The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-20

which now presents ITSELF This conflict is
the Presidential election, which will be in
the North acrimonious, and in the South
violent and bloody Presidential election
which will shake the country to its founda.
ton, yea more than the late rebellion
We hear already every day as we pass along
the streets the threats of war-of what is te
be done when the Democratic party getE
into power. Now, gentlemen, / propose te
review in brief way the history of the Re
publican party in South Carolina, and shall
particularly touch upon the administration
of my distinguished friend, Daniel h
Chamberlain. I have no personal attack tc
make, it is not my mode of warfare, or if il
ever was, I have abandoned it. On the
contrary, I have been Mr., Chamberlain.
personal friend. / have done everything
could to advance his interests every time he
has been candidate for public Office. But
his administration is the matter to which
refer. / disspprove of his administration
and if he was my own brother would op.
pose him. Every step that he has taken he
has had my hearty cooperation and gooc
will. But / do differ from him in the mode
and method in which he has set to work
that out. Governor Chamberlain was elect.
ed by the Republican party, and I propose
to state this evening What consider to be
the feal issue between him and the Other
wing Of that party. 1t has been flashed
over the wires and published day after day
in the public prints. 1t has been stated by
the Governor, or rather by his organ or or
gans, day after day, that the issue is between
Governor Chamberlain and honesty and the
Republican party and den Of thieves.
the issue is whether he hos kept feal.
ty with that band of men who by
their sufrages placed him in power, You
remember that election. Too vile for me
to repeat were the malsdictions, curses and
denunciations that were showered upon hi:
head by the Democratic press Of the coun'
try but we stood around him and took the
pelting storm and hurled back their cries Of
thieves and robbers, and bore him triurn:.
phantly into the gubernatorial chair.
state, without fear of contradition, that from
the day he entered the Office of Chief Magis
trate Of this State he turned his back upon
the men who fought for him and with him
and has sought only to advance himself al
the cost of his allegiance to his party
[Cheers.
Now let us see who these men were, and
do not wish that anything say should bs
construed into any thing like q personal at.
tack upon the Governor. I undertake to
say that the men who are denounced as
thieves, robbers and liars now, the Govern.
or was then in daily personal and official
relation with as attorney-general Of the
State. He knew them then as well as be
knows them now, and If they were good
enough to raise him to power they were
good enough to stand by and protect. ALI
the corrupt work of the State Legislature
since reconstruction was done during the
year 1858 to 1871. during Governor Scott's
term of Office The increase Of the bonded
debt, the endorsement Of the Blue Ridge
bonds, the issue of conversion bonds-that
was all done, not under Mosess administra.
ton, but while he (Chamberlain) was the
law officer Of this State. I defy any man to
point to single vicious act done during
Governor Hoses's administration. These
reforms were oil undertaken under that ad-
ministration. Public opinion, moulded by
that almost omnipotent power, the public
press, had reached the Legislature, and
under Governor Noses administration the
great reforms that could be accomplished
were accomplished. The reduction of the
lie debt, and almost every reform that was
in the statute book, was placed there during
Governor Moses's administration. l do not
say that it was done by him, but it was done
by public opinion in spite of him. We
have heard great deal about the reforms
effected by Governor Chamberlain. What
are they? The saving of sec. 900 Of the con-
tingent fund, nothing else. And, on the
other hand, there is the Big and Little
Bonanza, which saddles the State with
$500 Well, sir, the Governor was
elected after bitter contest, and the
around with spirit Of forgiveness that e1-
celled that displayed in the Sermon on the
Mount-forgave his enemies, blessed then,
despitefully used him and persecuted him.
You are asked to say that this Governor has
represented the Republican party properly.
say it. He has said that the men who have
voted for two certain judges in this State are
q gang of thieves. did not vote for them,
so this epithet does not apply to me. Bul
one hundred gentlemen in this hall did vote
for them. Are they willing to say that il
applies to them? How were those men
elected judges2 The Governor; instead OF
talking to his friends, demonstrating with
and advising them, saw fit to use the goad
and lash upon the party from the time he
came into power until now, and he used
that goad once too often, and that is the
reason why they were elected.
desire to state here-and do not think
violate any confidence, for it did not come
to us secret-I heard on the streets and
read it in the papers that the tax bill, as
originally reported by the committee Of
ways and means, was drafted by the Gov
emor himself, and was reported by the colu-
mittee exactly as he had drafted it. That
powerful paper, Che Ne,us and Courier, opened
an ugly fire on the committee, and when
these denunciations were at their height, did
the Governor come to them and say, this
bill is perhaps too much upon the people
We had better reduce it? MOI He says not
a word. But what did his organ say2 Why
that Governor Chamberlain stood like bull
wark against the thieves, that he was tower
of strength against the peculations of the
rogues upon the pockets of the people.
am trying to show that that was not q just
charge. If the Governor had said that the
bill must be reduced, and had devised means
for its reduction, there might have been
some grounds fer the charge; but the Gov
enor would not do that He would notsay
anything until the bill was cut down, and
then he approved it. He is no ordinary
man. You who see him in his calm, quiet
moods do not know him as l know him
He is o man of splendid ability, as brave as
Cesar, as ambitious rs Napoleon. He is
bold, daring and ambitious. If he were in
France there would be coup Gctat, and he
would be king, just as he has tried to be
king Of the Republican party here. lap.
plause.] Under and over all that apparent
control he has deliberately planned this
campaign, and he is deliberately carrying il
out, and l observe here that some of these
men, cowed and lashed by his arbitrary as.
sertion of power, are even now crouching at
his feet. 1 was born free, and by Heaven
will die free! call no one master but my
God, and when the political lash is applied
lay no claim to the lofty forgiveness of my
friend. cannot kiss the hand that smites
me, nor turn the other check to him who
smites Istrike back [Applause. In my
judgment Daniel H. Chamberlain has been
numbering the Republican party from the
hour he became Governor of South Carolina.
As he is my friend shall spare him; but
when he meets me in the conflict, there
shall be no quarter.
We'll sir. NAV be asked where Is the