National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-02-15
CHAMBERLAIN NAKED.

line following has been heralded lar and
near by the White Line press OF the South:
COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. 9.-Senator Robert
son and Representative Rainey called on Pres
ident Grant on Monday last in regard to an
abusive article on Gov. Chamberlain pub
lished in the Washington NATIONAL REPUB-
LICAN, which is generally regarded as the
Presidents organ. In the article in question
Gov. Chamberlain was accused of improper
conduct on tine sea island soon after the war,
with completely in the Parker frauds, and q
host of other offenses. He was denounced as
a traitor and his Impeachment demanded,
and it was intimated that he would be slain if
the Democrats, through his acts, attempted to
carry the State by force. Mr.. Rainey de-
manded of the President whether the article
represented his views. The President said IL
did not. Mr.. Rainey denounced the article as
false IN toto, and told the President the Re-
publican party could only succeed through
Chamberlain"
The above does not reflect the real senti-
ments of President Grant. He stated to
Messrs. Rainey and Robertson, when
called upon by them on the It'll instant to
know his views relative to an editorial
which appeared in the NATIONAL REPUB-
LIcAN of that date. that he had not read
that article in question, and consequently
had formed no opinion as to its contents. and
that he approved of Chamberlain's efforts
to reform abuses in South Carolina, but
thought 'this patting on the backs by
Democrats might be carried too far" The
impression attempted to be conveyed in the
above article, that the President would
sustain Gov. Chamberlain in his efforts to
betray the party, is incorrect and IN
founded. While the President is in favor
of reform and good government in South
Carolina, and every other State, he be-
lieves it can be done with more certainty
through the Republican party, and is OPP
posed to having the thirty thousand Re-
publican majority in that State betrayed
by pretended reforms.
Chamberlain has the confidence of no
class in South Carolina save the old Rebel
Democracy and few men like Cardozo,
who have become rich and arrogant. The
Democracy now pat him upon the back, !"
but when the proper time arrives they will
either allow him to drop into insignifcance
or prosecute him for acts done as Attorney
General, between the years 1869 and 1871.
While member of the sinking fund COM
mission Chamberlain sold railroad stocks
belonging to the State, amounting to mil
lions of dollars, par value, much of which
he bought himself-as one of copartner-
ship, and also for clients, who.paid him large
fees for such professional service. While
member of the financial board, consisting
of Governor Scott, Treasurer Parker and
Attorney General D. Fl. Chamberlain, the
debt Of the State-between 1868 and 1871
was increased from five millions to twenty
millions of dollars, there being nothing to
show for it but the sudden wealth of the
men who composed it, most of whom were
paupers when they went into office. As
member of the Gland commission" by
virtue of his office as Attorney General,
Chamberlain aided in swindling the State
out of 500, 0O0, appropriated to buy lands
TO De sold to the freedmen in order to secure
them homes. There is now nothing to
show for this large expenditure except the
notorious He'll Hole Swamp-the abode of
aligators and snakes-and o few barren
tracts of pine lands, which could not other
wise have been sold for more than twelve
cents per acre. For He'll Hole Swamp the
commission paid $12O, 900, and for other
equally worthless tracts they paid from Sc
TO S15 per acre.
Chamberlain was not satisfied with his
share of the spoils, but actually borrowed
81, 500 from Land Commissioner C. P.
Leslie, which amount he has persistently
refused TO return, claiming exemption
on account of the statute of limitation
There were other jobs of corruption in
which Chamberlain bore a conspicuous
part, but want of space prevents our en-
tering into details. The columns of the
Charleston Ne1os and Courier between the
years 1869 and 1874 will furnish full par
ticulars as to the manner in which Cham.
berlain enriched himself at the expease of
q war worn State.
The Union Herald, a so called leading
Republican newspaper" in South Caro-
lima, which is owned by Chamberlain and
which SO sweetly sings its masters praises,
rushes to the Governors defense and as
certify or question his policy. We have
full knowledge of the political and official
career of Daniel H. Chamberlain since he
entered Office in South Carolina as Attor-
ney General in 1868, and we challenge the
Unign- Herald to an Investigation and
discussion OF his official and personal con.
nection with the frauds and speculations
of the various boards of which he was
member since that time, and certain ques-
tionable transactions since he has been
acting as Governor. Since Mr.. Chamber
lain's organ has made the issue we shall
meet it squarely. We will publish
nothing that we can not prove. The
truth is disgraceful enough to Governor
Chamberlain without any effort on our
part to exaggerate in order to blacken him.
We repeat what we have before said,
that by his course he has been deprived of
all Republican following in South Caro-
lima, and the Legislature should have
courage enough to impeach this pretender,
or place such safeguards around the party
as will prevent him selling it out to the
Democracy in the next election.
Surely such gentlemen as Messrs
Swails, Gleaves, Elliott and others will
take care of this notorious adventurer,
whose audacity seems to know no bounds.
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