The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-04
Senator Hampton on smalls.


The Republicans of the House, as las
been stated, propose to work for all it is
worth the contested 30 ton case Of Smalls
VS.. Elliott, from Soutl Carolina. The case
| has been laid aside temporarily by the
Elections Committee, but whel it comes
before the House the speeches of the Repub-
lican members will be made, no doubt.
more with view to catching the ear of
voters who may be Influenced by appeals to
prejudice than for the purpose of giving the
facts in the case.
The MORNING News has pointed out that
Col Elliott was fairly elected, and that
Smalls' defeat was due to his waning in
fiuence among the colorel voters, to the
growing Indifference of the colored people
to politics, aud to failure to comply with
the election laws. 1t is pretty certain that
Col Elliott will be declared entitled to his
seat; aud if there We're any doubt as to his
right to it, that doubt ought to be removed
by some facts furnished by Senator Wade
Hampton in the current number of the
Forum.
Senator Hampton shows in convincing
way the wholesale robbery practiced by the
carpetbag government of South Carolina
from 1868 to 1876 He does not ask the
reader to accept his statement, but he pre-
sents established facts, from the report Of
the legislative committee appointed in 1877
to investigate the affairs Of that period
This committee was appointed on motion of
a Republican Senator, native of the State,
and a Republican was made chairman of it.
The most damaging testimony taken before
1t was given by Republicans. For instance,
the public printing cost in one year $780,
900, which was more than the cost of like
work in Massachusetts,, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Maryland and New York combined; and at
one time when an appropriation of $3.50, 900
was made for printing, $l12,550 was paid
out in brides to secure the passage
of the bill. The carpetbag Governor
received 20,000 the Treasurer
Sl2,500 and Senators and Representatives
sums ranging from $50 to 5000.
On this point Senator Hampton says:
Among the distinguished statesmen who
fill this roll of honor, Senator Robert Smalls
holds conspicuous place. He was valued
high, for the price paid for him was s., 900.
mention him as a shining example, for
after he was convicted of bribery by jury,
half of whom, if | remember Alright, were
colored men, and was by Republican
judge sentenced to the penitentiary, he,
after being pa.doned by the Demo-
cratic Governor of the State, was chosen
by his admiring friends of the Seventh Con-
gressional district as a fit representative in
the lower House of Congress. / am happy
to say that his constituents, apprised as
they have been of his disreputable conduct,
and recognizing the shame that attached to
them in having such representative on the
f)or of Congress, relegated him, at the last
election, to the walks of private life, much
to their honor. All the other criminals con-
victed at that time were pardoned, for l
expressed the opinion that the wisest states
manship consisted of the most general am
nesty. But l confess that hardly expected
to see q convicted and pardoned criminal
representing my State as member of Con-
gress
Can any one, after reading the above,
place confidence in anything that Smalls
may do or says Can Congressman, with
these facts before them, believe any state
ment that Smalls may make. or cause his
attorney to make, in reference to this con-
tested election cases Is it not reasonable to
suppose that Smalls was induced to make
the contest in order that political capital
might be made out of it, by a misrepre-
sentation of the facts, and that he more
willingly entered into the scheme in the
hope of paying for a little enjoyment in
Washington out of the money that might
be allowed him for expenses of the contests