The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-04-23

How he Rehaloilitated q Shattered State in
1876.
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consummatc military leader that his
greater and more lasting achievements
in rehabiitating shattered State,
allaying racial and political hatred
and securing for himself and his pco-
pie the confidence of the American
public have been almost overlooked.
The condition Of South Carolina
after four years Of war and eleven of
reconstruction was pitiabc. Her
territory Lid su ifercd the effects Of a
terrible invasion. The whites had
been stigmatizcd as unrcpcntant rob
els, subjected to the mercy Of an un-
scrupulous mock government, put in
power by dcbascd suffrage and held
there by the whole civil and military
force Of the United States. Heavy
taxes had been raised only to be
squandered, while simultaneously q
great fraudulent public debt had been
incurred; yet honest claims remained
unsatisicd and charitable institutions
were kept from starvation only through
the personal credit of their supcrin-
tcndents and the bencGccncc Of local
merchants. The machinery Of justice
was clogged and its slow and imper-
feet work was nullifed by the pardon
ing power Of an unscrupulous Exccu-
tive. Judge Mackcy On one occasion
in sentencing a prisoner truly said:
'"The Executive mansion throws a
shadow broad and deep across the
THRESHOLD of this Court Futile at
"pts were made by the better class
# Republicans, assisted by Conscrva-
tives, to overthrow this corrupt ma
chine in 1870 and again in 1872. In
1874 coalition of Liberal Republi-
cans and Conservatives made a des-
perate fight, but were defeated,
although the normal Radical majority
was reduced from $4,000 to 1000.
Some good men were elected to the
Legislature, but they were mere
handful and could only protest and
expose.
Fortunately, Chamberlain, who had
been elevated to the Office of Cover
nor by the regular Republicans,
pledged to reforms, was much better
man than his associates and bitterly
antagonized the worse elements of his
party. But experience showed that
the Radical party could not purify
itself. In December, 1875, taking ad-
vantage of the temporary absence of
Chamberlain from Columbia, the Legis-
lature elected to the Bench f. J.
Moses, Jr., the former Governor,
whose rapacity was notorious, and w.
j. Whipper, colored man, who was
reported to have received the Judge
ship as solace for losses at the gam
ing table. Chamberlain hasteuod
back to the Capital and in u noted in
terviow with +. W. Dawson, editor of
the News and Courier, declared this
act crime against civilization, and
proclaimed that these men should not
be allowed to take their seat. Fortu-
nately an irregularity had occurred in
the election and itwas set aside by
the Supreme Court. But the bold
stand taken By the Governor rallied to
his support the whites of the State
and gave him great popularity, espe-
cially in those counties that had been
rescued from this danger. Many be-
gan to believe that they saw "way
out of the wilderness BY not opposing"
the reelection of Chamberlain and
bending every effort to the election of
minor State officers aad the Legisla-
ture. AS late as the 2Sth Of June,
1876, on the occasion Of the celebra-
tion of the centennial Of the battle Of
Fort Moultrie, Hampton and Cham
berlaiu rode in the same procession, at
the head Of volunteer troops cou-
manded by Stephen D. Lee.
Less than fortnight after, how
ever, occurred the Hamburg riot,
which at once opened breach be-
tween the two parties that became
widencd with the progress of subsc-
quent events. A cry arose, mainly in
the Piedmont, for "a s.raightout
Democratic fight for every Office from
President of the United States to pre-
cinct constable
At this time Wade Hampton was in
Mississippi caring for his large landed
interests in that State. But he was
still regarded as the foremost Caro-
linian living. It was asserted that
his presence and his ringing voice in
o political contest would cast the same
magic spell over his followers as he
was wont &c exert over them on the
field Of battle. The straightout wing