The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1878-02-14
Chamberlain's Frauds.

we puOllsh, on our outside, letter
to the Now York Sun, from its Co
lumbia correspondent, charging
Chamberlain with swindling in the
land commission "business." Anoth>
er has since appeared in in the same
journal, charging Chamberlain with
having received bribe from Wood.
ruff and Jones. Tho Legislature pas
sed an act appointing, by name, a COM
mission of three to examine into the
validity of all claims against the State
which should be presented, and to
pass upon their validity or illegality.
This bill Chamberlain vetoed, because
the Legislature had itself appointed
the commission, a right which be
claimed should have been given to
him. Another bill was at once passed
giving the Governor the right to ap-
point the commission. When this bill
was presented for the signature of tho
Governor, in order to become a law,
he at once sent for Woodruff, then
Clerk Of the Senate, and Jones, tho
Clerk Of the House. Woodl uff ana
Jones held the largest claim against
the State, and the commission, under
this law, would have to pass upon
thom. The Governor told Woodruff
and Jones of this and represented to
them that, under this bill, he could ap
point just such missioncrs as he
wanted; that the Union Herald Ca
paper published at Columbia and run
in Chamberlain's !ntorcst) was sadly
in want Of funds and must have them,
and that unless Woodruff and Jones
would sing to the tune ofsix thousand
dollars, he would appoint commits
sion that would refdso to pay their
claims; but if they would pay this
sum into, tho depleted treasury Of the
Union Herald, he would either veto
tho bill or appoint commission that
would approve their claims. Woods
ruff and Jones had TO yield, the mone
ey was paid, and Chamberlain kept
his part OF the bargain by appointing
commission that approved their
claims. Another instance Of his ras-
cality is recorded: Ono Prico, n mere
chant of Philadelphia, held claim Of
1000 against tho State and had
waited long time for his money
No appropriation had been made by
the Legislature TO pay this claim and
Price become clamerous for his mons
cy. There was enough money in the
Treasury to pay the debt, bit as no
appropriation had been made the
/ money could not be diverted for its
payment. Chambcrlain proposed TO
Prico, through J. q. Thompson, eds
tor of the Union Herald, that If he
(Pricc) would pay $4,000 he could get
his money. Price agreed, and Cham.
berlain induced Cardozo, the State
Treasurer, to pay the claim out of the
money then in the Treasury. Cardo-
70 paid the money, and thus ChamN
berlain was guilty of q double crime
the receiving OF bribo and in pur-
suading Cardozo TO commit felony,
for to divert the funds was o felony
under the law, punishable with a
heavy fino and imprisonment. 1t is
said that Ex-Governor Moses is the
Suns correspondent and, if so, he
ought to know whereof ho writes.
Moses. Woodruff and Jones havo been
before the special commission and have
doubtless putthe commissionersin the
possession ofthese facts. We believe,
and have always believed, Chamber,
lain TO be tho head and centre of all
the corrupt transactions in this State,
hut, having moro brains than his
partnersin crime, he managed to put il
on d face Of honesty and reform. God
speed the day when all of his rascal.
tics shill be unearthod, and he made
10 snfgir the just penalties uf an out
4 raesa8 IatO