The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-03
Correspondence of Ms Mew York Herald.
. WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1876.

PER AND MOSES.
Gbr.spondspcs,c Of ms New York Herald
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1876.
The political situation in South Caro-
lima and the condition of the Republican
party there are much discussed here, and
some expressions used in conversation by
a prominent Republican member of Con-
gress, having been reported to Governor
'Chapberiain, he has written in reply,
under date of January 13, the following
letter, which gives at some length, and in
very plain language, the Governors view
of affairs in his State, and of the tenden-
cy of the struggle there:.
LETTER OF GOVERNOR CHAMBERLAIN.
DEAR SIR-I have to-day received e
letter from friend who has recently
conyersed with you, in which he writes,
"Mr. -. looks on your [my] attitude. as
in practical Identification with the demo-
Gratis, and already gives up the State
(South Carolina to the opposition"
/ am sure you would not willingly
reach either Of the above conclusions,
and therefore Pam forced to think that
you are greatly misinformed in regard to
the posture of political: affairs in this
State. I am, aware, too, that you, are
greatly and sincerely interested in the
fortunes Of Southern republicans, and J.
therefore conclude that you will listen to
Statements which may be laid before you
though they may not agree with the con.
,clusions which you have already reached.
beg your indulgence while; as briefly
as possible, l. give you my views. of the
situation here. :, 7y.'an!-. - is,.w'.:
:Ex-G Governor F. J. Moses, jr., was my
predecessor in office. During his, term
Of Office the conduct Of public affairs BY
him and his followers was such that b
vast majority of the republican partJ'
became convinced that's thorough reform,
or the promise of it, was the only way III
which the success of the party could be
secured in 1875. For some reason Twas
selected as the candidate for Governor Of:
those who held such views. 1 had been
Attorney General of the State from 1865
to 1872, and on account of my connec.
ton with public affairs here during that
period I was distrusted by many republi-
cans, and my nomination was hotly con-
tested, ON the sole ground that / was not
likely to carry out the promised reforms
of our party. Upon. my nomination,
though / had pledged myself in every
form to immediate and rigid reform, a
bolt took place, embracing many of our
best and most devoted republicans, who
refused to support me because I could
not, in their judgment, be trusted to car
ry out practical reform. Myeiection was
Gercely contested by those republicans
on that ground alone, while my friends
and I stoutly asserted, by our platform
and speeches everywhere, that if I was
elected thorough and complete, reform
should take place. I was elected by a
majority of II 900 votes, as against ma
iorftJy of $4,000 for Moses two years pre-
yious and 10000 for Scott four years pre-
vious, this reduced majority being solely
due to the distrust of me and my sup
porters by considerable wing Of our
party on the single issue of reform.
THE GOVERNORS WORK. u...'t
took my seat as Governor December
/, 1874, and I addressed myself earnestly
to the work of keeping the pledges | had
made and the pledges made for me by all
my friends and by our platform in the
campaign. I soon found that many Of
those who supported me in the campaign
and had talked reform did not want re-
form but persevered, determined as a
matter of right and of good policy, to adj
here to my party platform and pledges,
Of course, those who disliked practical
reform cried out, '"He is going over to
the democratsw "He wants social re-
cognition from the rebels p and all the
rest of those senseless cries such as you
now hear about me. Still I persevered;
and when our Legislature met in Novem-
ber last there was apparent harmony be-
tween me and my party, and a complete
acquiescence in the, wisdom of the policy
Of reform as carried out by me. The re-
suit was that at that time the democracy
of this State was disarmed and. had no
hope, apparently, of even nominating a
separate State ticket in opposition to the
republican party. Neither under the
guise Of tax unions" or the "conserva-
tive" party could they or did they main
tain even an organization worthy the
name. The leaders could not persuade
the masses of the white people that they
could secure any better government than
they were enjoying under my administra-.
ton.
Now what had done up to that time?
7 challenge contradiction from any source
when / solemnly affirm that I had done
nothing; not one. thing, which was not
pledged by me on every stump in the
State when I was q candidate; nothing
which our party platform did not de-
mand; nothing but what every man who
now opposes me declared in that cam
paign to be indispensable; nothing which
YOU or any other honest republican would
not say was right and republican. This
is q broad statement, but defy proof OF
any sort in contradiction of it in any par
ticular. Suppose you talk with some one
in Washington who is now denounclng
me-and it certainly cannot be difficult,
Judging from what hear, to find such.
Ask him what Governor Chamberlain
had done before these recent judicial
elections that indicated any infdelity to
the republican party? Ask him if 1 had
appointed democrats to Office If be tells
YOU the truth he will say no, for the fact
that never since 1868 were there so few
democrats in office in this State as since
NV administration. I know whereof |
affirm and will prove it to you if you find
it denied. Ask him further if | adyo-
Gated or approved any measures of legis-
lation which were in any possible sense
unrepublican or opposed to the interests
of the republican party. He cannot
name one, for there is not one. Ask him
if proclaimed any doctrines which were
not held by the republican party. He
will not be able to point out one. Ask
him if ever in any wav affiliated politi-
calIy with the democracy or had any
thing to do with them politically, nearly
or remotely. He will not be able to point
out any such action or tendency OF any
kind or degree. What, then, is the mat
ter with me g.? Why was disliked and