The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-08-10

j RODA / AUUUOl !U, L
GOVERNOR CHAMBERLAIN AND HIS
CLAIMS AS A REFORMER.
Southern Republfcanism Failure.-Un-
constitutional Exercise of Authority
by President Grant-Mr. Chamber.
Iain,s Administration Imbecfle, and
RepubIicanism on the Wane In South
Carolina.
Editors Columbia Register:
South Carolina is in deplorable con-
dition, resultant upon the continued eS-
istence of an imbecile Radical govern
ment, the present administration being
no less SO than its predecessors. No one
doubts Mr.. Chamberlain's abilities and
accomplishments, but many of us would
like to know what semblance of q claim
has he to be called a reform Governor ?
What has he reformed? Has he re-
formed the negro? If so, in what re-
spect? Has he reformed the carpet-bag-
ger? Where and how? Has he reform
ed our system of levies, whereby our
taxes have been diminished? Our
property is less valuable this than last
year; our ability to pay taxes less this
year than last, and yet the taxes are
about the same or not perceptibly lower.
Has he reformed the politics Of the State.
Or does he propose to reform them ex-
cept to his way of thinking? And are
his ways our ways? Has he reformed
our financial status, whereby our State
securities have appreciated? They are
to-day purchasable at fifty cents in the
dollar. Has he reformed his system OF
appointments, because he hunts up a
Democratic Treasurer in Edgefeld after
searching in vain for Radical with
whom he could trust the county's funds
Has he given the body polite a single
symptom of reform, except by way OF
promises and intentions? And do we
not know that good intentions are the
devils own?
No, Messrs. Editors, Mr.. Chamberlain's
administration is as imbecile towards
effecting good government as was the ad-
ministration of Moses or Scott. AS citi-
zens, we feel no change; as lockers on
in Vienna we may see less corruption.
And so it will be to the end of time,
until South Carolina is governed by an
Executive of her own choosing. A Re
publican, as Republicanism now exists
In South Carolina or elsewhere in the
South, can never give quiet and content.
ment to this State. Republicanism all
over the South is failure, and no less so
in South Carolina, simply because itsub-
iects intelligence to muscle; capital to
brute force; the white man to the negro.
And in South Carolina it never proposes
to do anthing else.
Mr.. Chamberlain himself does not in
tend that intelligence shall govern in
South Carolina unless that intelligence
shall be directed as he proposes, and not
as the owners of South Carolina desire.
He avows on all occasions his Republi-
canism, and what does that mean In
South Carolina but imbecile, corrupt and
despicable government? MIR. Chamber.
lain does not wish for any other kind OF
government, and his loud professions
cannot be believed because his acts be-
tray him, and acts speak louder than
words. He would to-day subject the
white citizens of South Carolina to the
rigors of military surveillance and clan
destinely incarcerate our most prominent
men. If he would not, wherefore this
recent location of ftroops in Aiken County
without his knowledge or consent, as he
foolishly asserts?
According to Mr.. Chamberlain, this is
an exercise of authority on the part OF
President Grant, which, if practiced in
Massachusetts-Mr. Chamberlain's OWL
State-there would be an insurrection in
twelve hours. Does any man of sense
for moment think that the Governor oi
Massachusetts would sit quietly with
folded arms and express ignorance and
surprise if President Grant were to quar-
ter troops unexpectedly in one. of his
quiet little villages?
What would Governor Hartranft have
thought last summer if, while the miner;
| were striking terror into the people Of
West Pennsylvania, and actually defying
the powers of the State, President Grant
had infested that territory with United
States troops? And yet what are the
facts in our case?
| Mr.. Chamberlain is suddenly sum.
moned to Washington by the Secretary
of War and the United States Attorney
General. In an interview with them
and the President, he depicts the horror:
of the Hamburg emeute in exaggerated
colors, and denounces the citizens O.
South Carolina as assassins and murder
ers, and perhaps worse, if possible. lie
returns home, and is interviewed by {
correspondent of the Charleston Meac
and Courier, to whom he reveals the as
tonishing fact that he did not ask fol
troops to be sent to Aiken, did not know
that they would be sent there, and wher
told that'a an order to this effect had beer
issued and was now being executed, ex
presses entire ignorance of its why Of
wherefores. =
If this be true, Messrs. Editors, W.
assert that Mr.. Chamberlain's preroga
tives have been assumed by the Presi
dent, and, in the name of peace and gooe
government, demand that he ask tha
these troops be returned to their barracks
Let Mr.. Chamberlain proceed as any
other Governor would who is fit to rult
over free but abused people.
Does riot or insurrection exist? Ther
let him issue his proclamation and orde
the insurgents to disperse. Has murder
been committed? Then let him offer
reward for the murderers. Have th'
laws been violated? Then let him us'
the powers of his Office to punish thu
offenders. Has he ever taken q single
legitimate step to investigate the Ham
burg affair? Not one, unless his sending
his frightened Attorney General to inter
view that notoriously corrupt, Ignorant
lying Trial Justice was such step.
No, Messrs. Editors, the whole thing
is q subterfuge resorted to for politicaa
purposes, because Mr.. Chamberlain feel
that his greatness in South Carolina is OF
the wane, and unless the Republican
party can be emboldened and bolsteret
up in Aiken and Edgefeld Counties b!
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