The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1875-12-23
Governor Chamberlain.

I1eHls sald TO be paved with good
intentions, and the same may be said
of Governor ,Chamberlain's message
to the South Carolina Legislature
now in session at Columbia. We
think, however, that Mr.. Chamberlain
deserves some consideration for his
promise Of reform, but VIC must confess
that wo have not much faith either in
his sincerity or honesty. IIo comes
of class for whom we can havo but
littlc respect or in whom wo have not
oVor much confidence, no matter how
far their promises of reformation.
The carpet baggors rs class have
been q curse to the South. Thcy
havo risen to power on tho miSfor~
tunes of our people and havc grown
rich at our expense. Governor Cham,
bcrain belongs to that class. lie is
man of liberal education, q polished
speaker and finished writer. He has
all the attainmcnts of n gentleman,
but all the vices of n carpet baggcr.
LILO ought to havo been honest. He
has boon as corrupt as Scott or Pats
torson. But Governor Chamberlain
is now q rcformer. Having seen tho
errors of his ways, he desires to make
amends for the past and be ,virtuous
and honest for the future. This is in.
deed most commcndablc and His Ex-
cellency ought to bo encouraged in
his vlrtuous intentions. Whenever a
man exhibits repentance for his mis-
doeds, he is worthy Of forgiveness.
But when political advcnturcr cx-
presses contrtion for being associated
with rings which have plundcrod the
State and robbed and outraged the
people, he should mako restitution be,
lore he can expect the people to have
faith in the sincerity Of his promises
or confidence IN the honesty Of his
conversion. When Governor Cham
bcrain gives back to the State the
money which ho has obtained by
doubtful means, the people will have
confidence in tho sincerity of his con-
version. He will then be honest and
reform professions will be sincere.
This man came to South Carolina poor
in this worlds goods: he had nothing
! but an army blanket and carpet bag,
and now he is said TO be rich. How
did he mako this money? Did he
not make it like Scott and Ncaglc,
like Patterson and Parker, like Hur-
ley and Moses Whilst these men
made money, tho pooplo-tho honest
tax pay aycrs-lost It, These mon plun~
dcrcd the pooplo.
We havo no confidence in the prom.
iscs Of the political vulturos that have
fattcnod on the misfortuncs of the
people OF our sister State. Wo re-
cognlze no difference between an un-
blushing and unconscionablc political
hummer like Tim Hurley and q pol>
ishcd, schcming carpet baggor like
Chamberlain. Hurley admits that he
had but ono object in going to South
Carolina, and that was to steal the
peoples money by species Of ras-
cally legislation. Hurley says that
'yhcn he has mado sufficient money
out Of the people he stands ready to
turn the State over to tho gentlemen
Of Carolina and then quit it. Scott
and Cham bcrain and the rest Of car,
pet Daggers and native traitors have
also robbed the State. Tho truth is
that they have all stolen until there
is not much left to steal. Unlike
Hurley, these political adventures
and unprincipled rascals are not wills
ling to turn the State ever to the
gentlemen. Now they assume vir-
tue that is foreign to them. They have
become conservative because thcy
wish to save the money that they
have unjustly taken from tho people
undcr the rascally and corrupt legis
lation of tho past seven years. They
have tho money Of the people, and thoy
wish to become respectable, and at tho
samc timo holding places of political
prctormont. AS VIC started out in this
article by saying that we had not