The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-08
HAMPTON, Or REVOLUTION!
The Status Quo In South Carolina-A
Brief Resume of Recent EvGnts-The
Supreme Court Fiasco.
From Me caarle,ton Melrs and Courier.

LILO StdIuS 0uO LII SOutu CarOllna-A
Brief Resume of Recent EvGnts-The
Supreme Court Fiasco.
From, The Charleston Netrs and Courier. 20,
The transactions of the past week, in
which Judge Wright has figured, are so
disgusting in their character that we do
not care to dwell upon them. We make
brief explanation and pass on.
During the hearing of the argument in
the case of Tilda Norris the members of
the Supreme Court took no pains to con-
ceal their opinions. There was really
only one point to determine: that is,
whether the Senate, by refusing to at
tend, could prevent the opening and pub
fishing of the returns, and the declaration
of the election of Governor. The other
point, that is that the opening and pub
fishing by the Mackey House, and the
pretended installation of Mr.. Chamber
lain, were utterly worthless and of no
effect, had been covered by the previous
decision of the Supreme Court, that the
Mackey House was not the legal House,
and that Mackey was not the Speaker of
the House, but a private citizen. Chief
Justice Moses gave the counsel to under
stand, before the argument closed, that
the notice to the Senate was sufficient,
and that, after notice, the House could
proceed as though the Senate were pre-
sent. And the Chief Justice intimidated
also that Mr.. Chamberlain, in consenting
to be installed, upon the declaration Of
election by the Mackey House, absolute
ly surrendered the Office of Governor,
and was no longer Governor. Judge
Willard, by his remarks on the bench,
was known to hold the same views.
Judge Wright, who usually "votes with
the Chief Justice" inclined in that direc-
ton. We know that both Judges Moses
and Willard were so thoroughly con-
vinced by the arguments that they had
determined to order the discharge of
Tilda Norris as soon as the case was fin
ished. Chief Justice Moses, on Februa-
ry %, was stricken with paralysis. The
operations of the Radicals against Judge
Wright then became active. Whiskey
was their principal agent. They made
Wright drunk and kept him in that con-
dition, so playing upon his fears that he
really imagined that the Elliotts and
Whippers would do him wrong if he did
right. In sober interval on Tuesday
he signed an order for the discharge of
Tilda Norris, which Judge Willard also
signed. For some reason the decision
was not filed Immediately, and on Thurs.
day Judge Wright produced a decision
in favor of Mr.. Chamberlain, as Cover
nor holding over, which had been written
for him, and revoked his signature to the
former order which had not yet been
filed. Whiskey was again supreme. In
company with Whipper, (the drunken
gambler and would-be Judge of the
Charleston Circuit,) Judge Wright is
supposed to have remained. When the
Court met yesterday morning, Wright
was absent, and could not be found.
The Gubernatorial question, therefore,
remains, so far as the Supreme Court is
concerned, where it stood when the
habeas corpus proceedings began. There
is no decision. What is gained, if any
thing, is the knowledge that Judge
Wright did sign an order which was q
recognition of Gov. Hampton, and sub
sequently withdrew his concurrence; and
that Judges Moses and Willard would
have decided the case against Chamber
lain, with or without Wright, had the
former been able to remain on the bench.
Was the game worth the candle? As
legal fact there is no change in the situa-
ton. Wade Hampton is Governor, fail
ing action by the Supreme Court, as he
would be Governor in spite of the Su-
preme Court. The popular voice. "the
highest number of votes" make him
Governor, and Governor he remains.
The revelations now made destroy the
whole power and influence of the Su-
preme Court. Without Judge Moses
there is bare quorum, but Judge Wright
will hardly dare to occupy the bench
again. With less than two Judges, the
Court can do no business. Judge Will
lard, secure in his integrity and the con-
fdence of the public, must patiently
await the reorganization of the Court,
when he shall have associates who will
Join him in restoring the Court to the
high plane where stood the old Court of
Appeals of this State. No decision rem
dered by Judge Wright, in any cause,
can hereafter be regarded. By his own
conduct he has degraded himself and
dishonored his race. Not many months
ago, the whole of the Democratic MEM
bers of the General Assembly supported
him for reelection, and he was unani-
mously reelected. 1t is Radicalism, not
Democracy, that makes him the base
creature he is. The only colored man
upon the bench of a superior court in the
United States, he had the opportunity to
elevate his race, in their own esteem and
the regard of their fellow.citizens. By
sobriety, impartiality and fidelity he could
have given the colored people an exam
Pile of inestimable value. What came of
it? After trying to sell out to Governor
Hampton, alter declaring that, if he de-
cided according to law, he must decide
for Governor Hampton, after signing an
opinion in accordance with law, he veers
around, withdraws his signature, and so
gives himself the lie! The Whippers
and Elliotts, black men, were the instru-
ments. 1t was shocking enough that the
white Radicals, in Louisiana, should pre-
vail on the drunken Durell to do their