The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-03
HONEST JOHNPATTERSOM.
A Sketch of his Career-Cold Comfort fol
the New Senator.
From the New YORK SUM-

the New Senator.
From the New YORK SUM-
ThIs Individual, known in Soutf. Carolina as
Honest John, will appear on Tuesday next tc
| take his seat as United States senator from
| that State.
The first transaction In which the public
generally became acquainted with Honest
John was on occasion OF the election of q
United States senator from Pennsylvania In
1863, when he was examined by committee
ot the House of Representatives OF that State
on questions touching bribery and corruption,
alleged against that immaculate statesman,
Simon Cameron The committee, In making
their report, state that "Mr. Patterson agreed
with Dr.. Boyer"-a member of the House Of
.preseDtatlvrs-"Lhat he (Boyer) should
have $40, 900 If he would vote Tor Mr.. Cameron
for United States Senator, subject, however,
to the approval OF Mr.. Cameron; aud Mr.. Pat
terson aiterward informed DR.. Boyer that
Cameron was agreed 10 the price"
Ofcourse Mr.. Patterson denied the money
part of this negotiation, bat he admitted all
The Interviews which had taken place be-
tween himself and the other parties. The
committee, however, and the House OF Repre-
sen;atiyss were thoroughly eaLished that The
bribe vas offered, and that Patterson was the
tool use6 by Cameron. This was proved by
the passage OF resolution by the House on
the l4th ef April, 1868. requesting Inc GOV
ernor to instruct The attorney-general 10 In
slitule criminal proceedings against Cameron,
Patterson, and Two others. No such proceed
lngs were ever Instituted. The attorney
general could not legally prosecute them; and
the local prosecuting officer at Harrisburg
was In the interest OF the accused.
Some three years since, Honest John turned
a, H,r r,,li, q q
buzzard alights near the shan bles. He snufed
The carcass that was waiting 10 be picked.
Columbia was The field where he ant such as
he could win and wear laurels. During the
period of his residence In The unfortunate
Palmetto State his employment has been en-
tirely consistent aud regular. Having learned
his profession In Pennsylvania under the
tuition OF an able master, he piled IL In t;olum-
bla with zeal and success which lew have
matched and none exec led. II h. has had
any other business In South Carolina than
developing and carrying through by leglsa-
tive aid schemes OF public plunder, the public
have EOt heard OF 1t.
Finally honest Johns experience and sue
cess In procuring legislation in the Interest OF
his own projects and those OF his confederates
satisfied him that he could be elected 10 any
Office In the gilt Of the Legislature he had 30
often manipulated. He old not hesitate 10
announce, weeks before the election that he
Intended 10 be elected; and that me wo9Io
pray for it, and, If needlul, pay for 1t" he
said he had The money necessary, and could
buy all the votes he wanted. He even went
90 far as 10 declare this to the correspondent
of New York newspaper, adding that ne
"didn't care who knew II, though he would
not like TO have 1t printed"
And he was right. He was elected on the
first trial aud arrested tor bribery the same
night. The news of his election and arrest
appeared In all the Journals OF the country
the next morning. He was bound over 10
appear for tria lbelore the Circuit Court at Co
lunbia. He still awaits that trial, lnasmuch as
from some rregnlarily In summonlng the
grand Jury, whether conlrlved or otherwise, the
whole panel was quashed at the recent term.
Some months must elapse, therefore, before
the caRe will come up.
4 Finding, however, that the odor Oh bribery
hn The election was somewhat unpleasant. IL
was contrived that he should be arrested
ksw days after his first arrest. and brought
before trial Justice, who undoubtedly had
Isuficlent inducement 10 discharge him, as
Ihe did. Thus The attempt has been made 10
convey the impression TO the public that the
charges of bribery against him have fallen
through. 1t s well understood IN Soulh Caro-
lima That the second arrest was Wnat In slang
phrase Is called put-np job to convey false
impression 10 the public.
1t remains 10 be seen whether this man,
who has no single qualification Tor the office,
and who comes to the Senate covered all over
with jobbery aud corruption, will be permitted
to take his seat in That body without an in-
yeslgalion iuto The means by which he BE-
cured his election. II he comes In unques-
TONED, 80 much the worse tor the Senate.