The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-03-08
REPUBLICAN CROOKEDNESS.


with which the Republican leaders endorse
the conduct of the carpet-baggers who for
years dominated over the South and attempt
to shield criminals Of the worst class from
ust punishment. Wells, Anderson & Co.,
by fraud and forgery actually placed Hayes
in the Presidential chair. Their guilt has
been duly established, and yet pitiful whines
go up from the Republican press, at what
they call persecution" as if laws were only
made to restrain petty criminals. Wells
and Anderson'at present are enjoying the
two best Federal Offices in Louisiana, al
though the latter is now in the peniten-
tiary.
Iu South Carolina white and black voters
united TO overthrow the most rotten admin
istration that ever cursed people. Its in
quities are daily coming to light, not only by
direct proof but by the confessions OF the
thieves. Aud yet the whole power of the
National Government, and, the entire Re-
publican party, united to continue and per-
petuate the rule of notorious scoundrels. As
an illustration we call attention to the case
John Wright, colored carpet bagger from
Wyoming county, we believe who became
Judge of the Supreme Court of South
Carolina. The testimony of ExGoy. Moses
who was in the Ring" given before the
Legislative Investigating Committee is as
follows
an the spring of 1873, during the May
Term of the Supreme Court, which was COM
posed of mysfather as Chief Justice Will
lard and Wright the latter a CO. ored man,
case came up on appeal from the Charles
ton Circuit for adjudication by the Supreme
Court. / was Governor at the time, and
was known to possess great personal influence
over Judge Wright, from long personal and
official association, and also from the fact
that was the only prominent white man in
the Republican party whe favored colored
man for the Supreme Court. The case |
speak of was one which had attracted good
deal of public attention, both on account of
the large amount of money involved and
also because of the novel points of law it
presented for settlement. OF the exact de-
tails of the case as they came up in proof
before the Court am not certain that can
speak with absolute knowledge, but the
general features of il know and can swear
was had to obtain a decision from the Su-
preme Court.
"Mr. VIM. Whaley is appointment lawyer
of Charleston City, and he brought suit
ot of sha ha be has Iap h.,
following state of facts, AS nearly as under
stood them Mr.. Whaley's father, who was
very wealthy man, had died just at the be-
ginning of the war and had left on deposit
In the banks referred to very large amount
of money, perhaps 100000 or $4,000, and
may be even more. He had left his son,
VIM. Whaley, as his executor. Soon after
his fathers death Mr.. YIN. Whaley called
on the banks for the money, and they ten.
dered to him in payment thereof Confeder-
ate currency, which he refused to accept
Several times he made the same demand and
on each occasion he received the same tend
er, which he invariably refused. After the
war, and somewhere about 1870 or 1871 per-
haps, he brought a suit against the banks
for the whole amount involved and the case
was tried before the Circuit Court, in
Charleston,by Judge Robert F. Graham and
ajury. The verdict of the jury was in IA
vor of The plaintiff, Mr.. Whaley, and from
that verdict the banks appealed and asked
that the Supreme Court grant them new
trial. In the trial of the case before the
Circuit Court Mr.. Whaley's leading lawyer
was james B. Campbell, of Charleston. But
when the appeal before the Supreme Court
Mr.. Whaley employed Mr. Daniel II. Cham
berlain as associate counsel. Mr.. Chamber
lain had been Attorney General under Scott
for five years, but at that time was the law
partner Of 5. w. Melton, then Attorney
General. The argument took place before
full bench in the Supreme Court, and Camp
bell and Chamberlain made the argument in
favor Of Whaley, while the banks were rep.
resented by General James Conner now
Attorney General under the Hampton ad-
administration. Some time after the argu.
ment had taken place ! heard from various
SOURCES that the Supreme Court was divided
s
being in favor of sustaining Whaleys claim
aud Justice Willard contra, thus leaving it
to Judge Wright, the colored Justice, to give
the deciding voice. In a few days Mr..
Chamberlain called on me at my office in
the State-House and asked me to see Judge
Wright and ascertain how much money it
would be necessary to pay him for decision
In Whaleys favor. ] myself desired to have
Whaley succeed in his suit, as he had been
Lille long friend of my fathers and was
personally friendly in his feelings towards
me. In accordance with Mr.. Chamberlain
request, | called on Judge Wright and found
that it would require $4,000 to get him to
decide in Whaleys favor, aud that the money
must be secured to him beforehand. so
reported to Chamberlain, and thereupon he
lChamberlain) drew up in his own hand
writing and signed himself in my Office two
notes promising to pay Wright in one note,
thirty days after. date, 81 900 and in the
other, sixty days after date, 81 500. These
notes were turned over to Wright, ,and he filed
his opinion in favor of Whaley's claim, and
the Chief Justice agreeing with him, Whale,
gained his suit. Afterwards Wright had the
notes discounted before they were due, on,
of them by Mr.. c. @. Puffer, who was at tn,
time receiver of the State, and the other b,
Mr.. j. 5. Fillebrown, who was chief Clerl
in the office of the Comptroller General
These gentlemen were both paid the money
due on the notes by Mr.. Chamberlain"
Soldiers of 1872