The New York herald., 1877-07-06
SOUTH CAROLINA.
An Ex-Gubernatorial Nominee on
the Situation.
POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN THE PALMETTO STATE.
The Hayes Policy To Be Triumphant
Kind Words for Hampton.

II IL only few years ago that Judge r. B. Carpen-
ter Of South Carolina, elected TO do what Cover
nor Wade Hampton has achieved Born IN Kentucky,
q democrat by education. n pupil IN the schooi Of
DouElas Breckiprdgs and Buchanan. q speaker
whose eocuuon has been In demand every hustings
for the last qoartsr OF century. he was appointed
after the war Register Bankruptcy Charleston.
Popularity eamc to him almost unbidden, and the
people, recognising hrs courage and ability, made him
their standard 5earer Ia one OF she hercest political
contests that has ever taken place In the Palmetto
STATE. General M G. Buter, the present Standardized
from outh Carolina, a native ana identified with
mny OF the most distinguished families Of the State,
q relative BY marriage Of August Belmont and OF
Commodore Perry and other OF our prominent
ciikens was at the the minco oi the con-
ssrvasivs party for Lieutenant Governor The fight
was a hot one. Negro compliments came on mauy
the form OF brick bats and pistol Shots and
speech ron Tue public platform was often attended
ay personal peril BY the pecunsr process Of enumer
atng votes which then existed in South Carolina Car
pens,f and Butter wcrc counted oui, and Moses and
hs cohorts wore counted IN. What followed Is q mat
ter OF history. Colonel Carpenter, seeing an oppor-
tunity to make himself useful, accepted the position
OF Judge OF the Charleston CIRCUIT. In this capacity
he Received testimonial IRON the members OF the
Charleston Bar In the form Of resolutions which in
aorsed both judicially and politically, the honorable
attitude he had assumed Times and men changed,
however, and Judge Carpenter sent in bis resignation
TINS briei summary tells the story OF the gentleman
who furnishes IRON hrs point OF view the following
narrative OF Tho condition o Affairs IN souih Carolina,
The iutervlcw Is suggestive.
PALMETTO ISrLUEycEs IN NUTSHELL
REPoRTER-You have had larle experience IN
sou,h Carolina How would you ool II down conver-
SatiOnaliy
Judge CARPENTER half a dozen sentences. Large
intellectually misapped; unusual political knowl-
ease without the promptnes. that quickly sszes oppor
soil; fear OF social osracism blind obedience to
lev leaders, and consolidation Of influences result
Ing IRON social and other organizations.
RgPoRTEk- - Prucuoaliy, then, the state is in the
hands OF a lew persons.
jude CARrENTER-C Undoubtedly. That was the con-
dition when exiseo long before tha war; The leaders
only mad 10 issue their hat, and general issue tue
people were unanimous. since the war, however, new
elements have crcpt in The negro has obtained sui
frage, and led BY advcnturcrs and scoundrcs he has
become power lhese enjoyed the spolls, robbed the
State and built the ROUNDS IN the ladder OF Nemesis
For some thiDgs don't biame tho people OF South
Carolina Their labor system-ihat mainstay Of
wealth on which they depcnded-was destroyed, and
they had nothing 10 hope Tor Wade Hampton was
popular, and with shruy) you know tue rest.
RkPoRrER-Bp But don't you think thes State is better
off nos than nj any t,ms s,ncs he cIose Of The
Judge CARPESrER-Frsnkly, yes, because the people
have confidence In their ers, and conddence is tho
backbone OF finance While the Stale is compare
tiveiy poor there Is an undoubted disposition the
part OF taxpayers meet the pubic claims against
administration.
PREsrDsSr aAYEs
REroRrER--What in your judgment is the opinion
Of the people with reference to the election oil Pres-
dent HayesY
Judge UARPESrEn- SO far as my observation has
extrnded think that the people are sat SIZED that
President Hayes means 10 carry aut the policy which
he inumated in his inaugural address believe that
they loyal 10 him. l lhink that because tue col.
o.ed eope have sharp lines oil difference
tonal or local topics. rney cooperating with tho
whites, and in the end great good wI result In
fact raco no he fna rrrI-
cultural ami polticai welfare OF all the Southern States
d. pcnas on more thorough Understanding than has
heretofore stvd between reference the
resp c!ve Influences which they may exert IN the
growth OF the country.
REPokrEg-Froln your observation, can you state
wnsthsr tho coiorea people are making any headwayS
Judge CARPExTER-Ycs and no. You might apply
the question the lower OF New York
IN other metropolis. There sre few WHO have
Ambition aud Will get ahead. There Is another GLASS;
however, who will deve and rot IN misery-iney and
their cniioren Perhaps another generation wl see
Change, out go lar the school system throu9 the
South IS IN It's infancy ss compared with the great de-
veopments that are to be seen IN tno North.
RkPoRTGR-bui are not the dominant party In South
Carv4Ia pledged TO take care oil these wards?
Judgs CARpESTER-ies; II Was part OF their plat
form that a Constitutional amendment should be pro-
posca tuat would elect an eniirc re .orm in TIE ex-
uavlgaDt methods with which The school fund of the
prpriated ouly about half the amouat necessary ior
the support vi puOic schools and the constitutional
Inenament has been left over Tor iuture cons,dera-
non.
TIE ADMINISTRATION AND ruE soUrn.
REPORTER swnch'ne of from locai aIiirs, what is
Tour Juds men, WIN rcereace 10 the
Lop and ls rcsuits 10 the SDuthcrn states?
Judge CARpKsTkRt is son,ew hat delicate question
Tor pubic man to answer, but nave no hest.
ta,ion IN saying that, IN my Judgment, the
policy oil Prcsiuent Hayes VII work Well, especially
g. the south. rhe character OF The man viii
impress itsr anywhere. FIRST, he conscien tousy
good; second, he Is just, and hnaiy he fearless
tie execution OF any thought winch he believes 10 be
has already done, but thcy VIII the polit,-
Clans. not The people In The end my be.ief tnat
be W prov himself ia ali Respects one vi the most
popuar Ptesid.ns Of tho United states who has
hlleu The cnarr.
kEroxrER do you think, as a public observer Of
events, tnat the opposition TO President Hayes
posed vi u strong ioilOwiDg
Judge CAgPRSrkK-l do not IL is but natural that
when a great rida wave sweeps over territory the
Inducements who are submerged will shrek for
WINE when they get their mouths above water, but
IN the end they wan hnd themselves lett nigh aud dry
npon the shore. nInk that the people pay little
heed 10 the mutterngs Of this class They equally
lmpo'ent Tor good or ev'L aRd time aud common
sense Will hnaIy plant them where they belong
kEroRrER-But do you tnnk that repubcanisn Is
de9a?
Juoae IARPESrKR--By no means; that can never
de Yet the party eau be purified. Ii can heal It's
old sores; u can throw Oh ts bad blood; II sub
mil TO operations that will extract cancers that have
been eaing at It, heart and 80 by system OF purn-
cation prsscu, iiseIi IN iuli neaitn the
P.op.e anu command their cooiidence and support.
The war madc strange bed fellows. Thank God that
soaue OF them have been kicked cut
SOLID SOUTH.
REPoRrEg-h there a solid south or nots You
Judge CARPENTER There is q soa South; more
sod nan existed Deiore the war; for every demo-
cratic state the Cnion on both sides OF Mason and
DIX n's line, has So But attach little import
70 TINS iact, because the Is lar distant
when dslntegration uust take place, anu the smoi-
tious leaders OF pubic senument will spring new
Issues 10 their respective localities that will compel the
rox pcud to make itself heard IL not IN the nature
oi tuiog= that people snail be forever Of one m:ud
kkroRrsn-Wuh reverence 10 Governor Hampton,
Judge
Juage CAHyESrxK--Let me stop eyou SIR; / have
n to sav Humutou Tn tribu-