The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1883-04-05
Jay Hubb ell-ChaImery.


of Manning against Chalmers Mr.. ia,
Hubbell was called on to give an account
OF small part of his stewardship of the
republican campaign fund raised by 80
called voluntary contributions from the
government clerks, laberers and scrub
women, not forgetting the Post Office
cat.
Mr.. Chalmers is the Mississippian
who tried. in the last Cougre ess, as O
democrat, to get the seat to which very
respectable colored republican, Lynch,
had been fairly elected. Being defeated
in that attempt he appears to have en-
tered at once into communications with
the republicans; or rather, with Mr.. Jay
Hubbell. Hubbell testtes that he chad
M interview with Chalmers about the
time Chalmers was turned ont Of Con
gress," in which Chalmers told him he
proposed to go to Mississippi and an
nounce himself as an independent adj
ministration candidate. After some con
versation the report before us continues:
-"General Chalmers said to the witness
(Jay HnbbelD that he had been to "A
good deal OF expense in making the con,
test, and alleged other reasons why he
WAS short of money and wanted as'is =
ance, and urged that there was no better
way of spending money than by doing
so if republican victory was really
wanted in that district"
Even Mr.. Jay Hubbell appears to have
been little disgusted with Chalmers,
for the report goes on:-"The witness
replied, General, you 60 down there
and make the race in your district, as
You have talked here. / will give you
two hundred and fifty dollars as send
off, but it must be upon the distinct I'M
derstanding that the committee is to
have nothing further to do with your
fight and to furnish no further aid, either
III money or otherwise.
Mr.. Hubbell has not the reputation Of
being squeamish, and this was his reply,
which would have sent almost anybody
except Chalmers away with n blush of
shame on his face. But Chalmers is not
that kind of man. He returned to the
charge, for the report continues
"General Chalmers said, Suppose the
republicans of the district nominate me;
what will you do then2' we will con-
slider that question when it comes up, or
we will consider other questions when
they arise, replied MIR. Hubbell, who
invited General Chalmers to call in the
evening and receive the money"
Mr.. Jay Hubbell invited General Chal.
mers to "call In the evening and receive
the money"-namely, two hundred and
fifty dollars. Thereupon Dir. Hubbell
testified. "He called in the evening and
the money was paid"
1t must be remembered that General
Chalmers was not yet candidate He
had Just, to use Mr.. Hubbells very &C
curate phrase, "been turned out of Con-
gress," the House having declared by n
parlizan vote that he had unjustly
claimed and wrongfully sat in tho seat
of MIR. Lynch. He had not been nomi.
mated by any convention of any party.
He proposed scheme to Mr.. Hubbell
which appears to have disgusted cv n
that not over-nice politician. He plead.
cd poverty; he chad been at good deal
OF expense in making the contest" for q
sat to which he had not the shadow of a
rightful claim, but had he not drawn the
pay OF Congressman, to which he was
not entitled? He besides, says Mr. II ub-
bell, "alleged other reasons why he was
short Of money!" and Mr.. Hubbell, after
a good deal of pleading by Chalmers
latter quite n long conversation" says
the report-answered him as one an-
swers beggar who has become tire
some. He said, "Call in the evening
and I'll give you some money"-two
hundred and fifty dollars, namely. And
Chalmers ''called in the evening and the
money was paid"
Now, campaign funds" will, we sup
pose, be raised and disburscd, even
though government clerks may not be
deprived of their wages to furnish them.
But the object of campaign fund is 10
defray the legitimate political expenses
of candidate after he is nominated; to
enable him to make his candidacy pro.
perly known to the people. Moreover,
a candidate with nice, or even only n
tolerably nice, sense of honor wouid
refuse with indignation to receive or
handle this money himself. But Mr..
Chalmers had no nice scruples. He was
not q candidate when he was abjectly
begging to Mr.. Hubbell; he pleaded,
not the necessity Of his party, but his
personal poverty; he "callcd in the
evening and was paid' two hundred and
fifty dollars, and Mr.. Hubbell, who is q
Northern man, must have got curious
notion of Southern gentlemen" when
he saw Chalmers going ont of the room
with the money in hlspocket.
1t will be for Congress, when it meets,
to declare what was the meaning of this
payment to Chalmers. Either he re-
ceived it Us an importunate beggar or he
received it as corrupt consideration fol
a political service to be rendered. In
either case surely Chalmers is unfit tC
occupy seat in Congress. We notice
that Mr.. Manning, his opponent, Inns
given notice that, though we believe he
has the certificate, he will no. take the
seat or allow the Clerk to put his name
on the roll of the House until the House
shall affrm his right. That, at lc 3 il
honomste conduct, and in strong con
trast with the coulse of Mr. Chalmers.
There are evidently two kinds Of Mis-
sissippians. We trust the House when
it meets will declare the election void
and let new one be hold.-Ne,O Yori
Herald