Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-12-06
statement of the facts ascertained by the com

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the United States Senate in the winter Of 1872
Hon. R. B. Elliott, then member of Congress
from the Third District Hon. R. K. Scott
who had Just vacated the gubernatorial Office
and Col. John j. Patterson, prominent mem
Der of the Greenville Railroad syndicate, and
President of the Blue Ridge Railroad. Ell.
lott claimed the Office as the most prominent
representative of the colored people of the
State Scott, because of his alleged services
to the dominant political party and its lead
ers while Patterson, skillful and experienced
as fnancier of the lobby. and stimulated by
the recollection of past victories upon that
distinguished field, threw his money, without
stint, into the contest, gathered about him
select body of veteran canvassers, under the
able generalship of b. G. Worthington, the
"actve friend" and right hand'man," opened
house of free entertainment, aptly styled
"Patterson's Headquarters" over prominent
bar room near the capitol, and proceeded to
try the logic of patronage and presents and
promises upon the members. For this the
season was opportune. There had been very
exciting and spirited campaign between the
"Regulars" and the "Bolters" in the general
election of 1872, in which the victorious can
didates came out of the struggle with exhaust
ed means. Many Legislators came fresh from
the corn fields and log cabins of the rural dis
tricts, clad in the homely garb of labor, but,
unfortunately, yearning to exchange the raj.
ment of honest poverty for "6ne clothes, y
such as decked the persons Of their predeces-
sors, returning from previous sessions of the
General Assembly. The new code of public
ethics spontaneously generated appropriate
soil at the State capitol, during the carnival
of corruption which had reigned supreme du-
ring the four years then passed, had been pro-
mulgated in every section, and its maxims had
become the catechism of politics, easily mas
tered by willing learners. Such was the oc.
casion, such its opportunities, and Patterson,
with his ready cash, was master of the situa-
ton. Charleston had two rival Republican
delegations, seeking from the State canvassers
certificates of election to the Senate and House.
Each faction felt sure of two votes on the Re-
turning Board, and Cardozo, then Secretary
Of State, had the casting vote. A written
agreement was entered into between Patterson
and the Charleston delegation, headed by Sen.
ator W. R. Jervey, that Patterson would se-
cure the certificate of election for the Jervey
delegation, and that the delegation, when
seated, would support Patterson for the Uni
ted States Senate. The result, however &C.
complished. was that the Jervey delegation
received certificates, obtained their seats, and,
in the Senatorial election, unanimously voted
for John j. Patterson. 1t also appears from
the testimony, that various members of this
delegation received from Patterson and Wor-
thington pecuniary favors during and after
the canvass, in consideration of their support
of the former. ....'..
In regard to the foregoing, Senators W. B.
Jervey aud S. E. Gaillsrd, and Represents.
tives j. G. Ferguson, Joseph j. Grant, W. A.
Grant, John Vanderpool, R. W. Turner and
N. T. Spencer, all testify that they we're par
ties to the agreement above stated, With 9TH
ers of the delegation. Representative +. b.
Artson testifes that Patterson promised to give
him $500 for his vote, and after the election
paid him $50, through F. S. Jacobs. Repre-
sentative w. A. Grant testies that he went
with others, after the election, to obtain money
from Patterson, and was paid $50 by Jacobs
on Patterson's account. Representative N. T..
Spencer testified to having received, on &C..
count, through Senators Gailard and Jervey,
1925. Representative G. F. North testifes
that he attended caucus, at which Patterson
told the members, if they would vote for him,
he would make them present Senator Gail.
lard testi6es that he paid N, T. Spencer about
5000, and had disagreement with Patterson
concerning its reimbursement, Patterson de-.
claring that "the id election had cost him
| H., u,,rth ~ In tho oopIuof of
the Senatorial canvass, it was necessary to
have convenient place for the customary
caucuses of members. The house of Colonel
Minort, member from Richland. was select
ed for the purpose, and Patterson agreed with
Minort to pay him $4,000 for his support and
for the use of his house for caucuses. Minort
so testifes, and also that Patterson paid him
$4,000, and promised to pay the balance.
VIM. L. Leggett, of Marlboro, was employed
by Patterson to exert his influence among the
members. He testi6es that Patterson tried to
get him to use money to obtain votes, Offering
to furnish him with money at the rate Of about
$500 vote, and on his declining to use the
money, Patterson offered him $500 for bis in
auence, paying him $3.50 in advance. That
he exerted himself in Patterson's favor, espe-
cially among the Marlboro and Darlington
members, urging them to see Patterson, and
informing them that they could make ar
rangements with Patterson at the rate of $500
q vote That he consulted with Worthington
frequently, who spoke of Patterson's willing
ness to pay. That he and Bolivar l. Hayes,
another friend of Pattersons, tried to secure
the vote of Eben Hayes, a member from Ma
rion. That the Marlboro representatives were
in favor of Scott, but after frequent talks
with Worthington, changed their expressed
intention, and voted for Patterson. That on
the day of election, Senator Maxwell, of
Marlboro, voted on the first ballot for Scott,
and some one saw him before another ballot,
when Maxwell voted for Patterson, making
up majority of Senator's That when Leg
gett, after the election, went to Patterson for
a settlement, Patterson stated that it was not
safe to pay then Patterson having been
charged with bribery and that Patterson
abused the member, saying some of them had
got their money from him alread y, and were
demanding more. Eben Hayes, member from
Marion, who voted for Scott, testifes that Mr..
Leggett told him that he could get $500 for
voting for Patterson, and also of an interview
with Patterson himself, in which Patterson
draws an exceedingly nice distinction betWeep
buying mans vote, and doing favor for
poor and needy man who would support him.
Senator H. J. Maxwell, of Marlboro, who
nominated Scott in the Senate, and voted for
him on the first ballot, in which Patterson
lacked one vote of majority of the Senate,
testfes that he had previously been offered
$1,000 for his vote by Patterson himself, and
by Worthington; and that on the day Of
election. between the first aad second ballots,
Worthington offered him $4,000 to change