Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-03-07
Senator Gury's Explanation.

Mn. PRESIDENTS: ask your indulgence
for few n1ori,ents while avail myself of
the privilege accorded me as member of
this honorable body Of repelling charges
preferred against me by some base traducor.
In the columns of the New York Times
there recently appeared an ingenious but
mendacous end slanderous attack upon the
Hon. NJ. @. Butler, United States Senator
from South Carolina, and myself. It is not
my custom to engage in newspaper contro-
versy, nor under ordinary circumstances
would avail myself of my privilege as
Senator to meet on this floor accusations
made against me by correspondents of the
Northern press; but the orticlc referred to
has hcen reproduced in the National Re
publican, of the City of Washington, and
Systematically distributed among the mcm-
bcrs of this General Assembly by the in-
sirumentalty of its author or by some one
equally uufriendy and malicious. Tho
snme charges we're, during the memorable
campaign Of 1876, with evil intent, pub
lishcd in the columns of the Union Herald,
of Columbia, S. g., then edited by the
notorious carpet boggcr, j. G. Thompson,
and owned in greater part by Daniel II.
Chamberlain. This paper was the ackuow
lodged organ Of tho Radical party of South
Carolina and the mouth piece of the corrupt
leader. Tho authorship of this vile SANDER
no one then doubted, nor could the motive
aud spirit that prompted its publication be
questioned That this hcnchman of d.
II. Chamberlain's, encouraged perhaps by
other evil designing persons, is the author
of this renewed attuck, am credibly in
formed and fully believe. In reply to this
malicious SANDER, beg to make the follow
ing statement of facts:
In the month Of April, A. D. 1877, the
Hon. Nj. G. Butler, and were in the oity
of New York. Shortly after our arrival he
vas retained as counsel for Mcssrs. L. D.
Childs, J. =. Southern, j. b. Palmer, Il.
W. McNlasterj of South Carolina. and Wn.
D. Everett, of tho city of New York, the
three first named gentlemen being at that
time Presidents of banks in the city of
Columbia, S. G.. On the day after employ.
ing General Nj. G. Butler, NIessrs. Chids
aud Southern in behalf Of themselves aud
others, also retained me rs associate counsel.
Tho enterprise 10 which these gentlemen
were about to engage, as we we're then in
formed, was the purchase of large amount
OF bonds of tho State OF South Carolina, the
market value Of which was ut that time dc.
pressed. Their purpose in cmployiog
counsel was to secure our advice in selecting
the class OF bonds for Investment, and to
have us to represent them in or out Of court
in all dealings Herewith which might
require our professional services. At that
timo the credit of the State was greatly
impaired, her bouds depressed in market,
and widespread distrust in all her securities
prevailed among capitalists, North and
South 70 such an extent Had fraud and
corruption prevailed IN the management of
the finances of tho State that Capitalists
evcrywhers were timid and cautious in in
vesting in South Carolina bonds and stocks.
The records Of the courts of tho State
showed that these Investments wore to oapi.
tasts fruitful sources Of litigation, and thoy
were not unfrequently driven, at great
sacrifices, to resort to tho Supreme Court to
enforce their rights. Reputation was
openly advocated and generally apprchcnded
and widespread dissatisfaction aud distrust
pcrvaded the mind of the public. To dis
tinguish between the valid ard fraudulent
debt of the State was next to impossible,
and as consequence, men with funds to
invest fouhdit necessary to cmploy attorneys
to advise and protect them Ia their dealings
in South Carolina securities We were, at
this juncturo and uhdof these circumstances,
employed by these gentlemen. At first we,
as is customary, demanded retainer, but
wore prevailed upon t. accept contingent
fee out of tln not nrnfifa of iho contcm :.