The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-06-06
\ Chapter in the History of Car.
pet-Bsas MisruIe i'm the south
Ex-Governor amberIain'% Con.
GeSsiOns


THE DIFFICULTY or GOvERNING IGNORANCE
REPoRTER-Among your gubernatorial
dlmculties, did you have To encounter the
ignorance which is natural TO a recently en-
franchised class, and learn the fact tn t in =
Jelligent whites would not accept office nm =
der your administration because they would
naturally be forced into this Objectionable
company and be thereby socially enfran-
chised
Gov. CHAMRERLAIN-Fran YES. / re-
garded the ignorance and inexperience of
the masses OF the Republics party in South
Carolina as one OF the inherent and great
difficulties III the political problem. / was
undcr the political necessity of making po-
Htlcat appointments to offices from a party
which, as a rule, not able to furnish
com potent officers to represent the govern
meat.
REPoRTER-Did you at all times find in
the Legislature OF South Carolina even
among che sO-caled Republicans, whites As
considered yourself entitled as Republican
leader?
Gov. CHAMBERLAIN-Her was the great
est of my difficulties The majority OF the
Republicans in the Legislature were never
heartily ~ sym PATTY with me during any
portion OF my first term of Office Nearly
All the measures in which took a deep in
terest were passed by mInorities OF Repub-
lcans and Democrats. The reduction of
taxes and more economical expenditure Of
4
iects which had in view and here it is but
justice TO say that | met with almost entire
opposition within the ranks of the Republi-
can purity. | had u eXpend the greater
part of my strength in resisting what | re-
4arded as bad legislation, and had very
little time or strength lett to devote to the
Inauguration of better methods of the en-
actInent Of better laws. OF course my idea
OF the way in which reformation must be
brought about was through the Republican
II I .
the people of the state were attached TO
that party, and that there was no hope OF
inducing them to join any other organzt-
ton, for loca! state purposes. But the hab-
its OF legislation which had grown up be-
tween 1868 and 1873 we're too strong for M
and the result was that / was overcome aud
nay policy only partially carried out. A
great deal OF evil was prevented and some
positive good was done, but only a small
fraction of the results which were within
the power of the Republican party. had it
c0-Operated with me, was made evident. |
feel bound to say that ii / had been heartily
supported from 1874 to 1876 the state OF
feeling which prece0ed the nomination of
Gen. Hampton would not have existed. In
brief, if my administration had been sup
ported by the whole Republican party, it
would have deprived the Democrats OF their
grievances and made them acquesce in the
supremacy OF the Republican party for Il
long series OF years.
REPoRrER-Did you find, during this Pc
Rod, support or sympathy or the promise
OF such from the representative commercial
or political leaders of South Carolina. and
were you in amy manner influenced there
by?
Gov. CuAMBERLAIN--I am glad you have
asked the question. l answer. most aSSur-
edly did, and no change of circumstances
in political fortunes will ever lead me to
deny or depreciate the generous and hearty
support which the best men of South Caro-
lima and of the Democratic party pledged
me rom 1874 down the time OF the nomina-
ton of Hampton in the fall of 1876 IL was
generous, because TREY recognized that my
policy meant the welfare OF the State, and
that so far as this was concerned mere p0liti-
cal considerations had no weight. doubt if
any public man was ever more heartily or
unselfishly supported by political opponents
than / was by the Democrats of South Car
Dina during the period TO which | refer.
Our subsequent differences occurred from
other causes than the want OF sympathy be-
tween their views and mine upon questions
OF practical administration within the State.
NEGROES AS LAwGIvERs,
REPoRrER-Now, Governor let me ask
You what is the result OF your experience
after these several years OF political life as
to the ability of the c0loCad people 80 take
possession of government and legislate in
their own way.
Gov. CuAMRERLAIN i think tie colored
people are just as competent TO legislate
aud conduct a government as any other
people who have had as little education and
experience. They only want brains. It is
| idle to expect under any circumstances a
| good government without = large prepon-
/ dcrance OF intelligence The strength o f
every community in the Union is measured
| by this fact. While, therefore, do not re
| fleet on the colOred race in saying that they
were badly prepared for the task they as
sumed, | still contend that successful self
government, under the law of universal
suffrage, requires education, intellectual
| training and large amount of accumulated
| political eNDerience--in short, an under
! standing of the duties of citizenship. Con
| corning the intentions of the masses of the
| colored people of South Carolina, | think
| they are honest. Their misfortune has been
| that they were not able to anticipate or fol-
/ low the effects of measures that We're enact
| ed by their representatives until these
measures had taken root and wrought their
! evil result. And then they were too ready
i TO be led by designing and unprincipled
| men who became by force of superior OPP
| portunites their leader. when say this, |
desire particularly to add that do not cast
| more blame upon the colored than upon the
/ white leaders of the Republican party in
: South Carolina. Upon the whole, | think
my own F9ce has much to answer for any
! connection with bad leadership in that
| State as the colored race. The result is the
same Bad leaders and ignorant followers
/ could not work out the problem of good
/ government. This has been the great OBJ
| stacle and hindrance to the success of the
& publican party in the Southern States
and it may be set down as the principle
! cause of our overthrow.
| A DEAD WEIGHT.
! REPoRrER-In other words, Governor,
the Republican party in Sorth Carolina has
4 heen compelled to carry dead weight OF
| iucompetsncy, a kind OF ignorant dry rot
| negroes Northern bushwhackers aad any
body else intent on spells and self-aggrand-
| dement's that so?
! Gov CHAMBERLAIN-Ne the difficulty
was that n majority of those who undertook
to lead the Republican party in South Car
olina made 4 profession of politics and lived
accordingly.