Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-02-03
GOV. CHAMBERLAIN'S LETTER.

Governor Chamberlain has written letter
of recent date to a prominent Republican
member of Congress supposed to be Mr..
Morton, of Indiana-in which he reviews the
political situation in this State and defends his
own official conduct from the day of his inau-
guration to the date of his refusal to commits
sion Moses and Whipper as Judges. The
Governors letter was prompted by express
ions used in conversation by the gentleman to
whom it is addressed, who looked upon "Gov-
ernor Chamberlain's attitude as in practical
Identification with the Democrats" :" 20 ja.
After briefly reviewing Gov. Moses ad'
ministration and the demoralizing effects it
had upon the Republican party, threatening
its overthrow in 1874, the Governor adverts to
the canvass of that year, quoting the promise
of reform he made from every stump in the
State-the said promise being in compliance
with the demands of the platform of the Re-
publican convention which conferred upon
him the nomination. = He then cites his line OF
official conduct and the effect it produced
throughout the State from the day Of his in
auguration until the meeting Of the Leglsla-
ture last November, and says:
Now what had I done up to that time? chal
lenee contradiction from any source when SOL
emnly affirm that had done nothing; not one
thing which was not pledged by me on every
stump in the State when was candidate not5-
ing which our party platform did not demand; !;
nothing but what every man who now opposes
me declared in that campaign to be indfspensa-
BILE; nothing which you or any other honest he-
publican would not say was rlghtano hepaoEcai on M
This is a broad statement butI defy proof of any
sort in contradiction Of it in any particular. Sup
pose YOU talk with some one in Washington who
is now denouncing me-and 1t certainly cannot
be difficult, Judging from what hear to tind
such. Ask him what Governor Chamoeriain hiat haa
indicated any infidelity to the Republican party
Ask him if had appointed any Democrats to or
flee? If he tells you the TRUTH Will say no. 1or
the fact is that since 1868 were there so lew
Democrats in office in this State as since my ad-
ministration. I know whereof affirm, and will
prove it to YOU if you find it denied. Ask him
further if advocated or approved any measures
Of legislation which were in any possible sense
9nreP1blican or opposed to the Interests ol ene
is not one Ask him if I proclaimed any doc
trines which were not held by the Republican
party. He will not be able to point out one. ASK
him if ever in any way affiliated politically with
the Democracy or had anything 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 matter
with me? Why was disliked or denounced by
some members Of my own PartyY SIMPLY sOt
officers honest expenditures, fair Legislation anu
no stealing, and the Democrats praised me for 1t.
PUBLIC PLUMBER.
These last two things are my offence did
not sanction schemes of public plunder-such as
our Printing Ring, for instance; but the cost OF
public printing per year was cut down from Sloo,
0NO to $50, 900, and contingent funds from $50 COG
to 81, ,OOO and, I repeat, the Democrats praised
me. -,
Now, make this offer; if any man will con-
tradict single statement of fact that have thus
far made will prove him liar to your satssc
Democrats to praise me, can not precisely meas
ure. Some men reason that must be a traitor
because Democrats praise me, but that Will not
quite do, am sure with you. Why should not
the Democrats praise mef Low taxes are popu-
lar, even with Democrats Competent officers
are preferred to incompetent ones, even by South
Carolina Democrats. Honest expenditures OF
public moneys are acceptable to Democrats even,
and mo stealing" is almost everywhere poPu-
lar slogan to say nothing about its being right.
I never asked their praise. If there had been
anything to ask of them, would have earnestly
asked them not to praise me, because their praise
would give pretextt to the Washington Republican
and such sort of people to denounce me, as they
are doing now, as fit only for the Penitentiary.
But they did praise me- they do praise me; and l
confess I don't see how can helpit.
Seriously, sir, if have told you the truth,
ought to be denounced by Republicans as a trait
or? Ought to be considered by you as 'in prac-
tical identification with the Democracy" because
the taxpayers of South Carolina praise me for
doing what every Republican who supported me
in the last campaign said would do, and asked
the people to vote for me because l would DO
Such was the condition of affairs here on the 18th
day of last December. The Democracy of South
Carolina was in perfect collapse. No State issues
could have given them life or activity. 1t is
doubtful whether national issues would have had
force enough to have even induced canvass OF
the State for the Democratic candidates in the
coming Presidential campaign, under the circu1n-
stances then existing.
ELECTION OF MOSES AND wHIPPER.
On the 10th of December last, the General AS
semby, under influences which it is impossible
now to state fully, elected F. j. Moses. Jr., and
W. Whipper as judges of the Circuit Court OF
this State, the latter for the circuit which en-
braces the city of Charleston and constitutes the
most important circuit of the State in point OF
population, wealth and business. Are you aware
who these men are? Moses was my predecessor
as Governor. Unless the universal belief among
all classes of people in this State is mistaken, he
is as infamous character as ever in any age dis
graced and prostituted public position. If there
is anybody in Washington who shall happen to
deny this, will prove it to your abundant satis-
faction. TO mention nothing else out of the long
roll of his offences. here is a specimen: Disap-
pointed in not being renominated for Governor,
he entered into conspiracy with some of the
leaders of the Democracy and Independent Re
publicans to elect my opponent and actually sold
out the Commissioners Of Elections, OF whom he
had the sole appointment to my opponents. Tor
$50 900, of which $l5 900 was paid to him in cash,
and the rest made contingent on the election OF
my opponent. Of Whipper it can be said that he
seeins to have lacked only opportunity to prove
himself the equal of Moses in infamy. Ignorant
of law, ignorant of morals, gambler by open
practice, an embezzler of public funds, he is rs
unfit for judicial position as any man whom by
any possibility you could name. Neither of these
men have even the poor qualification which the
infamous Democratic judges of New York had,
them for the intelligent discharge of any judicial
duty. What has been the result? Their election
has sent thrill of horror through the whole State.
1t has split the Republican party in twain; the
moribund Democracy has awakened to new life
and new hopes. No man who respects civilization
and public decency can do less than denounce
these elections without measure. No decent man
can do less than oppose them can do less than
fight against those who elected them or acquesced
in them. Do you expect us to do in South Caro-
lima what you would sooner lose your right arm
than do in Indiaua2 Such a test indeed could
never arise in Indiana, but it has arisen here, and
you err wholly if you imagine that You, living
here, would, for one moment, think Of tolerating
these elections. You could not do it, and you
would spurn as an insult, the suggestion of sup
porting or acquiescing in them.
Well, what 1 have said and done respecting
these elections is known to you, / presume. l
have done what you would have done-refused to
sanction aid abet the carrying out of this great
crime against society; and again-worst Of all
crimes, apparently-the Democrats praise me.
Now, in the light of what have stated, and I am
responsible to truth and to anybody who ques-
tions or is aggrievcd thereby for what 1 have
stated, what would you have me do? At what
points, in what particular, have identified my
self practically with the Democracy" Is it
treachery to the Republican party or "identitica-