The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-27

State could not be collected until $4,000 OF the
amount had been handed over TO Gov. Moses,
wns not lodged maRnincenty enough Hence
he bought the Preston mansion. considered tho
finest in the South and with the improvements
tween 100000 and ~ so 600. For this he was
obliged to increase the tariff Of his charges. He
kept on army OF servants. a stabeful Of horses
POUNDED by all these attractions no is known to
have spent the night in the equalor Of the low
drunken colored women. His passion for new
faces bordered upon insanity. In ono day he
WAS known to spend 1900 upon a low creature
whom he had then met for the first time.
Bu. Gov, Moses continued to look after his
political interests. and to proclaim himself the
fled his regard for the coored race 10y pardon
ing almost every negro convict in the State.
During his administration law was a mockery.
Eelons knew that influence or money would huy
their pardon from Moses. In the Charleston
circuit alone. in one year. there were 227 con-
victions and 81 pnrdons. or these % we're par.
doncd by telegraph the day after the conviction.
Gov Moses dcsi rcd to control political news
Columbia Union Herald He was to pay $4,000
for AN interest and in order TO raise the money
appointed a negro lad named Humbcrt Treas-
urcr Of Ornngchurg County. He made draft
for $4,000 on tho contingent fund OF the state
and sent 1t to Humhcrt. and directed him To- tako
the taxes to that amount and pay them over
| to the proprietor Of tho newspaper. Humbert
| did SO but when he presented tho Governors
| draft to the state Treasurer there was no money
| to pay it. as the Governor had already taken up
| the whole ot the contingent fund. Humbert was
subsequently arrested on tho charge Of being n
| dcfaulter to the State. and the Governor tried
| to persuade him To- plead guilty. pledglng him
self TO pardon him immediately Solicitor
| Buttz OF the Charleston circuit. an enemy OF
| the Governor. heard Of this scheme and caused
| an Indictment to be- found against Moses Tor
| aiding. ahetting. and advising in the commits
| sion OF fraud and attempted grand larceny
| against the state. warrant was issued and
but Moses called out "A battalion Of the State
| militia, and so ovorawed the Sheriff that he
the warrant The warrant was subsequently
The term Of office OF Gov. Moses expired in
| 1874. Weeks before when his money began tc
flow less freely and his means Of obtaining II
vanished. those who had called themselves his
friends began to fall away from him. Even his
faithful black followers began to doubt him
man. To stem the feeling that was risinG
ne caused II to be announced that he would de-
liver n discourse IN one OF the colorcd churches
in which he would show his. fidelity To thu
mense Saden enc "T and Els pcriormSncs wal
greatly laudcd. But some wcll-read gcntlcmei
among his hearers pronounced II word to
word Robert Halls famous address of ModerI
| lntiiclty'
Moses sought the denomination for the Gov
ernorship. but failed. and retired from th
office worth less than 500. To support him
self and family he sold piece by piece his iurni
| turC and ut length his heavily mortgaRcd house
and was thrown out into the streets Of the tow
which only ~ few years before had boen brillian
with the jewels. ipagcs, laces and velvet
that his money had bought In year's tim
his only income was derived from small In
terest he had in n gambling place in Columbia
When the Legislature met he tried lobbying
but with no profit. Some time aiterward
the faithful blacks elected him TO tn
; Judgcship Of the sumter district. but Coy
Chamberlain refused TO sign his commiss lor
and no never enjoyed the Office. Moses the
disappeared until the canvass OF 1876 whom h
tried To run again for the Legislature ia Charles
ton, but could get no one 10 support MN. fo
! n time he WINS employed on q Republican cam
paign newspaper in Charleston. displayin
much brilhancy in his writings, but no was 10
restless 10 continue At that work Then he OF
! tanned a little prominence as u sort OF middle
| man between his father. who has been mad
! | Chief Justice OF the State. and the agents {
: samuel J. Tilden. He turned States evidenc
when number OF Republican eN-ofilceholdef
! | of South Carolina were indicted and so escape
; | punishment. Then he quilted South Carolin
l and went to New York, living IA best he could.
: Moses returned TO South Carolina after hi
, father died. begging Of his family and friend
E | for few hundred dollars n small piece
: property. giving him the proceeds. with whic
" he promised To go 10 Texas and start Hgaii
/, | But he had hardly quilted their sight when the
| discovered that he had taken the few trink e
: and articles Of value that his wife and motht
9 | had preserved from the wreck OF their fortune
B They traced him TO New York. procured an II
: | dictment against him. and sent on an officer
|. | arrest him. He made some restitution, an
y the officer did not take him into custody. II
wife has lately procured n divorce, and h
\ | when last heard from, was still living on b
4 wits In New York. He has been frequent
buy the food TO save himself from atsolu
| afu