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 Evcnts-The
Supreme Court FIasco.
From Tie Charle.ton Nens and Courier

Supreme Court FIasco.
From the Charle,ton Neics and Courier.
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
and that Mackcy was no: 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 wGs sufficient,
and that, after notice, the House could
proceed as though the Senate we're pre-
sent And the Chief Justice intimidate.l
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-
tien. 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
Illda 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. WiiisSey
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. III 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 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 ren lined. When the
Court met yesterday morning, Wright
was absent, and could not be found.
Tie Gubernatorial question, therefore,
remains. 20 far as the Supreme Court is
concerne'-, where it stood when the
ha6eas corpus proceedings began. There
| is 10 decision. What is gained, if any
thing, Is the knowledge that Judge
Wright did sign an order which was a
recognition of Gov. Hampton, and SUBJ
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 candle7 As
legal fact there is no change in the situa-
ton. Wade Hampton is Governor, fail
ing acton by the Supreme Court, as he
would be Governor in spite of the Sn-
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 tho 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 JuIses. the
Court can do no business. judge VIII.
lard, secure in his integrity and the con-
| fidence of the public, must patiently
| await the reorganization Of the Court.
when he shall have associates who will
JOIN him in restoring the Court tc l., a
| high plane where stood the old Couru 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 Genernl Assembly supported
him for reelection, andihe was unani,
mously reelected. It Is Ra1iirS,;5rn. not
Democracy, that makes him the base
creature he ia. The aniv cnlnraa s,.a,,
upon the bench of superior court ia the
United States, he had the opportunity to
elevate his race, in their own esteem and
the regard of their fsllow-citizens. Nv
aobriety, impartiality and fidelity he could
havs given tho oolored people an exam
pie of inestimahle value. What came of
itf After trying to sell out to Governor
hampton, after declaring that that iiff iiff no cin-
cided according to loV, he must decide
for Governor Hampt- after signing an
opinion in acoordance with law, ne yeera
around, Ritadraws his signature. and so
gives himself the lieg The yvhippers
and Elliutts, black men, were she ins.rI,-
meats. It'whs shocking enough thas the
white Radicals, in Louisiana, should pre-.
vail On tho drunken Dnreli TO do their,
biddsngi it is far worse that black men
at this csiais in their history, ssi,..:...,l,
thrust fheir 9xvhola frnca IN tLnn '',.4t,.- r..