The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-21
SOUTH CAROLINA MATTERS.

CHARLESTON, Dec 20.-The Ne,os and Cou-
rier this morning prints an interview with
Gov. Chamberlain ON the subject of the cleo
ton of ex- Gov. Moses and Whipper (colored)
as Judges Of the most important circuits IN
the State. The Governor, after describing
the trickery by which the leaders in the
Legislature took advantage OF his temporary
absence from Columbia to precipitate the
judicial election which resulted IN the choice
of Whipper and Moses, said
81 look upon their election as horrible
disaster, disaster equally great to tho State,
to the Republican party, and greatest OF all to
those communities which shall be doomed TO
feel the full effects of the presence of Moses
and Whipper upon the bench. l did year
ago speak publicly of Whipper, who was then
q candidate for the very position TO which he
has now been elected. Then l denounced
him as incapable and utterly unfit for the
Office Of Judge. OF Moses, no honest men can
have different opinions. Neither Whipper
nor Moses have any qualities which approach
10 qualification for judicial positions.
The reputation OF Moses is covered deep
with charges which ere believed by ali who
are familiar with the facts, OF corruption,
bribery and the utter prostitution OF ell his
official powers 20 the worst possible purposes.
This calamity is infinitely greater in my judg-
meut than any which has yet befallen this
State, or n GIT add, any part of the South.
Noses, as Governor, is endurable. compared
with Moses as judge"
@. What, in your judgment, viii! be the
effect OF the election OF these men'
Answer-The gravest consequences of all
kinds will follow. One immediate effect will
obviously be the reorganization of the Demo
cratic party. within the State, as the only
means left, in the judgment of its members,
for opposing solid and reliable front to this
terrible crevasse of misgovernment and pub
hc debauchery. | could have wished, as
Republican, to have kept off such an issue,
but I have a profound belief in the logic of
events. and Providence too that shapes events,
and do not allow myself to think that the
good and honest men of South Carolina will
find it impossible, because they are organized
as Democrats, to give their help to whom
soeyer will be best able to undo the terrible
wrongs of last Thursday.
am free to say that my highest ambition
as Governor has been to make the ascend
ency of the Republican party in South Caro-
lima compatible with the attainment and
maintenance OF as high and pure tone in
the administration Of public affairs as can be
exhibited within the proudest Democratic
State of the South, and it was also my fond
est hope by peaceful agencies here, in South
Carolina alone of all the other Southern
States to have worked out through the Re-
publican party the solution of the most diff.
cult and one of the most interesting political
and social problems which this century has
presented.
II these results shall not be reached, the
responsibility for the failure will not rest
upon me nor upon the Conservative citizens
OF South Carolina who have hitherto, with
unvarying fidelity and generosity, stood by
me in my work, but upon those who dealt the
cause OF good government so deadly blow
on Thursday.
The Governor went on to say that there
were grave doubts, on constitutional grounds,
of the validity OF the judicial election, as to
four out of the eight circuits, Whipper and
Moses being among the doubtful cases. The
action of the Legislature continues to be the
subject OF great popular excitement oil over
the State