The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-14
The Future Career Of Honest John Pat
tprSOn.

Tho other day, JOHN PATTERSON of South
Carolina, styled Honest joins PATTERSON by
the facctious, informed n Washington agent
of the Associated Press that he had received
n letter from Mr.. YoUMANs, the Attorney
General of South Carolina, granting him
full pardon and Oblivion for any indictments
pending against him in that State" PAT
rrRsoN further informed the reporter that
he expected soon to leave Washington to
accept an important trust under the South
ern Pacific Railroad Company in Arizona
There is at least one good reason why the
reporter, before giving these statements to
the country. should have weighed. analysed.
and tested them according To the laws OF
evidence and the doctrines Of inherent
probability. Honest JoHN PATTERSON is an
unhlushiug and habitual liar His unsup-
ported word is worth just about rs much MS
one Of the fraudulent South Carolina bonds,
of the series issued by ScoTT, CHAMBER
LAIN, PARKER u Co. stamped with the
great seal Of the State by a notorious woman
in n hotel of this city. and put upon the
market by KfMPToN in Wall street.
Apart from this broad consideration
which Affects and qualities every public or
private uttorance of the Hon. JONI PATrER-
son. there were certain specific improba
bilities in the statement which should have
prevented the reporter from receiving II
with unquestioning trustfulness For in
stance, to believe that even In that State
the Acknowledgement has the power to grant
full pardon and oblivion " for such crimes
as PATTERSON has committed, implies
creduity that is amazing, to say the least
a. I II
party TO shield its criminals from the pun
ishmont they would otherwise receive under
tho law; and it seems to have been. t. II
certain extent. the policy Of the HAMPTON
Democrats Of South Carolina 10 assist in
this exacting labor. BY voting for the adj
mission of BUTLER. PATTERSON undoubtedly
made terms of some kind with the prose-
cutting authorities in the State which he had
helped To plumber. There has been too much
OF that kind Of bargaining since HAMPTON
struck hands with HAYES. But II PArrER-
son is 10 be allowed to escape the consc-
uucnces Of his criminal career. IL will lee
through some other louphole than " full
pardon and oblivion" granted 10y the At
torney-Genera 1t is hardly necessary TO
add that Mr.. YoUMASs denies having writ
ten any letter 10 PATTERSON granting him
amnesty and oblivion.
1t is easy 10 understand why this all hut
convicted and imprisoned thief is anxious,
now that his Senatorial career has ended, 90
get to Arizona or some other place near the
border. He no longer has q vote IN the sem
ate to trade of FOR protractions OF his lib
/ erty. Even the corrupt petty courts Of the
| District of Columbia can no longer shelter
| him from Sherin's officers. He dare not re-
! turn to South Carolina. whore there is
| neither five years nor one years good steal
/ ing left for him, and where he would imfne-
| diately bc seized and put in Jail by his late
| constituents, should be show himself among
| them. He naturally and inevitably joins
| the iuuumorablc army Of iugitlyes from jus
/ tlcc who flock to the border States and Ter
/ ritorics TO await, beyond the reach 81 writs,
the operation OF the statutes OF limitations.
The important trust which Honest
JoHN PATTERSON intends TO accept in Ari-
iona Is evidently another fiction Of his sup
pie tongue Railroad corporations and other
money making concerns managed on husi-
ness principles, do not confer important
trusts upon notorious thieves.