The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-05-26
The Successors of John G.. Calhoun:
NeW York SIM.

Ct 4 ~ SS'
The career of John James Patterson, q sue
cessor Of john c. Calhoun, In the United
| States Senate, Is aptly illustrated by his let
tcrs, elsewhere printed. He entered the Sch
tie smirclcd with charges Of bribery and cor
%ruptiOn, and held hiS seat through his deyo'
ton to the interests of the Grant Ring. Ht
was foremost among the ~plundcrers OF Soutl
Carolina, II at the end of the corrupt ad
ministration Of Gov. Moses solaced his con
federatcs with the assurance that there were
| four years of good stealing left. Through hi
influence with the administration they were
kept In power and protected. Federal offices
were prostituted to nid the State thieves: Til
stealing was 30 good that the raScals began
TO quarrel among themselves. The eyes o.
the negroes were opened. State taxes hac
crippled capital and were crushing labor.
In 1876 the Democracy nominated wade
Hampton for Governor. With Don Cameron
SON WIS all-powerful. Troops were qda rtcred
In every county Of the state, and were used
to influence the election. The feeling among
the negroes, however, was deep seated. Inc
%dcspollcrs were routed. Their efforts TO es'
tabiish q bogus State Government on the bay
onets of the troops failed, and Hampton was
the recognized Governor.
The storm had come, and the thieves wert
without shelter. Patterson's letters show th9
straits to which they were reduced. "God
only knows what Is to become Of u.s." he
writes from the Senate Chamber. ut Is toe
late t0.cry,a and the only plan Is TO meet the
future" The doors Of the penItentiary were
yawning before him, under q Democratic
lie feared q rcquisition. He hustened to make
terms with the new Suite Administration
Butler writes me that no rcquisition Will be
sent" he says In another letter written IN the
Senate Chamber, land that the Attorney
General will notify me by letter OF the find
Ing of the indictment, which he has done In
O very respectful letter." Still trembling IN
his boots, he visited Judge Humphreys of the
ntctrtof Spnrnmn Gnnrf nnNnintP1 nnn0T
Grant. The Interview was satisfactory. u
now feel perfectly easy and happy since ! saw
Judge Humphreys yesterday writes the
Senate on Sept. Is, 1877, land don't care q
damn" -,
The same letter, however, contains a pitt;
rul appeal for money. You got as much as l
did, lie says to the Collector OF the Port OF
Charleston, n Invested nothing. You v
had US good and better office than mine, and
1t cost you nothing {; and yet am to bear the
brrnt OF the fight and all the expense. |
must pay my counsel. Is there no way to
raise me at leastS300: 1t would be u godsend.
know you would II you had the money, but
you never could keep any money: DO what
you can and let ME know" Fifteen days
afterwards the senator pawned the Collectors
watch to raise the wind.
q. He was saved from the. penitentiary. The
letter OF Sept. 30 gives M inkling how he was
saved. Judge Bacon is here,'' he writes.
"and says that he and Butler have arranged
matters with Hampton, and that l can rely
upon IL that no rcQuisition will be sent. lie
SAYS Hampton Is very friendly. or these
things you must not speak. NOrthrop was
appointed to please Hampton. Hayes asked
me to make no objection"
These letters throw q lurid light upon the
alleged bargain between II. B. Hayes, Wade
Hampton. and NJ. {. Butler, by which apuh'
lie rogue was saved from Justice. Under this
alleged bargain acknowledgements were quashcd
Butler, was Admitted to the United states
Senate, and he and Wade Hampton are de.
Tending the claim Of VIM. Pitt Kellogg to O
seat on the floor of the Senate Chamber. a
sovereign State has been covered with shame
by the compromising Of n felony that has
and covered the shoulders Of O rcputed man
Of honor with the toga OF o James Pat
terSOn.