The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1874-07-22
Tho President Comes Out Against lac
Corrupt South Carolina Rings.

! OF Oaturday, contains IN interesting
report of al interview held with Sen
ator Robertson, in which tho attitude o
of the President and Congress to.
wards the corruptionists Of this State
is fully exhibited. The views and
purposes attributed to tho President
arc we'll calculated to engage the at~
tention of our people and to confirm
them 10 the determination to relax
no efforts to rid themselves of the
vulgar and deSpicable tyranny which
lords it over them. Wo give tho
material portion Of this interview be-
low:
| Rerorter--Did the President indi..
cate what he proposed doing to help
tho party to purify itself?
| Mr.. Robertson-The President
can do nothing. I said to him that
the mass of the people in this State,
black as well as white, the Intelligent
and uneducatcd alike, believed that
the United States troops were kept
here for tho purpose of sustaining
the State Government. President
Grant replied that tho people had no
right to believe any such thing that
the troops were not sent hero for any
such purpose, thoy were only here
to enforce the laws of the General
Government. He also said to me
that he would infinitely rather sec
tre State Government pass into the
hands Of the Democratic party than
to sec it continued in the hands OF
the corrupt crew who have brought
things to the present pass. Now, [
call that pretty square thing for
the President to say. He wouldn't
have said it six months ago. 1t GER
tainly shows what he thinks of the
condition Of affairs in the State.
Aud there is Judge Bond. You
know what were his sentiments to.
W; rds the South when he first came
here. Well, two weeks ago he ex-
pressed the same sentiments as those
uttered by the Prcsident~-that tho
reign Of corruption in South Carolina
ought to be stopped at once.
, Reporter-But what do General
Grant and Judge Bond propose to do
to help us to reform the existing
abuses?
Mr.. Robcrtson-The General Gov
crnmcnt can do nothing itself. Nei-
thor can the President or Judge
Bond. Tho people of the State
the voters--must redress their
wrongs at the ballot.box. 1 have
heard that Attorney-General Will
lIams said, some time ago, that, in
the event Of the continuance of the
present corrupt Government in power
shcn!d the taxpayers Of the State
ref use to pay the taxes, the United
States would not lend its assistance
to enforce their collection and
fully believe that the President
would not permit the United States
troops to interfere. The Govern
mcnt must protect its citizens in tho
enjoyment Of all their rights, and
will do 50, but [ am confident that
it will not give its protection and
support to bad men who rob tho
people and squandcr the public
funds.
Reporter-What do you think of
the chances of reform inside the par.
ty lines ?
Mr.. Robcrtson--i told the Presi.
dent that there were good honest
men in the Republican party in this
State, who, if they could be elected
would fill the Offices to the satisfac-
ton of the people and administer
public affairs in an honest and
straightforward manner, but don't
think that they can be elected. They
DON'T possess the strength, and I
honestly believe that none of them
could secure tho nomination.
Reportcr-Under these circum.
stances, what policy do you think
the Conservative voters should
adopt ?
Mr.. Robcrtson--I believe the best
policy for the Conservative voters to
adopt, is to vote for an honest man,
no matter who is dominated. l have
heard, since [ have been here, that
many of the white voters intend to
vote for Moses, because they think
that tho struggle will be hopeless
ono anyhow, and that it will be best
70 perpotuate TIC present admlDlstra-
tion in power-for the reason that L.
is 50 notoriously corrupt that it mus
soon come to an end. This is mis-
taken policy. Ifyou do this, how
can youg to the General Govern"
ment and ask it to deposc tho very
men whom you have yourself helped
to put into power Such a policy,
besides, would tend in great meas
uro to check the current of public
sentiment at the North, which is now
much inccnsed against tho corrup-
tionists in this and several other
Southern States. This sentime t
means something the course of the
New York Times anl of Harper's
Weekly, two Republican journals,
which were formerly very bitter
4 onotpck kha xuktfo nannla &c kho Cyo,,kL