New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-07
CHAMBERLAIN'S RECORD.
"A CHAPTER OF CARPETBAG HISTORY.

ton IN tho southern States BY WALTER ALLEN
g. p Putnam's Sons, NcwYork and London. Large
octave. Pages viii, sd.
There IS no more interesting career IN the annals
Il Reconstruction than that OF Daniel II. Chamberlain.
Born in Massachusetts he Abolonist by In
stnct, and left his law school TO enter the Army.
After the he settled in South Carolina, and In less
than three years had become Atorney-Genera lie
served four years, having for his colleagues as state
officers the men who made up what is known as the
South Carolina Ring. During this period the debt
Of the State was increased from s1,4o',3oo2' 10
e1 the latter including unpaid interest for
three years. No public works OF any appreciate
importance has been begun completed" says MIR.
Allen. the entire increase OF about thirteen million
dollars may be said represent only increased, eN-
uavagant and profgate current expenses Mr..
Chamberlain then ont Of Office for two years was
nominated for Governor and elected. lie al once
took strong ground for retrenchmen and reform,
bitterly opposed by the corrupt section of the Re
publican party, with a number of whom he had pre-
vously acted, and received warm support from Dem
ocratc politicians and newspapers. The history OF
the campaign of 1876 is familiar After the Demo-
Gratis entered into power, through the withdrawal Of
the Federal troops, there futile prosecutions Of
several members of the Ring. Niles G. Parker, the
former State Treasurer, and of
Governor Chamberlain's three colleagues in
the Financial Board who had been
prosecuted while Chamberlain was Governor, made a
confession charging him with guilty knowledge of their
transactions, and with having drafted every act
passed to carry out their plans. Much other test-
mony tending TO show this taken in the course
Of investigation by the Legislature Mr.. Cham
berlaln who had come TO the North TO practice law,
indicted along with many others; he challenged
trial. nolle proseQu finally entered, and he
remained in unds turbed pursuit OF his profession in
this city.
1t has always been claimed on behalf Of Mr. Cham
berlain and is claimed in tnis book, that his in
,oIi, ,no-s oil boop % rnfcn tond-
would natural, then to expect the best expla-
nation and defence nc could make in book put for
ward avowedly with his approval But the reader Is
surprised TO find that his whole career up to the time
OF his canvass for Governor is almost ignored in this
work Enough is said, unavoidahy perhaps, TO
show that he distrusted a candidate for Gov
ernOr the ground OF his past associations, but
there IS attempt TO prove that he opposed
the Ring schemes used the influence Of his posi-
ton TO check them. lie during his entire term
of service Attorney General one of the four mem-
bcrs of the Financial Board. The other three were
II. H. Kimpton, the agent Of the Board in New.York,
The lOOsencSs of whose methods, and the
shocking extravaganza OF whose expenses were
among the chief scandals Of the Ring; Parker, an
barkcepcr. and then state Treasurer: and Governor
Scott, OF odOrous memory. We look in vain for any
suggestion that OF Mr. Chamberiains excep-
tiona ability could have sat for four years IN a
Financial Board of four members under whom the
Stale debt trebled, and without knowing what
going On the contrary. he is record
having publicly identified himself with these men,
and having vehemcntly defended them against
charges which were rife when they had been IN office
two years. When ne a candidate for reelection
Attomey-Gencral under Governor Scott. he said
speech at Chester, August 10. 1870:
here defend the policy and acts OF Governor
and his Administration in the management OF the
and credit Of the I that this is
the vital point cause. the rock which split
II A II charges OF these kcfOrmefS'
tc day made good quit your presence forever II
General Butler Judge Carpenter prove to you to-day
any fraudulent act instance Of msmanagcment or
mappr pratOn OF public funds under the present A1
mnistlaton then let your swift condemnation fall
leader. Drive nom onlce-aye, drive from the
State. Whenever the Reform leaders make good
single charge. fas,en single fraud history
for the last years let descend TO merlted fnfamy
THIS speech does not appear in Mr.. Aliens book
Neither do tho statements made by witnesses in the
course Of the investigation by the South Carolina
legislature after Governor Chamberlan's enforced
retreat from Office 1t is not necessary to take the
reader through tho OF the orgy of corruption
that relsncd in South Carolina under carpet bag rule.
There Is no dispute 10 the character of the Rings
transactions. The only question is as to Mr..
Chambcrans completely. We have. therefore, ex-
am.ncd with interest the official record of this inves
tgauon contained in the Reports and Resolutions
Of the General Assembly OF South Carolina for 167779,7
a pond,rous volume OF nearly 1000 pages We cite
small part Of the evidence given there regarding Mr.
ChamberaiD.
The laws authorizing issues OF bonds passed,
OF course, by the Legislature, not by the Financial
Board State Treasurer Parker testified to the
origin OF them:
know that the acts providing for State loans were in
instances II ALL shown to before they
presented the General Assembly They submitted
by Mr.. Kmpton, by Mr. Chamberlain. or by both.
The acts l understood, always drawn by Mr.
Chamberlain then the Attorney General of the Stale Nj
ir ouph draffs
Ne-York. but always MI Chamberlain. and they
always submitted to NE and I approved what they
brought do think that the General Assembly made
any changes in the prepared by Mr. Chamberlain
for tho purpose OF making loans.
Parker also:
II through Nj Chamberlain's influence that Kmp-
ton appointed fin; Bcal OF the State. Mr..
Clamberain Informed MT before Mr. Kmpton's appoint
Inent that Mr.. Erpton, II appointed. would divide .s
commissions among Us three-Mr Kmpton, Mr.. Chamber
isn myself-and Mr. Kimpton made agreement to
that effect with twoHr. Chamberlain and mvselfbc-
fore his appointment We had him appointed the
strength Of that agreement Mr. Kmpton carried this
out only partially. Mr. Chamberlain admitted to me that
he had received money from Mr. Kmpton this
count. but never owned receiving much as did
which was about So 900 Our shares would have been
about $4,000 The total amount Of commissions al
lowed Mr. Kimpton about $3.50 600 being nearly
per the amount he reported have sold al
the IN addition TO the commissions paid by Rim
% other brokers the per on loans
Al
eta Board he Kcmpion) received due bill for about
eIso tho Financial Board as the balance Of
missions due him. This. according to agreement,
would De divided equally between him-Chamberlan. !
gimpon and myself; and just before Chamberlain al
dressed his communication the public in the
1874 concerning made against him with
public debt and other matters connected with
Governor Scot's administration he promised by the
side his bod in his house that II would
n that which had prepared 10 before the pub
lie without contradiction and he should nominated and
elected as Governor. I should be paid share OF tho
s13o 600 as expressed in said due bill. and that
OF carly day.
Parker testified also that SO 900 used 10 carry
three financial bills through the legislature, $4,000
beng expended in the Senate The proceeds OF state
bonds were used TO pass number Of the bond bills |
Parker swore that when the Taxpayers Convention