The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-12-27
VOL. XIII---NO. "a.
Hampton and Patterson.
!Sprcim Dispatch to the Mcw York Times.


Patterson dropped, and some of the bascr
class of Democrats have shown dispo-
sition to help him. Previous to Gen.
Buffers arrival, a resolution passed the
State House of Representatives, without
opposition, directing q certified copy of
the report of the investigating committee
touching Mr.. Pattcrson's bribery of the
Legislature of 1872 to be sent to Gen.
Butler, with instructions to present it to
the United States Senate. Before it
could come up for concurrence in the
Senate, General Butler had arrived here,
and, when informed of the state of affairs,
went himself to the Senate chamber and
prompted Senator Crittenden to oppose
action on the resolution. The result of
two days manipulation by Gen. Butler
WAS that new committee was raised in
the Senate, under the appropriate title
of Committee on Federal Relations. 1t
was made up entirely of Democrats, and
Butler Democrats at that The Repub-
licans being denied representation on it,
of course the resolution was referred to
this committee for the express purpose of
having it killed.
1t has not been supposed that Gov
Hampton was a party to these intrigues,
or would in any way sustain them, but
it having been telegraphed to Washing
ton that he had determined upon policy
of general amnesty to Patterson and the
like, some uneasiness began to be mani
tested among those who have most faith
fully sustained his administration. 1t
may be said with absolute certainty that
no such uneasiness will be felt by them
hereafter. Governor Hampton has to-
day declared himself firmly opposed to
any bargain with Mr.. Patterson. Whether
Governor Hampton was favorable or un-
favorable to an investigation of Mr.. Pat
terson's case in the beginning, he says
that since the proof of that PERSONS guilt
had been made apparent to the public
authorities, to the State, and to the coun-
try, it would be disgrace to South
Carolina if criminal proceedings, based
upon such overwhelming testimony, were
not earnestly and energetically pressed
to an issue. The evidence obtained by
the same committee which indicted Mr..
Patterson, and the convictions already
had, justify the existence of this admin
istration i'll the eyes OF even those who
bitterly opposed its success, and has
crushed out hostile criticism upon some
of the methods employed to overcome
an enormous majority. Merely to OBJ
tain the ascendancy of political party,
or win Office for himself, no such cam
paign would have been entered upon by
him. He sought to rescue the State, not
from Republicans, but from plunderers;
otherwise he would not hare abandoned
private life to enter upon the strifes,
anxieties and responsibilities of such
campaign as that of 1876. To condone
now the offenses of Mr.. Patterson in re-
turn for mere political services, no mat
ter how valuable, would be to abandon
the high grounds upon which he con-
sented to make the effort to redeem the
State when the task was well nigh hope
less.
Governor Hampton rejoices that Mr..
Patterson's vote secured seat in the
United States Senate to General Butler.
He has no doubt that it may be used
hereafter to the advantage of the Demo-
cratic party; but to allow him to go un-
punished would justify the charges
which have been made by Mr.. Patter-
sons friends that the prosecutions against
him originated in political hostility and
have looked solely to political results,
and would place the Democratic party of
South Carolina in the position of buying
a seat for United States Senator by the
condonement of felonies committed
against the people of the State. This
would be strain upon the integrity of
his administration.
More than this, he would regard it as
dangerous argument to be placed in
the hands of the opponents of the Dem.
ocratic party in the next Presidential
campaign. He does not regard the in
vestigation of crimes by legislative COM
mittees or the Inauguration of criminal
proceedings in the courts as the fitting
machinery for determining the right to
seats in the Senate of the United States.
If Senator Patterson has rendered
service to General Butler, with or with
out a promise of consideration, Gov.
Hampton is quite willing for Gen. Butler
10 IeWaTu SeNdUOT IdltCTSOH aS UeSL ue
may; but whatever settlement is to be
made between the old Senator and the
new, Gov. Hampton does not think that
his administration should be made par
ty to it.
It is now certain that the resolution
will not be killed in the Committee on
Federal Relations, but will be reported
in O day or two with an amendment.
General Butler has declared that it would
be impossible for him, in view of his
obligations to Mr.. Patterson. to present
the report of the investigating commit
tee to the Senate of the United States,
and it is now proposed, in order to re-
lieve him from such an embarrassment,
to amend the resolution of the House so
as to send the report of the investigating
committe to the President of the Senate,
with request that he will present it to
that body. In such shape the resolu-
ton will undoubtedly pass, nutwithstand-
ing kilograms from Messrs. Lamar, Ste
phens, Hill and Gordon, advising other
wise.
Dror;Jont Havoc and hiS Dolicies