The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-01-27
WHnPPEIrS CONDEMNATION.
His TRADE Against Chamberlain and
the Newspapers. .

His TRADE Against Chamberlain and
the Newspapers. ,
The full text of Whipper's speech ap-
pears in the journal ofthe House of Rep
resentatives for Tuesday, January 18th.
He rose to question of privilege, and
said:
Mr. Speaker, in stating my question OF
privilege, I shall not occupy the time OF
this House, nor annoy myself by stating,
in detail, the matter that is familiar to
YOU all, as it is to every school boy
throughout the length and breadth of the
land. A few weeks ago, by vote of this
House, I and with others were elected as
Judges, and since that time the .Ne,os and
Courier, together with other journals,
have heralded all over this country ru-
mors OF most damaging character;
Under ordinary circumstances 1 would
not make the slightest reply, but ! feel it
is due to the members of this body who
supported me; it is due to myself, and l
feel that it is due to the public, in whose
ears these rumors have been ringing for
almost four weeks. l have no other
means of replying to these defamatory
articles, interviews and speeches that
have permeated and poisoned the air
from Maine to Texas, from the Bay OF
Fundy to California, as malicious as they
are unjust. It is nothing new, it is true,
for any man, however limited his public
life may he, to be abused. Tt seems to be
peculiar characteristic of newspapers to
do so and even Washington, when he
was President, was slandered in the worst
possible manner, and the best men OF
whom this country can boast have been
maligned and slandered in every possible
way. I could bear with it if it were not
a duty that feel I owe to those to whom
l am indebted--to those who elected me
to resent it. ,........ .....
Those who have thought proper to de-
fame and accuse me, and these to whom L
shall address my remarks are, first, the
News and Courier as a newspaper, and
Daniel Fl. Chamberlain as an individual.
Mr.. Rice rose to point OF order, that
the gentleman was speaking to question
not affecting him as a member OF the
House of Representatives.
The Speaker ruled the point not we'll
taken,-for the reason that if the charges
made against MIR. Whipper were true, his
right to sit as a member Of the House of
Representatives could be questioned, as
the House of Representatives has the
right to judge not only of che elections
and returns for its members, but also of
their qualifications, moral as we'll as con-
stiturional i,
Nh. Whipper: I shall not be surprised
at any tenierfootedness from that side OF
the House. have privileges upon this
floor. and I believe they will be accorded.
Mr.. Rice: raised the point, not out
of any personal feeling, for had l been
present should have voted for you in
preference to the present incumbent, H..
P. Reed).
Mr.. Whipper: I thank the gentleman
for the kindly feeling he expresses to-
ward me, but 1t has passed beyond that,
and / am not speaking particularly of
what has been said against myself; but
after what has been said, there is nothing
that cannot discuss with impunity un-
der a question of privilege. There is not
a man in the Democratic party who has
not done everything in his power to in
lure me ard deceive those who supported
me on the 18th of December last, 80 that
I feel there is scarcely anything can say
but what would be in defense of what has
been said against me, and what has come
to the knowledge of every member here,
and every member is familiar with it.
At the time was interrupted, l said 1
proposed to address myself on this cues
ton particularly to the Ne,cs and Courier
as Journal, and to Daniel FL. Chamber
lain as man. In this fight they appear
to be strangely united, which is the last
thing that v should have expected; (; but
this alliance is fact we'll established and
endorsed, and 1 will show its formation,
and see upon what foundation it stands.
We have only to go back to the second
day of October year ago, land have
the authority for what I say chat same
paper styled Daniel II. Chamberlain a
thief, and said he was responsible for the
issue of six millions Of bonds, and
| foisted them upon the people of this
State" They hurled over the country
that he who was by law appointed to
protect the State. instead of doing so, by
his advice and direction SIS an officer of
the law, and as an officer of the special
Financial Board, placed upon the market
these bonds. have the Neaos and C0u-
rier's authority for saying he did it. The
Ne,ts and Courier now lauds him to the
skies. Why this strange association, if
Daniel n. Chamberlain was responsible
for the issue of six million dollars of
bonds two years ago2 By what process
is he now an innocent man?
How can they join hands for the pur-
pose of opposing those who have been
elscted to positions they don't want them
to occupy? 1t has strange meaning to
me. One gentleman went so far, and the
Neps and Courier copied his speech, as to
say chat Daniel H. Chamberlain, by his
acts, imposed on this State six millions
of bonds; and if by any proposition he
can extricate himself, let him do it. The
Ne,cs and Courier published it, and !
have it before me now, and yet the lips
of Daniel b. Chamberlain have been
silent to this day. I only speak of this
that may get at the character of my ac-
cusers.
Mr.. Speaker, this is what they have
said about Daniel 81. Chamberlain, and
it would be needless for me to say it is
from the Democratic side; but to say
what Daniel H. Chamberlain has said
about them, would be to charge them
with everything that would imply venali-
ty, corruption, and everything that his
Imagination, and it is a very fertile one,
could suggest. have not looked at
them from my standpoint, but from their
own. The only thing that pains me is,
that they painted each other so black
that have no language that will deepen
the color.
They have charged me with corruption
generally. I make no pretentions to
being q saint There are few men who
attain perfection in this world. I will
tell you what the offenses l am charged
r i