Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-31
SHERMAN, A SNEAK.
He Is Proven to Be the InstigatOr OF the
DastardIy Attacks Made Upon
the Character Of
Senator Wade Hampton, of South Caro-
lima, During the Presidential
Canvass in 1850.
Washington Special to the Charleston News and

Washington Special to the Charleston News and
Courier.
That John Sherman is a political trickster
and peculator OF public moneys few people
doubt after the developments of the last
presidential campaign and the outturn OF the
treasury investigation; but here is proof that
he carries his scoundrelism into private as
well as public life. Everybody knows that
since Senator Hampton convicted William
Tecumseh Sherman of lying in regard to the
burning of Columbia, the Sherman family
have been very bitter against him. 1t VIII
| also be remembered nat during the last
! presidential campaisH J0hn sherman, Ihen
secretary of the treasury, ialu pare nls ~
| spite bv replyipg1o 4 courteous letter OF in
| duiry from Sender Hampton with an open
| letter. most o.Kensive in its terms, and very
| Insulting to(he people of South Carolina.
Soon afterfhis the notorious South Carolina
| Radical and renegade white man, Roll
| lin IL Kirk, then employed in the treas
urv here, published a scurrilous and
| Iib1Ous attack upon Senator Hampton,
charging him with having aided in murder
ing a score of negroes in Mississippi, and
with such other otfenses as a villainous i'm
agination could conjure up. This letter was
circulated by the Republicans during the
last presidential campaign throughout the
Vest. Upon Sherman's exit from the treas
ury Kirk lost his place there: A month or
taneously his wretched campaign lies were
republisheG by a scaVeDger sheet in Charles
ton.
Upon this several of Senator Hampton's
friends determined to look into the matter.
Here was an employee of the government oc-
cupied in circulating the most abomniable
falsehoods against senator The attacks
were personal, not political, and as such
could Justly be objected to. Secretary Fol-
ger was seen and the facts laid before him.
He promptly admitted that Kinks course
was a sufficient cause for his discharge. He
sent for Kirk and Intercepted him. Kirk
admitted having written the letter, but begged
the secretary with tears in his eyes not
to discharge him, as he had wife and six
children 10 support. The attack, he de-
clared, was ordered by superior official.
Mr.. Folger communicated these facts to
Senator Hampton and offered to discharge
Kirk from Office if he desired it. Senator
Hampton replied that be would spare him,
but that he wished to know who had melted
the publication. Kirk, upon hearing this,
stated that the official was Secretary Sher-
man, and produced letter from the secre-
tary to prove the fact. This letter was read
by Senator Hampton and others, and Yves
returned to its owner.
1t seems that Kirk first wrote to the secre-
tary, who replied in substance as follows:
"In my position / cannot notice these things,
but / wish that you, or some one else, would
make formal statement OF the kind against
Hampton" Kirk said that coming from
the highest treasury officer he regarded the
letter as an order, and he also asserted that
Sherman promised, if he was discharged
from the treasury, to get him place at the
capitol.
These facts have been leaking out gradu-
ally, and they are now known to several
senators, who declare it the most dastardly
act they ever heard of. Here was the secre-
tary of the treasury of the United States en-
ploying the venom of his subordinate to
strike at the personal character of a senator.
The cowardIY brute who hires the services of
an assassin to murder his opponent is'as re-
ofahl