The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-03-18
Correspondence cSarlssto" Ns''s and Courier
Gov. CHAMBERLAIN INTERVIEWED.
His Entire Confidence in the Innocence and
Integrity Of the State Treasurer.


His Entire Confidence in the Innocence and
Integrity Of the State Treasurer.
COLUMBIA, s. O., March 10, 1875.
In obedience to instructions received from
YOU by telegraph, / waited on Governor Cham
berlain to-day, when the following conversation
took place on the subject OF the cnarges agains5
State Treasurer Cardozo:
TIE INTERVIEW.
Reporter-There is q great public interest
Felt. governor, to know your views OF the case
of Mr. Cardozo, and have called to enquire II
you are willing to make them known through
the Nescs and Courier.
yshould not answer your inquiries fully. The
,nsttar ID one thatinterests me beyond anything
aIse which has occurred during my administra-
flor. and 7 have not failed to read every word
xhat has appeared in the various documents
connected with it, Of course every ir-minded
man holds himself open to the consideration Of
sny new facts or evidence which may be added
fo.the case, or any new arguments basea On tne
facts already developed. Promising this, L do
NOT hesitate to say that Ihave entire confidence
In mfr. Cardozo. Men, many men, friends OF
mine. have come to me, and said: Don't mix
yourself up in this fight; it is no affair of yours,
and you ought to keep clear of it." Now what
sort of advice is this? What do such men taKe
me for? Do they think am going to SIT by
and see Injustice done to q State officer without
opening my mouth? 1t would be damnaDle
cowardiee. III knew to-day there was not an
other man in the world who would speak for
Mr.. Cardozo. I:would all the more stand by him.
r haven't come into this Office expecting'a bed
of roses I am not half so anxious to make
friends or avoid enemies as am to do right;
and. until evidence, facts, compels me to lose
faith in Mr.. Cardozo, he shall have my conh-
deuce and my personal and moral support IN
every form. Well, sir, have examined all the
evidence vet adduced, and find nothing to
shake nv faith in MIR. Cardozo's honesty.
Repo.Sr-Let me ask you at this point, gov
ernor, what has been heretofore your estimate
of Mr. Cardozo? ,..sss. ..
Governor-I have known Mr.. Cardozo init
mately since last summer. He was an early
supporter of mine for my present position. l
think have known his aims and plans, and
say without qualification that | have never
heard one word or seen one act OF Mr. Caroozos
which did not coufrm my confidence IN MS
personal integrity and his political honor @ ana
zeal for the honest administration OF the state
government. On every occasion, and under all
circumstances, he has been against fraud and
iobbery, and in favor Of good measures and good
men. The public do not know the pressure
which has been brought to bear upon me IN
this Office to make me yield my views OF public
duty. Tf had known it myself beforehand,
would never have dared to tsks the Office. But
in the midst of it all, when could count all
the Republicans who seemed to sympathize with
me on the fingers of one hand, there was one
man who never faltered, who never tailed TO
come unasked and stand at my side, and that
man was Francis L. Cardozo. tell you, slr,
should despise myself if did not stand by sucn
q man till the last gun was fired, unless was
driven to believe him q hypocrite and scoun-
drel.
Now, sir, II saw this storm, gathering long ago.
r knew that any man who did his duty as
Treasurer, who lent himself to no jobbery, and
had no private ends TO serve, would make HIM
self the most unpopular man in South Carolina.
Cardozo knew it too I confess I did not ex-
pect to see the element which views the pubic
service as a mere chance to make money able
to make headway as they are now apparently
making against Mr.. Cardozo. l did hope for
better things, but I also expected to find howl
and outcry against any man who did his duty
by the Treasury. do not wish to be under
stood as implying that all who are opposed TO
Mr. Cardozo are consciously striking down
faithful public officer; but every man mere IN
WV
nrpes on this attack upon MIR. CardoZo is not
desire to guard the Treasury. speak now
what eyery man confesses to me when L ask him
the question.
Reporter-But; Governor, what do you say
of the attitude of the Conservatives towards
Mr.. Card61o?
Goversor-Well, sir, think they intend to
do Justice to MIR. Cardozo in the end and so
think of yery many republicans. l do not
wonder at their voting for raising a committee
20 prepare an address That is probably now
the only way to bring the whole case to a point
where Justice can be done. am bound to say
that the conservatives have acted with great
political generosity and patriotism towards me
and my administration. l believe they VIII 90
what they think Just By Mr.. Cardozo, and their
votes in this matter so far indicates no more,
in nv Judgment, than to have the case fully
tried. I cannot believe the vote on appointing
the committee represents their probable vote
on the address Of removal, unless new facts are
developed.
me your views of the case, as presented up 10
this time, against Mr.. Cardozo?
Governor-Yes, sir, that is what desire 10
do. The charges against Mr.. Cardozo en-
brace two general points: First, the funding OF
certain bonds at one time hypothecated in New
York, and the coupons attacneo 10 sucn oohus'
second the dteFon Ss Sf So9 Ss aad eoapons
alleged to have been wrongfully funded, the
scs TO reduce the volume of the public debt
makes no exception of any of these bonds or
COUPONS. All are exchangeable under that
act. IF these bonds and coupons were out,
standing at the time Of the passage. Of that
act, then they were, by the terms OF the act,
exchangeabIe. In funding them MI. GsEdozo "a
simply followed the terms of the act. Ii, how
ever, any of these bonds or coupons were qn-
lawfully outstanding, and knowledge OF TINS TINS
were brought home to Mr.. Cardozo, ne mign1
well have refused to fund them, as he did DO
in the case of some coupons. I do not think
that Mr.. Cardozo would have been guilty Of
any oAense if he had funded any and all cou-
mons which we're made fundable by the terms
Of the act. A strict and literal compliance
with the law would have been all that could