Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-11-29
q VIRGINIA ADVERTISER
Governor Chamberlain.

J
nsighbor. the National Republican, SO the
Top says. At the time the ''Rspuocau' went
Tor Chamberlain be was leaning in the direc-
ton of the better elements Of his party, and Of
course therefore provoked the hostility of the
violent aud vile crew represented by the Re.
publican.
Are the days Of the republic numbered? 1t
tous the duty OF the American people to elect
llden upon the 7th inst. 1t is equally their
luty to see that be is ioaugurated upon the
4h of March. If a score of desperate and Ut
,crupu!ous leaders can set aside the popular
will at thls tame, there is, Indeed, perious
future for this county
National Republican, February T..
Gov. Chamberlain, Of South Carolina, is at
present receivlog some notice from the press
Of the country in connection with the open let
ter recently addressed by him to Senator Nor
too. 1t may DOT be uninteresting to our read
ers to be Informed something about the ante
oedents of the man. We may remark, en
paSsant, that few years since Chamberlain
was daily denounced by the opposition press Of
The South as being the most corrupt man in
South Carolina, and it was to him, more than
TO any other mao, that the misgoveramsnt
which afflicted his State was attributable.
d d
ward as commissioned officer in company
ol cOlored cavalry upon the seacoast OF South
Carolina duriug the latter years Of the war Chan
oerlain settled down upon Wadmsaw Islaod,
where be engaged In the culture OF See Is;aud
cotton. He catered to the worst prejudioes of the
lately liberated blacksr and actually couspired
with them to prevent the return of their old
owners to the homes from whence they had
retugeed. DR.. McHenry, now of Napoleon,
Onie, who was thea al assistant surgeon 10
sheU uitedStates army, aud stationed on adma-
Jaw Island. uuder the command Of Major Gen
era Scott, then 10 charge OF the treedmau's
bureau, declared 10 leuer addressed to gen.
1lenau in this olty, that six months of the time
which he should have devoted to the care of
the sick was expended 10 preventing a whole
sale massacre OF the whites through the machi-
nations of Chamberlain. Soett, the general
commanding oEce threatened Chamberlaiu
with the ''balI and chain" if he did not cease
his efforts to array the blacks against their old
owners. The Jeokinses Fipps aud others on
WadmaaW Island, can attest the truth OF this
statement. As cotton planter Chamberlain
vas DOT q success. Ii is said that be never paid
his aborers, but of this We know nothiog fur
ther than rumer. At all events he was in needy
circumstances when be took his seat in the
constitutional convention of the State as del.
egate 10 April 1868, aud the 1.-THE form of tho
then embryo governor was covered by an army
blanket coat, which. trom It's patched appear
ance, reminded one ofthe historic coat OF many
colors. 10 this convection Chamberlain ex
hibiled all the traits OF the demagogue. He
introduced, aod supported at length, resou-
ton asking the general government to appro-
pirate 81 ,OOO, COO to purchase lands for his
homeless constituents. BY just such trickery
he succeeded 10 having bis u"lne placed upon
the State ticket for Attorney General. aud
was elected, aud entered upon the discharge
of his duties when Scott became Governor.
As the attorney general it was bis business to
protect the interest of the State, but We hud
him engaged 10 various schemes whereby the
treasury under the management OF hls friend
Parker, was depleted. The land com mnlsslon
swiudle vas eoucocted by him, as ex-Treasurer
Parker states that Chamberlain got the lloo.s
share 10 this fraud upon the state, getting dol
lars, where G. 2. Leslie and himself only got
cents" During all this time the embryo re
former" was iL dormant state, and was on the
most intimate terms with such men as Moses
aud Wbipper. He was noisy 10 bis denuncia-
uon of democrats, aDd they, 10 turn, hesped
their anathemas upon him. So completely
welded was he to the negro, and 30 bitter was
be to the South Carolios whites that 10 1871,
when his ,ufant child deceased, he called 10
colored preached named Harris to perform the
last rites over it's remaius. 10 1874 the mis-
government of Moses rendered it necessary that
new leader should head the ticket, and Cham
berIain Was nominated for Governor, reeelVlog
the support 10 the convention OF Whlpper and
others whom he now denounces. SO unpopu-
lar Was Chamberlain that the receiver of the
bank Of the State had to be brought into re-
QUESTION and over $40, 900 of that institution
was msapplled in ge;til & him elected. Ihis
is fact well koown to every South Caroinlan
acquainted with the politics OF that State.
Possessing 10 personal magnetism, and with
gu, s,iunabe record, it took bard work to elect
him. NJ sooner had he taken one oath OF
office as Governor than he went back upon
the honest yeomanrY who bad elevated him.
The height of his ambition had been re-
allied, ana finding no other fields to conquer
% the republican side, he at ooce made
somersaut into the ranks Of the opposition.
In June, 1875 Comptroller General Duoo'
while examining the vouchers of the treasury
discovered the loss Of $3.50, 900 worth OF e'u
pons which, after redemption, had oeen ao-
stracted thereirom ty Niles 9: Parker, the late
treasurer A suit against Parker tor the re
covery of the amount was at once instituted, !,
and tho defendant lodged 10 jail in default OF
bail. He was tried 10 July on q civil aollon
aud verdict rendered for the State for $2oo,,,
600, the jury fudog that ooly that sum had
been traced to tho possession of Parker, the
balance, according to the evidence OF one Ladd'
having been appropriated BY chamberlain:
During all this time Chamberlain was out OF
the State. aud declined to render any assistance
in the prosecution of his old friend, the e1,
treasurer. Parker. hssing "a friend at court
10 the person of the Governor, refused to make
restitution. and after remaining 10 jail tor over
amoo,h, where he was frequently visited os
Chamberlain. circuit judge was brought into
requlstion, and the defendant released on straw
bail, his wife becoming his surety for $500,
Thus euded the Parker 6ssco, and yet the tris
was heralded all over the country By the demo
cratic press as being 6ue piece OF reform
work by Chamberlain. Parker is now 10 New