Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-19
pAr1ERsons FLIGHT.

Gov. Hampton Declare. that Patterson
Must be brought 70 Trial,
and Honesty ofSouth
CarOlina Main.
tained.
A Columbia, s. c., dispatch to the New
York Times says: "Some utterances Of
Gov. Hampton to-day will be Of interest to
Senator Patterson. Gen. Butler has been
hard At work, since his return from Wash
inRton, to have all criminal proceedings
against Mr.. Patterson dropped. Previous
to Gen. Buffers arrival, resolution passed
the senate house of Representatives, without
opposition, directing certified copy of the
report of the investigating committee touch
ing Mr.. Patterson's bribery of the legisla-
ture 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
arrived here, and went himself to the senate
chamber and prompted Senator Crittenden
TO oppose action on the resolution. The
result oftwo days manipulation by Gen.
Butler was that a new committee was rails
ed in the senate under the appropriate title
of committee on federal relations. 1t was
made up entirely Of Butler democrats. The
resolution was referred to this committee
for the purpose Of having it killed. Itwasnot
been supposed that Gov. Hampton was a
party to these intrigues, or would in any
way sustain them, hut it having been tele-
graphed to Washington that he had deter
mined upon . policy of general amnesty to
Patterson and others, some uneasiness began
TO be manifested among those who have sus-
tained his administration. Gov. Hampton
has to-day declared himself firmly opposed
er Gov. Hampton was favorable or unfavor-
able to an investigation of Mr.. Patterson's
case in the beginning, he says that since the
proof Of that PERSONS guilt has been made
apparent to the public authorities. it would
be q disgrace to South Carolina if
criminal proceedings based upon
such overwhelming testimony
we're not earnestly and energetically press
state, not from republicans, but from plum
doned private life to enter upon the strifes,
an1ieties, and responsibilities of such cam
paign as that of 1875. To condone now the
offenses of Patterson in return for more po-
litical services, no matter how valuable,
would be to abandon the high grounds upon
which he consented to make the effort to
redeem the state when the task was we'll
high hopeless. Gov. Hampton reoices that
Mr.. Pattersons vote secured seat in the
United States senate to Gen. Butler. He
has no doubt but that it may be used here.
after to the advantage of the democratic
party, but to allow him to go unpunished
would Justify the charges which have been
made by Mr.. Patterson 8 friends that the pros.
ecutions against him originated in political
hostility, and have looked solely to politi.
cal results, and would place the democratic
party of South Carolina in the position oi
buying seat for United States senator by
the condonement of felonies committed
against the people of the state. If Senator
Patterson has rendered service to Gen.
Butler, with or without the promise of q
consideration, Gov. Hampton is quite
willing for Gen. Butler to reward Senator
Patterson as best he may. But whateve,
settlement is to be made between the old
senator and the new, Gov. Hampton does no,
think that his administration should be
made by party to it. 1t is now certain
that the resolution will not be killed in the
committee on foreign relations, but will b.
reported in day or two with an amend
ment. Gen. Butler has declared that i,
would be impossible for him in view Of hi
obligation to Mr.. Patterson to present the
report Of the investigating committee to tn.
senate Of the United States, and it is nov
proposed in order to relieve him from such
an embarrassment to amend the resolution
of the house go AZ to send the report Of th,
investigating committee to the president O
the eenate, with a request that he will pre-
sent it to that body in such shape that thu
resolution will undoubtedly pass, notwith
standing the telegram from Messrs. Lamar
Stephens, Hill, and Gordon advising other