New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-26
MR.. CHAMBERLAIN'S RECORD
THE CHARGES AGAINST HIN DISTINCTLY
STATED.

| BLUsHING FRAUD-MR. CHAMBERLAIN GENER-
ALLY BELIEVED TO BIZ A PARTNER IN THE
cRIME-wHAT HIS ASSOCIATES SAID or HIM.
To tie Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Several Republican newspapers in tho
North and notably The Boston Advertiser and The Phla.
dephia Press have recently taken up the defense OF Mr.
Chamberlain the candidate OF their party for Governor
OF South Carolina Their zeal In his behalf proof that
they familiar with the facts Of his Official career
Attorney General OF the state during the admin
strations OF Gov. Scott Mr. Chamberala's brilliant tai
ents and thorough carbohydrates very the poll
cians who have to the surface in the South since
reconstruction began-have obviously impressed the
editors of these journals that they ready accept
his professions OF desire to form the kingy
rupt government Of his State genuine and put full
faith IN his assertion that he has stood entirely aoof
from the carnival OF plumber which has riot at
Columbia since 1863. Unfortunately the facts do not
warrant such confidence In Mr. Chamberans character
and professions. During the years and 1872 had
occasion 10 make careful inquiry could be made
by outsider into the conduct prominent officials
in South Carolina and particularly into the gigantic
frauds practced by certain Of these officials upon
the people Of the State and upon capitalists In NewYork
and elsewhere in the matter OF the issue and sale OF
lawful bonds to the amount OF many millions OF dollars
Very reluctantly was brought to the conclusion that
Daniel H. Chamberlain innocent these frauds.
The facts which led to the conclusion. briefly outlined
follows
All the various kinds OF bonds issued by the state
Government disposed OF under the direction Of
Financial Board composed at first OF Gov. Moses, Con-
trollerGeneral Maggie. Attorney General Chamberlain
and Treasurer Parker. Aferward, at his own request
l believe, Nagle dropped from the Board. On
Chamberlan's sole recommendation. II. H. Kimpton, q
college classmste Of his appointed financial agent
OF the Board to negotiate the State loans in NewYOrk
Kmpton "a curbstone broker. without property or
responsibility. Millions OF dollars placed In his
gave was his own recogniZlnce. Gov. Scott, when
asked by me why he had accepted such bond said
that he did not examine 1t thoroughly, because Cham
berain had told bin it all right. All the acts for
the OF the State debt drawn by Cham
berain They were very cunnngly worded. Instead
OF authorizing the issue Of bonds definite amount
they authorized sufficient amount 70 be Issued TO raise
given Of money. wide door was pdrposely left
open for fraud here. The Board could put out any
amount Of bonds they dc, and report whatever
sum they chose the net proceeds. Finally, when the
credit of the State exhausted when the Railroad
Ring under the lead Of John Patterson, had stolen all
the valuable interest OF State in the Greenve and
Columbia Blue Ridge and Spartansburg, and Union
Railroads.; when the Real Estate Ring had
made way with all the landed property OF
the State which they could put their hands on
when the Legislative Rug under Moses had
emptied the Treasury aud put out certificates OF in
debtedness by the ream when the Land Commission
Ring had sucked that dry the Bond Ring as the
four officials above named, their New-iOrk agent aud
their Columbia bankers popularity designated, hit
upon q shrewd expedient to raise money The bonded
debt OF the State had been TO about s?O0OO and
il was plain that Walst. would touch a issue
adding to the total OF the debit bill prepared by
Chamberlain and put through the Legislature ID
February, 1872, IL remember right known
as the conversion bond act This act authorized the
issue Of species OF bond IN exchange for any OF
old bonds out the osensibe object being to simplify
the debt by converting all into kind Of obligation
What the real object is only too well known now to
the swndled purchasers OF these pretended securities
six millions OF these bonds sold or hypothecated
by Kimpton in New-York, and not cent Of the
money he got for them ever used 10 cancel any
portion OF the Indebtedness Of the State What he
aud his feowcOnsprators in the Bond Ring did with tho
money remains a mystery This audacious sgindle was
first exposed in letters The TRIBUNE written from
Columbia the Fall OF 1s72 At its next session. the
Legislature repudated the entire issue OF conversion
bonds took steps to punish the perpetrators OF
the fraud. It's action from no yrtuous motives.
Moses and his confederates had been allowed 10
share in spOls OF the Bond Ring and this their
revenge There a swlnde inside the big bond
swndle which may well mention here. Lest the
public should become alarmed at the large number or
the bonds the market, the numbers were dnpli
Gated. After series had been issued with blue num-
bers Kmpton put out another with the same numbers
stamped in red ink.
Now as to the proof OF Chamberain's connection
with these outrageous frauds. He says In recent in
teryew With TRIBUNE correspondent that he had no
knowledge that they we're committed. and complains
that it is unjust hold HIM responsible for the acts OF
Board Of which he only one member The pubic
cannot admit this plea. II he had been member OF
band of assassns who had committed murder, could
he escape punishment his statement that the
Others throtted the victim against his protest Z
Would 1t not be necessary for him explicitly 10
prove his innoceDcei We have only bis word
for it, that he not conspirator With Scott
and Parker in committing an Infamous crime. Let US
what the evidence is against him besides the fact
that the fraud committed and he was a member Of
the Financial Board which guilty OF it, Gov. scott
asserted that he was himself innocent aud that
Chamberlain and Parker, in conjunction with chat
rascal Kmpton" put the bogus bonds. Maggie inti
mate that Chamberlain in the same boat with tho
rest Parker professed innocence, aud expressed
establishment that Chamberlain should try 10 wash his
hands OF the affair rybody IN Columbia in and out
OF the Rings declared that he the chief consprator
in the whole iniqulty.
The bond swndle makes page OF recent South Caro-
lima history well known to everybody that State aud
TO the victims in NewYork. That IL perpetrated
by the Board OF which he member, Mr.. Chamber
lain will deny. Nor will he assert that he publicly
denounced 1t or made any effort expose the
villainous scheme while IL In progress. For him
now to ask people 10 believe his unsupported word
that he was wholly Innocent Of these transactions and
that Scott and Parker the guilty ones, taxing
human credulity beyond endurance.
All that has been said OF the education and aesthetic
tastes OF tho exAttorney General Is true. He 10 the
only gentleman by instinct and training the whole
motley crew OF South Carolina carpet-baggers. He
associated with the dirty crowd Of strikers and
briOe-ta who made State House noisome den
No man can better about the relations Of the
two IN the south, or point out more sensible
remedy the existing troubles than Chamberlain He
Will unquestionaby make better Governor II elected,
than Scott or Moses. Possibly he will make an honest
one, and endeayor to accomplish some reform, for