The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-07
THE PATTERSON PROTEST..
CAN THE SENATE AFF0RD TO DIaRK.
GARD SUCH HANAPPNALs 3
A short and Forcible Recital OF tho No.
torious Bribery OF tho Legislature.

A short and Forcible Recital OF tho No.
torious Bribery OF tho Legislature.
The following Is the protest. sent on several
days since to Washington, against the seating
of John J. Patterson prior to thorough In
vestigaton into the means by which he se.
cnred his election: -st
To the Honorable the Senate of the United
States: .r4la.
The undersigned citizens OF the State Of
South Carolina, respectfully represent to your
honorable body that they protest egainst John
j. Patterson being seated as senator from the
said State, on the ground, as It is alleged, thai
In order 10 be elected to that position he did
bribe certain members Of the Legislature Of
the said Slate, and did Offer and attempt 10
bribe certain members of said Legislature 10
vote for him ior said senatorehip, at the cleo
ton by said Legislature, In December, A. d.
1872. And In support thereof they would stata'
10 your honorable body: 80 -r.k.ccft
/. That sundry prosecutions for the sfore-
said offences are pending against him and
Henry G. Worthington, his. alleged agent, In
the Court of General Sessions fur Rlchland
County, In the eaid State, all Of which 10 of
record In the Office of the clerk Of the Court
of General sessions for that county, at Colgma
bia, In the said State. 80
q. That, prior 10 the said election, he did,
as 1t is alleged, openly and notoriouely avoW
that he Intended, by The use of money, TO be
elected to said senatorship; and itwas an uE.
concealed and notorious lact that for q con-
siderable time prior 10 said election, that he
and his agents did resort to the means atofe-
said to OBTAIN bis election.
8. That prior to said election he, as 1t is
charged. did offer to buy votes at the rate OF
three hundred dollars per vote, and did an
nOunce his intention to spend sixty thousand
dollars 10 secure bis election, and subsequent
ly to said election did announce that he had
been elected at an expenditure OF sixty thou.
sand dollars. .,
4. That he did attempt and offer to bribe to.
vote for him, as 1t is alleged, Levi Lee and
Isaac Miller, members OF the House OF Repre-.
Duncan, memter of the House Of Represent
tves from 0rangeburg County, and numerous
other members of the said Legislatnre, ino
some Instances with success for his purposes
and In others without success, tte particulars
of which can be asoertained only by such scru-
Tiny and investigation az your honorable body
may order. ts.rs 4
s. Whereof the undersigned would respect
fully request your honorable body that the
matters hersinbefore mentioned, and the
means by which said John ]. Patterson was
elected to the Senate of the United States by
the Legislature Of the said State, be fully In
vesligated, and that he bs debarred from q
seat In Jour honorable body, and that In order
to have such investigation made you would
order before you sucn persons and papers "a
will establish the facts of the case, the names
of which persons and papers the undersigned
will furnish 10 your honorable body as soon %
desired; and they, with perfect confidence.
and for the honor Of the country, commit the
entire matter 10 the hands Of your honorable
body, the undersigned being impelled 10 their
action In the premises by no feelings OF per-
sopa or political hostility 10 the said John J:
Patterson, but solely by the desire that 90 Inn
portant aud honorable an office should not be
filled by auy one against whom such grave
charges have been made prior to proper
scrutiny and investigation.