Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-12-06
The following testify that they voted for Pat


Benjamin r. Middleton, member from Barn.
we'll, and Jacob Altman, member from Marl-
boro. 1t is proper to state that this portion
of the evidence appropriately closes with the
testimony of Gen. H. G. Worthington, who
"was an active friend of Patterson in his elec-
tion," and who testi6es that he "never heard
Mr.. Patterson speak of using money to secure
his election" and that he has "no knowledge
or information that money was used to secure
bis election, save that he heard rumors of
that kind on the streets, and that he kept open
house for the entertainment of Mr.. Patter-
sons friends" Concerning this, it is enough
to state that sixty witnesses, resident in va
rious parts of the State, and examined at diff
ferent times, have furnished the committee
with the information which Gen. Worthing-
ton testi6es he does not possess. Mr.. Patter-
son did not hesitate to attempt more perilous
adventures. Elliott, az, we have seen, was his
most formidable opponent. To Gen. John B.
Dennis was entrusted the delicate mission of
an offer from Patterson to Elliott himself
Gen. Dennis testi6es that Patterson authoriz-
ed him to offer Elliott $4,000 to withdraw
from the contest; and he testified further,
that warrants having been issued for Patter-
sons arrest for bribery, the Governor, in
friendship for Patterson, removed the Jury
Commissioner of the county Of Richland and
appointed him (Dennis) in his stead, for the
purpose Of ensuring the drawing of jurymen
who were friendly to Patterson, in the event
of his trial in the courts of the county, so as
to secure his safety, and that the jury lists
were made up accordingly. Hon. r. B. El-
lott testi6es that he expressed his indignation
to General Dennis at having heard of an at
tempt by Patterson to purchase mortgage
on bis residence, and that Dennis remarked
that he had been requested to see Elliott on
similar matter, but had declined to act. That
on the next day Elliott, Dennis and Major
Delaney were together, and Elliott urged Den.
mis- to inform him about the matter alluded to
the day before. That Dennis then stated that
Patterson had said that if Elliott would get
out of the race, Patterson would pay him
$4,000, and, in addition, pay certain debts Of
Elliott's. That he felt great indignation, and
was only restrained from seeing Patterson in
reference to the matter, by Gen. Dennis and
Mr.. Delaney. Major Martin R. Delaney,
then member of the Republican State Exec
utive Committee, of which General r. B. Ell.
liott was chairman, testi6es that he was pres
ent at the interview when the offer Of Patter-
son was communicated to Elliott by Gen. j.
B. Dennis, and that Elliott "became very an
cry and swore about il" and that he had to
interpose to quiet Elliott. Ex- Governor F.
j. Moses testifes that Patterson, who expect.
ed to be indicted in the State Court for hav.
ing obtained his Senatorial position by bribe-
ry and corruption, requested the appointment
of some friend as Jury Commissioner. That
he accordingly appointed John B. Dennis as
such Jury Commissioner, with request that
Dennis would protect Patterson as far as he
could do so legally. gje -,b
In conclusion, the undersigned respectfully
report that the election of Hon. j. j. Patter-
son to the Senate of the United States on De.
cember TO- 1872, was procured by corruption
and bribery. They would further remark
that the Legislature of 1878 was largely
composed of new members, and that they were
most solemnly pledged to correction Of past
abuses, and to the inauguration of real re-
forms. Some Of the members who may have
been unfit for the discharge of the important
duties oflegislation by reason Of ignorance,
yet came to Columbia with desire, in an
humble way, to do what was right John j.
Patterson enjoys the unenviable distinction
of having been the first to place before them
the poisoned chalice of temptation, and to cor
rupt them with its enticing draughts. Need
we wonder that they were intoxicated and
fell? Then followed wild saturnalia of pub.
lie plunder, the record of which furnishes
nothing which is at all pleasant to investigate
or to perpetuate in history. But it is due to
the cause of good government, that the story
of the crimes and disasters Of the past few
years should be written in the journals of our
courts of justice, in order that it may be .
warning to all servants. of the people of all
political parties of the present and of the fu-
ture, not to prove recreant to high or humble
trusts of the republic Let it also expose the
dangers menacinga government resting on any
other foundations than those of education and
good morals. And let this be- done not in
temper of vengeance, nor to crafty any NOR
bid sentiment which would gloat over the suf'
ferings of the criminal overtaken by the sad
consequences of his crime, but in the spirit OF
Llc duu buO SLoIcomou3 IAo oplIiG VI
the law as expressed BY the old Roman jurist
and orator, "Ut poena ad paucos, n,etus ad
omnes peueniat," and as we learn it in the for
chile words of the great expositor of the Eng
lish common law, as to the end or final cause
of human punishment: 'This is not by way of
atonement or expiation for the crime commit
ted, for that must be left to the just determi-
nation Of the Supreme Being, but as precaa.
tion against future ofenses Of the same kind"
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN R. COCHRAN, Chairman,
..... b. A. MEETzE,
Committee on the part of Senate.
49,. GERHARD MULLER,
J. G. SPEPPARD, ..
S. DIBBLE, y .....
Committee on the part of the House.
..-.. ....... ......