The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-07-08

Major Corbin was at one time the judge
advocate. He was subsequently employ
ed by the Freedman's Bureau to repre-
sent the freedmen in all cases which were
tried before the court, and in which it
invariably happened that their old mas.
tiers were either complainant or deten-
dant. AS the court travelled all through
the county, and as Bowen always repre-
sented the negroes before the court, it is
easy to understand the origin of the
wonderful hold which he acquired upon
the affections Of the ignorant blacks.
He was shrewd enough to perceive the
opportunity; the negroes in the country
regarded him as their savior, and he lost
no occasion to strengthen the influence
which he has ever since exercised over
the blacks in the county, and which
bound them to his interests as with hooks
of steel. In 1866 Bowen and Mackey,
Hurley, II. Judge Moore and Gilbert
Pillsbury began the work of organizing
the Republican party in this State.
They held a convention, the first Repub-
lican Convention ever held in the State,
in Daddy Gains church on Calhoun
street, but as the other sections of the
State were not fully represented it was
adjourned and another was held few
months later in Columbia. In the inter-
val between these two conventions Bowen
was arrested at the instance of the Bu-
reau, upon charge of having sold some
cotton belonging to freedmen bn one of
the islands and refusing to pay over the
proceeds. He was incarcerated in Castle
Pinckney, but his tremendous political
influence with the blacks, although at
that time just in its incipiency, stood him
in good stead. A collection was taken
up among them and sufficient money
raised to defray the expenses of conduct
ing his defence. Some sort of compro-
mise was effected and the affair blew
over, Bowen having been released after
brief imprisonment. In 1867 he defend
ed the negroes who led the famous street
car riots, and this gave him hold upon
fore been comparatively unknown.
| His first and most prominent appear
ance in political life, however, was as a
delegate in the falous Constitutional
Convention in 1867. He took a prom-
nent part in its deliberations, and was
chairman of the judiciary committee.
After the adjournment of the Conven-
tion he was nominated for the unexpired
term for Congress, his opponents being
@. J. Stolbrand and Gilbert Pillsbury.
There being but one candidate in the
| field, be was of course elected, served his
term, land was reelected for the full term
of lS6S-70. In 1870 occurred the split
in the Republican party of Charleston
County, by which the party ever after.
wards was divided into the Bowen and
Mackey factions. 1t was brought about
by Bowen himself, who, as Congressman,
secured the removal of DR.. A. G. Mackey
as collector of the port The Mackey
party at once boiled, and commenced q
bitter war against him in the ranks Of
their own party. They put up r. G. De-
Large, q mNlatto, who will be remem-
bered as bed. ing prominent part in the
early history of Republican government
in this State, and, after very bitter con-
test, DeLarge got the certificate of elec-
tion and was seated. Bowen contested
his seat before Congress, however, and a
few days before the expiration of the
term the committee on privileges and
elections declared that neither of them
had been elected, and, as was usual in
those days, paid both. 1t was while this
contest was going on that he married
Mrs. S. Petigru King in Washington,
and was soon afterwards indicted for
bigamy. There were two trials, both of
which occurred in 1871, in the Criminal
Court of the District Of Washington.
He had been married previously to
Frances Hicks, and it was alleged 10
Tabitha Parks, although he denied that
he had ever married the latter. A letter
was produced, written by Bowen, and
Offering the Parks woman one thousand
dollars if she would consent to a divorce.
One of the trials at Washington resulted
in mistrial; on the second he was con-
victed, and was sentenced to fine and
| Imprisonment. He remained in Jail,
however, but short time, when he WAS
pardoned by President Grant.
Immediately after his release he re-
turned to Charleston and began to make
war upon Governor Scott, who had been
instrumental in defeating him in the
Bowen-DeLarge contest. By his order,
J. J. Hardy, colored member of the
Legislature, resigned and he was elected
in his place. He went to Columbia,
procured an investigation (the Dennis
Hurley committee) and moved for an
impeachment of Scott. The latter, how.
ever, at that time, had control OF the
treasury; the Investigators were bought
over and the impeachment fell to the
ground.
After serving out Hardy's term in the
Legislature he returned to Charleston,
and in 1872 was nominated for sheriff
against E. w. NJ. Mackey. The fight
was close one, the Bowen faction win.
ming by between 500 and 600 votes. The
Mackey faction contested the election
before the board of State canvassers, but
at that time John j. Patterson had his
eyes directed to the United States Sen
ate. Bowen saw the situation and at
once made bargain by which his dele.
cation to the Legislature were to vote for
Patterson for the United States Senate,
and the board of State canvassers being
Patterson's friends, decided the contest
in Bowen's favor. The delegation I'd the
Legislature faithfully carried out their
share of the contract by voting for Pat
terson, and elected him to the United
States Senate.
In 1876 the organization of the
Straightout Democracy healed the breach
in the Republican ranks in Charleston
County. The Bowen and Mackey fac
tions, who had fought each other so long
and bitterly, coalesced and Bowen was
unanimously renominated for Sheriff and
| Ninnkau for Cnnnress Hamntnr, ,,n.