New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-28
SOUTH CAROLINA.

GRIMES AND SHORT CoMINGs OF THE ExECU-
,,vr LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIARY-oFFIcEs
SOLD. JUDGES BRIBED. AND LEGISLATURES UT
rrRIY CORRUPT EDUCATION PHOSPHATE -
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS WHO CANNOT READ
AND wRITR AND SCHOOL FUNDS sToLEN-THE
PROSPECT FOR REFoRM-IssUEs OF THE PEND
ING CAMPAIGN.
fyRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBuN~J
CHARLESTON, S. c., Sept. 17.-In his frank state
liant of opinon TO the representative of The TR1B-
rxr heretofore published, Gen. Chamberlain, the
Rennblican candidate for Governor of South Caro-
tina remarked that things are not so bad as they
are generally painted" Herein think the Generals
honest soul deceived him. That the Government OF
South Carolina is corrupt and that the people are
oppressed is universally believed, but have seen
no picture of the South Carolina of to-day that
brings out in colOrs too strong the knavery pervad
ing every department of the Government under the
administration of Cows. Scott and Moses TO pub
lish in detail the items of which one learns III
weeks soourn in Columbia and Charleston, II wou'd
he necessary TO fill every column of a trple-sheet
Tppryv Rnt here are some of the conclusions
drawn from conversations with men of all parties
the accusers and the accused-and stated as con-
cisely as the facts will allow.
THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
This department is now and has been since Recon
structon shamelessly venal and corrupt gov
Scott bribed the Legislature to pass every act by
which the public debt was increased or burdens I'M
posed upon the people The increase of the state
debt during his two terms of four years was ABOUT
s15OoOOOO and the excess of taxes over necessary
EXPENSES was about S2OO0000 more. Gov. Moses has
not increased the bonded debt OF the State for the
hest Of all reasons-the credit of the State has be-
come so low that no one would purchase its bonds;
INT he has sold public Offices levied backmail upon
no contingent fund for two wears,
received large sums of money from claims passed by
,be legislature and has generally been so lewd I'M
nrincpled and dishonest TO make the rascally adj
minstratou of Scott his predecessor, comparatively
respectable About S3,6OO,OOO have been collected
from the people during the last two years for State
purnoses the amount levied for the counties Is over
a OOOOOO more These vast sums have all been paid
ont and still large floating debt. contracted WITHIN
the time named remains due to the creditors OF the
State and the several counties. About lOOO crni-
mails have been pardoned by the two Governors
although many of them were cOnvlctedot the Dlack-
est crimes. committed without any extenuatng cir
cumstances. On the whole, the Executive Office
has been prosttuted for partisan, sOrdid and selfish
ends and the administrations of Scott and Moses
ore TODAY absolutely without apologistS. 1t Is
nrohable that Moses IS no worse than Scott, but the
crimes of Moses have been committed In an open
defiance of decency and reckless disregard OF
consequences which have caused many OF his frlends
10 entertain serious doubts to his sanity. what
ever evidence he may have given OF brllfant
intellect. Driven from the Gubernatorial chair by
the votes of many who shared in his villainy,
he proposes to reGnter public life as LEGISLATOR
and he and Congressman Elliott will be candi-
dates for the Speakership of the House OF Dele
gates and Chairman of the Committee OF ways ana
Means of the same body-places now sought only
e rxrTble oh hpV
THE JUDICIARY.
1Y,rae .Jps+ices of the Supreme Court, Circuit
Jndres. Probate Judges and Trial Justices constl-
tute the present judiciary of South Carolina. The
Constitution provides for the election OF Justices OF
the Peace in the several counties and makes 1t IN
cumbent on the Legislature to prescribe by law the
mode aud time Of election. Six years have passed,
and this matter has been wholly neglected Instead
of obeving the mandate of the organic law INC
Assembly passed an act authorizing the Governor 10
appoint Trial Justices allowing them III some cases
large salaries to be paid by the countess ana III
others enormous fees derived from the same source
few of these Trial Justices are honest ana capapie
men. but large majority of them are Ignorant
ranacious and VIGOROUSLY corrupt Many cannot
write ANYTHING more than their own names, Jew
cannot write al all the preliminary education OF
large class has been obtained in the cotton held OF
ON the nee plantation. They are the bane OF the
State-a nuisance that cannot be too soon OF
Zoo summarilv abated. The Probate Judges
are the only judicial officers who are elected by the
people and there has been less complaint ABOUT
them than any other of the judicial class Ihey are
generally men of only moderate Abilities Dut as u
rule are far-minded and try TO be honest lhere Is
one in each county. The Circuit Judges. eight IN
number. are elected by the General Assembly. lhey
are all native white men, except Judge Carpenter OF
VIM * cl1Ssed with the car
pet-bagpers but commands respect as not only
consistent Republican, but an honest man and able
LAWYER None of them ever held any judicial posi-
ton before the war. With two or three eXcep-
tons they are not regarded as very aDie
men; but with a single exception none
hes been charged with corruption. On the whole
tbe Circnit bench ia about as good as could have
been expected from the material before the Leglsa
ture and better than could have been expected from
The composition of the eecting body. The Chle1-
Justice Of the Supreme Court, Judge Moses, Is Tie
father of the present Governor. lie has been ac.
cused Of taking bribes but have not found proof
10 sustain the accusation. his son. however, hds
Rreatinfuence over him. and the truth seems to be
that in matters in which the Governor has per
bonal interest the Chief-Justce ALWAYS hnds
The law TO be on that sde. Judge WI
lard was q lawyer of good repute III
Nev.York before he entered the army,
and is man Of fair parts and pecuniany
honest. Judge Wright, the remaining Associate
Justice. is negro without experience or leaning
1t Is freely charged that he is often influenced by
pecuniary considerations in his decisions Inc
story goes that there is a feud between Judges
Moses and Willard OF a constitutional difference III
structure of mind which causes them nearly always
to disagree Judge Wright then has the casting
vote and be is said to place it at very high Valua
100. t.ooo.,a ,..olttv and ariStOCratlc, AS