The daily gazette., 1877-02-02
AN IMPORTANT LETTER

From the Bait. Gazette.
In 1870, during the administration
OF Governor Scot. in South Carolina,
there were issued fraudulent state
bonds to tho amount of nearly six
millions, which have since bt en- rep,-
oiatea and declared void by the Leg
islatute. At that time Chamberlain
was attorney general OF the state, and
was one OF three persons CONSTITUTING
the state board of finance, and which
with man named Kimpton, had en-
tire control of the emission and sale OF
state bonds. The seal of the state
was taken to New York, and large
issae OF bonds were sealed and sold
the proceeds Of which did not 70 in.
to the state treasury. This transac.
tion is conjectured to have had grea,
deal to do with Chamberlain's rise
from poverty to aff1uence, and indeed
four hundred thousand dollars has
been named as Chamberlain's share oil
the swag. 1t will be recollected that
at the state republican convention OF
South Carolina which nominated
Chamberlain there was quite a dra-
matte scene between Elliot and Cham
berlain. There had been breach be-
tween the two, and Cham berlain had
denounced Elliott as public crimi-
nal, and had declared that the saliva
tion of the Republican party of South
Carolina lay in unloading such men
as he. Elliott vowed vengeance, and
1t was announced that at the conven-
tion he would explode mine which
would demoli5h Chambcrlain. Elliott
made speech in which he avow-
Ell his ability TO ruin Chamberlain.
but that .'he had been approached by
friends of Governor Chamberlain and
advised not to make known what he
had intended TO-" He had also been
warned that what he might say would
DO no good, 'as Governor Chamber
lain has seventy-six votes that would
stand by him if he was proven guilty
of larceny" He made ID great flourish
OF some documents he had, but he
did not enter into details, and the
scene wound up with reconciliation
between the two, and both were put
upon the republican ticket.
The Charleston Ne,us and Courier as
gotten hold of a copy of letter held
by Elliott at that time, and its con-
tents are interesting. 1t is as follows
SEPTEMBER. 23.'1s1O.-Dear p: Yours OF
the 2lst came TO me this evening. I was
glad, indeed, to hear from you, and es-
pecially that the finances now promise to
weather the storm. / have no doubt 1t was
we'll to defer the statement" until October
There is no special news here. For a few
days we nave had fears of an outbreak in
Laurens and Newberry, but we heard yes
terday that the danger Is over. About the
United states senatorship 1 don't know
what to say. Ikno,0 very i0eu that IL is, in
Jor the rest Of my term. Still, 1 am called al.
ready, and my position is just this If my
friends wish me to become candidate fol
the sake of keeping the party from going
over to negrophilism will stand but if no
such need exists l should prefer to remain
where am. What the chances are have
no means of guessing now. L will serve
my friends in any way in my power, and
pretty CeN : En- Regards to X.
Yours, faithfully, CHAMBERLAIN.
The P. to whom this letter was ad-
dressed is State Treasurer Parker, who
perpetrated such colossal frauds upon
the state. X. is Kimpton, the finan-
cial agent who negotiated the fraudn~
lent bonds. 1t was owing to his part
nership with those persons that Cham
berlain was able 10 say that il was in
every way better for him to remain
where he was. The salary of United
States senator would have been poor
compensation for the loss of 1.-The com
missions" or percentages, according
to which the spells were divided. II
is stated that further documentary
evidence may be forthcoming which
will show Chamberlain up in mis- true
character of a public robber.