
peachment.
TIN HURLEY on THE WAR PATTI.
Our old friend Tim Hurley, who was from
first 10 last arrayed on the side OF the impeach-
ers, Is exceedingly wroth at the result. The
Governor offered to buy him of, but either
failed to bid high enough, or else Timothy has
struck an honest groove, and refused to be
brlbed. He swears that he will write to the
Sun and expose the entire affair. He has, how
ever, entered into an agreement with those
members whom Scott bought. Scott Is To be
subjected to the bleeding process for the re-
mainder Of the session. Hurley agrees to in
troduce at stated times resolutions of i'm