The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-07-16
An Interesting Interview with Senator
Robertson.

An Interesting Interview with Senator
Robertson.
A reporter of the Charleston Nea0s and Co~-
rier recently interviewed Senator Robertson, of
this State, and cleaned from him many impor-
tant facts concerning the attitude of the Pres
ident and Congress towards the reigning cor
ruptionists in South Carolina. We shall
endeavor to epitomize the most striking express
sions of the Senator, regretting that our limited
space debars the publication Of the entire in
terview.
Mr.. Robertson says the sentiment OF the
North is greatly in favor of the honest people
of the South, and against the corrupt govern
ments prevailing here. The President is COM
pletely disgusted, andis very positive IN insist
ing that the party in South Carolina must purify
itself. Mr.. R. told the President that the mass
of the people in this State, white and olacK'
intelligent and uneducated, believed that the
United States troops were kept here tor the
purpose of sustaining the State government
President Grant replied that the people had no
right to believe any such thing; that the
troops were not kept here for any such pur-
pose: they were only here to enforce the laws
of the general government. Also, that he
would infinitely rather see the State govern
ment pass into the hands of the Democratic
party than that the corrupt crew now ruling
should remain in power. But the general
government cannot help to reform existing
abuses. The people of the State-the voters
must redress their wrongs at the ballot-box'
Attorney General Williams said, some time
ago, that, in the event of the continuance of
the present corrupt government in power,
should the taxpayers of the State refuse to
pay the taxes, the United States would not
lend its assistance to enforce their collection,
and Mr. R. fully believes that the President
would not permit the United States troops to
interfere.
Senator Robertson thinks Congress is, pos
sible, more sore about the corruption existing
in Louisiana and South Carolina than the
President; and very naturally, for the reason
that all the blame for this state of affairs at
taches to Congress, which is especially the case
with the Republican members who have to
carry the load. Mr.. R. assured the President
that the mass of the white people care nothing
about politics. and all they want is an honest,
capable local government, to obtain which they
are prepared to support any honest, competent
Republican who may run for the office of Gov
ernor. He confesses, however, that he does
not see any hope for real reform in the near
future, and he would not consent to be can
didate for Governor under any circumstances,
because his health would not permit it.
Mr.. R. believes the best policy for the con-
servative voters to adopt is to vote for an hon
est man, no matter who is nominated. The
concluding sentences of the interview are as
follows:
I have heard that many of the white voters
intend to vote for Moses, because they think
that the struggle will be hopeless one, any
how, and that it will be best to perpetuate the
present administration in power--for the reason
that it is so notoriously corrupt that it must
soon come to an end. This is mistaken poll
cy. If you do this, how can you go to the
General Government and ask it to depose the
very men whom you have yourselves helped to
put into power? Such policy, besides, would
tend in great measure to check the current of
public sentiment at the North, which IS now
very much incensed against the corruptionists
in this and several other Southern States. This
Sentiment means something; the course OF the
New York Times and of Harpers' Weekly, two
Republican journals, which were formerly very
bitter against the white people of the South, is
significant. Their denunciation of the frauds
perpetrated here under the cloak of RepuDli-
canism has had most wholesome effect. But
if the white people of South Carolina should
take any such suicidal course as that to which
l have referred, it would certainly go great
way towards turning the tide of popular senti-
ment against them, and undo all the good that
has been done.
Reporter. Is it true that the United States
troops are to be withdrawn from the State?
Mr.. Robertson. have heard that the Federal
troops have been, or are to be, withdrawn from
Louisiana; but don't know that the troops
are to be withdrawn from this State.
Reporter. You seem to think that the COM
ing election will result in no change for the
better? What will the President do in that
event?
Mr.. Robertson. If the present officials are re-
elected, or if there is not a decided change Tor
the better in their successors, | firmly believe
the President will refuse to recognize the gov
ernmeut by Withholding the aid it will require
in the enforcement and collection of taxes, in
which case it is bound to fall through. l am
confident that the general government, while it
will protect all of its citizens in the enjoyment
of their rights, will not lend its assistance to
set of men who rob the people and squander
the public moneys.
Improvement of the Savannah River.