The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-05
THE CHAMPION CARpET.BAGGER.
Chamberlain's Reply to the Letter Of
Stanley Matthew'S

The New York Times which has lately
become the especial champion of the car
pet-bag crew in the South, publishes
llsurper Chamberlain's letter to Stanley
Matthews, in reply to the note of the lat
ter requesting him to. step down and out,
The following is a copy of the usurper' 8
letter: ' -
COLUMBIA. S. O., March z, 1877.
My DEAR SIR: Your note of the 4th
inst. was handed to me last evening by
Colonel Haskell:
feel grateful for the interest you man
ifest in the public welfare here as we'll as
in my personal good, To give you my
views of the situation here, and my duty
in connection Herewith, with anything
approaching fullness, would require q
conversation. I can only say here, in
substance, that I am wholly unable to
see any line of conduct on my part con-
sistent with personal honor or public
duty which would permit me to yield my
claims to the Governship. am equally
unable too sec any course which can be
pursued by the National. Administration
toward the Government here which I
represent, consistent with, political or con-
stftutional duty, which will not require
it to support, against violence or over
throw, thellawful Republican Govern
ment.
certainly wish most devoutly that I
could relieve myself of this duty. Ihave
been exposed to personal danger by day
and night, constantly, for five full
months, and. I am wearied to death; but
there are one or two things dearer to me
than comfort or life-one is my; honor as
public man, and another is my duty to
the Republicans of this State. Neither
of these, in my judgment, would permit
me to accept any accommodation or COM
promise which was not forced upon me
by power which it would be idle to re-
sist. i desire to aid and relieve Presi-
dent. Hayes, but this is a life or death
struggle, and. know that I should con-
sign myself to infamy in the eyes Of all
Republicans, here, who know the situa-
ton by fearful experience, if were to
accept any terms or do any act which
could result in the success of the mon
strous conspiracy against lazy ;and hu-
manity which the Democracy of this
State embody and represent. 90.
There are better ways than this to con-
ciliate and pacify the South Let the
present administration, while firmly
standing by the law and the right for Re
publicans, manifest a spirit of charity and
sympathy for our opponents here, as
countrymen and citizens, in the thou
sand ways opent to an administration,
and peace will come and will abide-the
peace of justice and law; the only peace
worth fighting for. To permit Hampton
to reap the fruits of a campaign of muir
der and fraud, SO long as there remains
power. to prevent it, is to sanction such
methods.
All this I say, my dear sir; with feel
ings of profound respect for you, but as
in duty bound to declare the truth as 1
understand it. OF one thing I am sure,
neither you nor any man moved by a
sense of justice can understand the situa-
ton here and.be willing, for any political
advantage or freedom from embarTass
ment, to abandon the Republicans to the
fate that awaits them whenever Hamp-
ton becomes the undisputed Governor of
this State. -
I despair of being able to set our case
in its true light before those who have
had no such experience, but I do feel
that if 1 had the privilege. Of personal
conversation could do much more to-.
ward it. q. . . - ;o'-'''.'
/ have written hurriedly and beg that
you will believe me to be, yours, very
truly, T..
Hon. Stanley Matthews, Washington!