The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-01-27
sbor,ld he rlad at this time to discuss

nv individual connection with both OF
them if I felt that would be safe in so
doing. If felt that no advantage would
be taken of my words, I would gladly un-
bosom myself so far as my connection
with those transactions 60. Some two
years ago Committee was appointed to
inquire into one of these Commissions.
T went before it and used my own Ian
guape, and that language has served them
the purpose of raising the howl that went
from one end of the land to the other,
and vet no man, not even Daniel IL.
Chamberlain, much as he boasts of his
learning and legal lore, has been able to
put his finger upon one single illegal
transaction of mine, notwithstanding l
have stood and ever shall place myself in
defiance of my calumniator. / call upon
him to name one. When before that
Committee I answered every question
fairly as it.was put, yet they have been
busiiy engaged since in spreading it over
the world that I am defaulter. If am,
1 say they are derelict in their duty as
officers. I am aware that the machinery
is being completed to convict me and
others that the Jury Commissioners are
being changed, and that juries are being
organized for conviction if they can get
one. do not propose TO put anything
in their mouths that they can use against
me. There is no transaction of mine
that 1 am not willing to meet. But
pass from this. am charged with igno-
rance and incapacity.
Mr.. Speaker, that is question that
this House passed upon in the election,
and there I leave it; but the men who
make this charge are not fearful OF my
failure on the bench through Ignorance
or incapacity, when ] take my position,
but ii is success that they are afraid of.
Could they convince themselves in their
widest imagination that defeat would be
brought about by ignorance and incapac-
ity, they would not now raise this cry
against me, for that would be sufficient
ground, in the first place, for impeach-
ment, and, secondly, it would be the sum-
nit of their ambition to see negro fail,
and thus Danish from their visions the
horrors of negro Judges for all coming
time.
The next charge is malignancy and
venality. Mr.. Speaker, it seems to me
that it comes in bad taste, indeed, for a
newspaper like the Ne,os and Courier,
that has, itself, shown such an amount Of
spleen, or from q man like Daniel b:
Chamberlain, who has shown such hatred
and ingratitude, to charge any man with
malignancy and venalitY. If the Nens
and Courier is to be believed, there could
not be a more venal man than Daniel II.
Chamberlain walking Gods earth. /
hesitate not to say that the very floors OF
the Ne,us and Courier building, the walls,
the roof that protects them, we're pur-
chased with money rung, illegally, from
the taxpayers, and will stand forth as a
monument of their venality so long as the
walls shall last. These are the men who
are talking about venality and corrup-
ton. This paper that talks about my
venality has, since reconstruction, been
bought and sold oftener than negro
slave in ante bcllum days. -,
But, Mr.. Speaker, I have been charged
with being drunkard. l make no re,
ply to that. I feel that 1 am too we'll
known. have spent ten years amongst
those whom I now address. If in your
Judgment it is true, give the Ne,cs and
Courier and Daniel H. Chamberlain
credit for telling the truth once; If it is
not true, simply pass it by,
1 am also charged with being a gam
bier. / have been. This I place in the
past tense. I do not propose to deny
anything that is or has been true. My
gambling belongs to the degenerate days
of tho past, and they are gone forever;
Almost one year ago, in the presence OF
INV minister, with the congregation
around me, 1 pledged my God that they
were gone forever. My name was regis
tered in the Episcopal Church-the VOW
recorded in heaven. feel that God has
forgiven me, and care not for the men
who are now circulating these rumors to
injure me and deceive you.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, taking it in the
light Of all they have said, the men who
have said it, and what these men have
said, one about the other, the difference
that has existed, is it reasonable to be-.
lieye that these are the real causes OF
their abuse7 I answer, MOI
Mr.. Speaker, the great trouble with the
Democracy in this State is that they see
a growing power passing from their grasp.
They announced it in their resolutions at
Hibernian Hall. They admit that by the
election of Moses, Wiggin and myself,
the lower country, possessing more than
one-half the Republican voters in the
State, has passed from their control. In
one Of those circuits, within the last year,
with 6. Conservative Judge, they had es-
tablislled a terrorism little less than that
of Jeifries. 1t was not that they had
anything against any particular man, but
they had already laid their plans tor
three Conservative Judges in those cir.
cults, and through intimidation and fraud
to carry the State, but these plans were
spoiled, and they are frank enough, OF
rather fool enough, to admit it them
selves, :.
Mr.. Speaker, the great blow was aimed
I believe, at myself, and that Wiggin and
Moses were linked on as an apology, that
the world would not believe that they
were fighting me on account OF my color
So far as Judge Wiggin is concerned,
they know, Us we all do, as we are well
acquainted with him, that the charges
are as false as they are malicious.
So far as Judge Moses is concerned, l
am not here in his defence. If he were
member of this House he would defend
himself. 1 do not hesitate to say that
whatever may have been his career, they
could not paint it blacker, nor in more
glaring colors, than the Mews and Courier
painted Daniel Fl. Chamberlain. Taking
the administration of the two men, the
one they are trying to abuse and the one
they are lauding to the skies, the facts
will show that almost every measure
looking to reform in the State had itf
origin during the administration of Moses
1 am not here with any bleaching pro-
cess to wipe away his sins or foibles'
With regard to him, they say it can be
proven that he was purchased, to sell out
the Republican party ct an hour when
Daniel II. Chamberlain was struggling
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