New-York tribune., 1874-05-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.


SOUTH CAROLINA CARPET-BAGGERs.
FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE or NORTHERN EEPUBIr-
CANs-THE NATIVE THIEVES WORSE THAN lin
IMPoRTED-THE PRESENT FLIGHT OF IHE con-
sERvAuvEs HELD TO BIZ LARGELY DUE TO
THEIR FAILURE TO AID THE HONEST RETUBII-
CANS IN ~.
To tho Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: Now that the eyes Of the whole country
have been turned towards the condition Of South Caro-
lima by the recent dele CATION which visited Washington
10 lay before the President ana Congress their respective
memorials 1t may not be out OF place TO say word In
behalf OF the Northern-born Republicans who hayo
made their homes here and who In for their share
and much than their share Of kicks from all par
ties. That there are many OF this much abused
class OF citizens who bav. done their part 10 bring dis
grace this State and on the Republican party, none
know better than those OF us who live here. But 10
charge all or most OF the Ills under which the State sut
fers to them, is to show but slight knowledge Of tho
facts. Scott and Parker have much TO answer for in
suffering the State credit be where II H. But scot
would have conceived have dared 20 execute
such plans OF punder as have been conceived aud
cuted by our "natve young Governor" Moses. Par
ker may have been faithess as State Treasurer but
the native Treasurer, Cardoza, ia worse than he;
but neither Scott Parker received the ndorsement
had the support OF many Of the prominent politicians
OF the Republican party. who happened 20 be Northern
born In 1870 Scott received the votes OF these men, not
because he their choice but because they regarded
him a better man than Judge Carpenter the candi
date Of the "Reform" party, winch embraced within
its ranks all the politicians OF the Old regime and an or
ponens OF the Republican party. Their choice lay be-
tween two evils and they chose the least And just hero
let call your attention some singular mistakes
made in the Northern press Some Of your papers speak
OF Judge Carpenter AN old CarOliniap," whereas
he a native OF Vermont think lived many year,
In Kentucky, hither In 1861 or 1868 70 be- made
RpOis IN "A n
except for the purpose OF getting place and position.
That he opposed % the Republican party bcre for
the asserted namely that II he was elected no
would return the freedmen slavery again. and falling
that, he would not allow their wives and daughters To
wear hoop-skrt is absurd and false In 1874 most or
the NOrthern-bom Republicans living IN the state who
took part IN political airs win the ald ora ItW nauN"
Republicans like Gov. Orr, made the only organized op-
position to Moses and the corrupt wing OF the KeTub-
lcan party which was made IN the state. They uoni-
Tominson, against whom not one charge wh,ca his
opponents could pretend TO substaniae, was made aud
State ticket composed Of men against whose character
no charges Of corruption could be brought Their can
ddlte for Treasurer, Mr. Gdy-not tho south Carolina
Gary whose speech excited Cen Grants fe-a naNe OF
Massachusetts,, had ibeen specially conspicuous while
State Auditor by hs determined opposition IN tho courts
be perpetrated by the last Scott administration. Tlo
Tomnson ticket received the unqualified and earnest
support Of every prominent Federal Official IN the state
among whom were the collector OF the f1ft 31
the DsrictAtorney and the Postmaster at Charleston,
most OF whom had come south after the Theso
made gallant fight, and before tho nominations
led Dy the ami Republican newspapers
to believe that their ticket would receive the votes oe
the native white citizens at the polls. But what di
these same white citizens dol Under the Lead Of Ih5
Charleston Necs and papers " like sort they asserted
IN so many words that while they knew IOmn-on Was
an man, they preferred native, whom ihey all
knew ana admitted to be corrupt aud unprncWed be-
youd measure, to "A Northern Republican, aud 80 5ONo
OF from the polls, while maay othri.
even went far vote for the Moses ucktt hud
the effort purify the Republican party ana 10 gNo
the State an honest administration tailed .
10 the native whites the prOperty-holders, ana h"
men who chiefly composed the late TaNPayers touNen-
ton Gov. Moses great measure - Indebted for bs
eertion Tomluson divided the cOlOrcd vote getting -
or 80 per cent OF IT, and had these native tax payers
been anxious To good state Government a. th'y
denOunce all Republicans who we're not porn IA
south Carolina "carpct'baggers,' the position OF
South Carolina would DC Neiy different nom what IL -
The leaders among the Old regime, which embrace.
the men who formerly upheld Slavery aud always op-
posed reconstruction the or the tuufso
they TOOK 1872, but II IS too late TO remedy ~ 1he|
have steadily refused accept the offers oi assistance
made by Northern Republicans living here, and nave
continually denounced aBd osracised them Without re-
gard to their personal character. They have Jumped
them altogether as "a set Of thevng carpet-bagcers
rDey now turn Congress for the relief which tbsy
well know Congress cannot give, but when th"y could
themselves have wrought with the aid OF the borug
Republicans 1874 had they had the minds, and sense
may add 10 They IeIpng the harvest uf tbor
folly. IL bitter one, but one VI their own SOW
ing w
Charieston, S. C., April 2O, 1874