The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-06
HONEST JOHN PATTERSON.
TEE sToRY OF ELS ELECTION TO TIE
SENATE

j.. ...r......s ~
TEE sToRY OF ELS ELECTION TO THI
SENATE
Asigniacant Picture Of Palmetto Poll.
tfos-The Rise and Progress Of an En-.
terprisinY Adventursr.
The pretenslons of "HonesL" John Patter
son to seat in the United States Senate are
just now attracting a large degree of atten
tlon la Washington circles and 10 the press o.
the whole country, and 1t may not be unin
terestlng at this time to briefly recapltulate
the story OF his election at the last session ol
The South Carolina Legislature, the devices
that were notoriously employed by him 10 Be-
cure that election, the exposure that followed
close upon the heels of his supposed success
and The willy stratagems that have been since
resorted 10, to prevent his arralgnment In the
criminal courts to answer his accusers.
The beginning of the scheme 10 elevate this
enterprislng adventurer to the dignity of 9
United States senator ls hardly known. The
plan, however, first took definite shape just
after the success OF the Moses party In the
State campaign, and Its first public manifesto
lions was the opening by MIR. Patterson OF an
extensive Headquarters" in the Capitol
saloon building on Main street, Columbla, q
building devoted to the allurlng bucklng oi
the speculative tiger and the study of the doc
trine OF chances as applied to faro lay. out.
These surroundings appeared congenlal 10 The
political gamester from Pennsylvania, ,and here
nf holt 1uh
were speedily fitted up as the Patterson Head.
quarters. The furnishing of these rooms
showed much care and torerhought. They
were of various degrees OF elegance according
to the various tastss OF the members whose
d, votes 1t was desirable to obtain. In some the
floors were richly carpeted with nolseless vel
vet, the walls were thickly hung With alter
mating mirrors and oil paintings, the liquid
hospitality of the host sparkled In cut-glass
decanters upon rosewood bu6sts, and over all
mellow light was thrown from gilded chan
jelEers. This was for those of the Incoming
members of the Legislature who had scruples,
and who would have been shocked II a bribe
had been called brlbe, or spade spade.
Other apartments there were, however, for
those dusky "honorabes" whose previous
views OF nature had been from the vantage
ground of the rice field or the corn patch, and
who would have been Ill at ease in the midst
Of magni6cenee. With native dellcacy MI.
Patterson provided for them a place which
was quite In keeping with their untutored
taste, and with their previous education. This
was large square room, with walls that
were not only innocent of decoration, but de-
er.z The floor was thickly strewn with saw.
dust, and the only attention which 1t received
during the whole campaign consisted OF the
addition Of more sawdust. A row of benches
occupied each side of the room, and few
strong chairs were scattered about, while, in
the centre of the room, stood table, resem-
bling ia Its general architectural design
carpenters bench, but surmounted with the
GROWING glory of the apartment-a Jug OF
corn whiskey. Here the rural members were
entertained after their own heart, and when
the eventful time OF voting for United States
senator. arrived, they testified their gratitude
by shouting Patterson.
Meantime the other candidates for the sen-
atorship had also hung their banners on the
outer walls, and established their respective
headquarters, Congressman R. B. Elliott haV-
ing taken few rooms in a corner house on
Main street jost opposite the statehouse, and
Governor Scott having rented a neat little
cottage on side street. These, however,
were modest and humble as compared With
the magnificent and varied hospitality OF the
Psttersonians, and their attempts at bribery, II
they, made any, were as far outdone by the
princely llberallty of the Pennsylvania as
were their attempts at entertaining members
with food and drink.
The election took place on Tuesday, Dscem-
Der 10Th. The result was announced at the
time In the lelegraphic columns of The NEWS,
O. follows:
COLUMBIA, 8. c., Tuesday, December TO-.
: The election of U0ited States senator, 10
the place OF Senator Sawyer, wnose term ex-
pirea on. March 4, 1873, took place to-day. ana
resulted in an overwhelming victory LOT Jonn
+. Patterson, the head-centre OF the Blue
Ridge Railroad Ring. According to law, the
vote was taken In the Senate and IN the
Houss as distinct and Independent bodies, aud
IN no candidate had received majority vote
: In :boih houses, a joint session would have
been held to-day, when the candidate VINO
received q majority on Joint ballot would nave
!, been elected. The wires OF Patterson, now
ever. had been 30 skllfully laid that he was
elected; on the second ballot in the Senate,
and on the frat ballot In the House, ms oppo-
: nents failing to make even respectaoie SNOW
OF opposition, o,.
> The announcement was followed by scene
:, 0f the Widest confusion. Among the fatter-
:: eonisns the excitement was Intense, ana the
4 cheering made the walls OF the Statenouse
eroan. The victory is now In course Oh cele-
bratIon at the bar-room where Pattersons
headquarters have been during the canvass,
and champagne and whlskey are flowing ike
water.
Before the sun had set upon this triumph,
however, the corrupt devices which had pc
cured 1t recoiled upon their author. few OF
the members Of the House of Representatives
had refused the bribes offered by Patterson or
his agents, and they had, further, In the Inter-
ests of pnblic justice, gone before Trial JUS
tice 3. q. Eirk and made the following sf1da-
Wits to the facts Of the attempted bribery:
AFFIDAVIT OF n. 9. MILLER.
South Carolina, County Of Richland.
Personally appeared before me, Z. H. kirk,
trial Justice In and Tor said county aud State,
N. 8. Miller, of Fairfield County, member OF
the South Carolina Legislature, who, upon
oath deposeth and says:
n ~ INF