The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-13
Chanberlaln's Inaugural Address.

We give place in another column to
the address Of Mr.. Chamberlain in the
capitol, on Thursday last before the
Senate and the Bogus E%"uSeof Repre-
sentatives on the occasion Of what he
and his supporters call his lnaugu'a-
ton as Governor Of the State of
South Caro!ina. He seems to he es-
pecially happy and self-col adjacent in
coagratulating himself upon what he
terms the "clearest CON victl0nS ct
duty" and apologies for the usurpa-
ton Of the Office of Governor because
''no r%utrioti0 citizen should shrink
from any post to which public duty
may call him."
A distinguished citizen of our coun-
.ty during the late campaign said that
..Chamherlain could disguise the truth
and gild a falsehond better than any
man he ever knew" and this Inaugu-
raj Address proves the truth OF the
remark, -.
Mir. Chamberlain says, "Our position
80 I'D to the present time has been
within the clear luuitso of our Constl-
Tuition and laws.'~
No one knows better than Mr..
Chamberlain that this Is not true. He
knows, in the first place, that General
Hampton for the Office of Governor
r, celved eleven hundred more votes
than he did, and that he was not enti-
tied t, he inaugurated at all.
He knows that the body which he
recognizes as the House Of Represen-
tstives composed of tifty-nine MEM
hers at most, is not u constitutional
body. The Constitution in Article ii,
Section 4, says 1.-The House OF Repre-
e ,tatives shall consist of one hundred
aud .wenty-four members: and Sec
ton l4th Of The same article provides
that "a majority Of each House shall
constitute u quorum to do business.
He knows. too, that leach House
shall Judge. Of the election returns
and Qualifications nf its memhers,'
and that in violation of this plain
edict of the Constitution that he and
Ruger, the eaves-dropper, have author
ICED a corporal of the United States
army, supported by o file of soldiers,
to pass upon the qualification of Dem
ocratic members of the House OF
Repres. ntatives, and that this cor
poral, at his instance, has prevented
members, dnly elected, ~ shown Ivy
,ne election returns, from taking their
seats in the Legislature Of South Car
Olina.
He still claims in his inauguration
TO be within the constitution and
laws. wht n he was sworn into office
by a Probate Judge, when an ord
nance of the convention of III peo-
ple in 1865 directs that, lat all ihau-
t,uratiops of Governor and I.ieutcn-
snt Governor, the oath Of office shall
he administered 10y the Chief Justice
OF the Supreme Court. or, in his alb
sencs. by one OF the associate JSs'i-
ces.n
The Governor speaks Of a "delibcr-
ate and cruel conspiracy" on me part
Of the Democratic party to take pos
session of the State ann stands 'ap-
palled at the crimes which we nave
committed" in attempting to stop The
carpet-bagger and the negro from
stealing everything that we have. and
SAWS that mo government can rest
with safety upon the eEiorced slavery
or DEGRADATION of o race and yet b"
seeks 10 degrade the white man by
,ernetuatiny the negro aud the car
i,et.bayger as his MASTER; and he Is
also appalled, that the Northern people
nre divided in 1beir syn!pathieS be-
Iw.en the white man and the negro.
II seem that he is alarmed that oar
Northern brethren are beginning 10
think that we have been punished
enough, and that it il time for the
rroperty-owners Of Qle country To-
have n voice in the Government.
He has mourned over phb'lc ahu'
ses.n but does not state his connection
with the various swindles which were
perpatrated OF the State before he be-
came Governor.
He fulsely aecuses the Democrats Of
"wantou murder" to effect the defeat
Of the Republican party and forgets to
mention the Cainboy, Charleston, Po-
mara, Sumter aud Winter Seat af-
fairs.
He makes q slur at the Governor
elect, but Gen. Hampton replies t o his
remarks IN nIimistakahje terms,
which may be found elsewhere.
AS he has done on u former OCCASION
lie told q Enntly crew of whites and
dirty nsgyoes how much lie WAS in
with his beautiful and accom-
VIII, Gis,n whom, re haa 70