The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-03-28
Letter from Judge Carpenter.
MANCHESTER, N. H.. 4

1
Editors Charleston Courier: -.
GENTLEMEN-Th proper time has come, as
think, to correct some impressions in regard
to the State election in 1870, which, according
to my Judgment, are erroneous. The one de-
sire to, notice in this communication is the
prevalent opinion that the Reform organization
and campaign was a failure. This. view was
semi-officially sanctioned by Gen. Kershaw, the
the Chairman of the Reform Executive Com
mittee who shortly after that election formally
dissolved the party for that reason, and by Gen.
Butler who in his testimony before the ku
Klux Committee, stated in substance, that the
contest was narrowed down to the old party
lines, and that contrary to the expectation OF
the Convention which honored me with the
nomination, my name and labors brought no
strength to the ticket. With the highest re,
spect and regard for both of those distinguished
gentlemen, / may be permitted to differ from
their views, and to suggest, if they had exam
ined the details and studied the philosophy of
that contest with their usual care, acumen and
ability they might have come to different
conclusion. '.ir
In my judgment, the results of that election,
when compared with the Presidential election
for 1868, are encouraging to all citizens who
hate corruption and public robbery, and desire
prudent and honest State Government. In
1868 Seymour aud Blair received in South Car
olina 45,237 votes. In 1870 the vote cast for
me was 5l,537, gain of $500. Referring to
the vote bycounties, it will be observed that in
the fifteen in which Seymour had majorities,
his aggregate vote was 24,748, while the Re-
form vote in the same counties was but 23,264,
a loss of 1,4S4. Our gain, therefore, in the
Republican counties which gave majoritles tor
Grant was 1854. This looks to me like rapid
stride in the right direction. 1t was not the
fault of the Reform party, nor any inherent
defect in its principles or organization that
gave Scott his enormous majority, but the anil
versatility of fraudulent returns.
This, if it were not known by all intelligent
people, would be evident from the returns, for
how is it possible upon any other hypothesis
that I could have received $500 more than
Seymour, and have been defeated by majori-
ty. Il. .S75 greater than that given for Grant
It is neither vanity nor ambition that prompts
me to occupy the columns of your paper in
stating these facts. But the solemn conviction
that the patriotic gentlemen who prepared the
platform and organized the Reform party in
1870, announced the only principles, and in
augurated the only movement that can expel
from power the vampires who are sucking the
hearts blood of the Southern States, and defeat
a national administration unparalleled in the
history of civilization for its imbecility in ac-
ton, and its scandalous corruption.
1t is every day becoming more evident that
the only chance of defeating Grant is to accept,
in good faith, the Constitution as ii is; and for
all honest men, without reference to previous
party affiliations, to unite upon the constitu-
iiona basis of the supremacy of the civil over
the military power, and an honest collection
and disbursement of the peoples money, for
the public welfare With these convictions
and under the firm belief that the eminent gen
tlemen who composed the Convention of June,
1870, presented the right questions in proper
manner, to enable us to redeem our State from
the present extravaganza misrule and corrup-
ton, that are daily devouring its property,
ieopardizing the lives of its citizens and dis
gracing its name, and to hurl from, power the
present dynasty which has endorsed by written
letters, and through its corrupt official minons,
and shielded by its military power, the profit
gate and CORFU pit tyrants who now oppress the
South. l nave thought it my duty to ask the
attention Of the public to the foregoing facts,
in the hope that the admonition not to be
"weary in well doing" will be more eficacioua
when supplemented by the assurance that 'in
due time We shall reap if we faint not"
Very truly and sincerely your friend,
R. b. CARPENTER.