Year: 1875

The Columbia correspondent of the Charles
ton Ne,us and Courier has interviewed" Gov
ernor Chamberlain in regard to the charges
against Treasurer Cardozo, the result Of which
is thus given in the Neaus and Courier Of
Thursday last


THE INTERVIEW.


Reporter. There is great public interest
felt, Governor, to know your views OF the case
of Mr.. Cardozo, and have called to inquire
if you are willing to make them known through
the Ne,us and Courier


Governor. Yes, sir; l see no good reason
why should not answer your inquiries fully.
The matter is one that interests me beyond
anything else which has occurred during my
administration and have not failed to read
every word that has appeared in the various
documents connected with it. Ofcourse every
fair-minded man holds himself open to the
consideration of any new facts or evidence
which may be added to the case, or any new
arguments based on the facts already devel-
oped. Promising this, do not hesitate to
say that 1 have entire confidence in Mr.. Car
dozo Men, many men, friends of mine, have
come to me and said, "Don't mix yourselfup
in this fight 1t is no affair of yours, and you
ought to keep clear of it," Now, what sort of
advice is this? What do such men take me
for? DO they think l am going to sit by and
see injustice done to State officer without
opening my mouth? 1t would be darnnable
cowardice i'll knew to-day there was not
another man in the world who would speak
for Mr.. Cardozo would all the more stand
H. 7 into
pecting a bed of roses. am not half so anxious
to make friends or avoid enemies as | am to
do right, and until evidence, facts, compel me
to lose faith in Mr.. Cardozo, be shall have my
confidence and my personal and moral sup
port in every form. Well, sir, I have exam
ined all the evidence yet adduced, and | find
nothing to shake my faith in Mr.. Cardozo's
honesty.


Reporter. Let me ask you at this point,
Governor, what has been heretofore your es-
innate of Mr.. Cardozo?


Governor. I have known Mr.. Cardozo init
mately since last summer. He was an early
supporter of mine for my present position. l
think I have known his aims and plans, and
l say without Qualification that [ have never
heard one word or seen one act OF MIR. Car
dozo's which did not confirm my confidence in
his personal integrity and political honor and
zeal for the honest administration OF the State
Government. On every occasion, and under
all circumstances, he has been against fraud
and iobbcry, and in favor Of good measures
and good men. The public do not know the
pressure which has been brought to bear upon
me in this office to make me yield my views
of public duty. If I had known it myself be-
forehand, | would never have dared to take
the office. But in the midst of it all, when
could count all the Republicans who seemed
to sympathize with me on the fingers of one
hand, there was one man who never faltered,
who never failed to come unasked and stand
at my side, and that man was Francis l..
Cardozo 1 tell you, sir, should despise my
, self if did not stand by such man till the
last gun was fired, unless was driven to be.
lieve him hypocrite and scoundrel.


!; Now, sir, saw this storm gathering long
ago. knew that any man who did his duty
as treasurer, who lent himself to no jobbery,
and had no private ends to serve, would make
himself the most unpopular man i'll South
Carolina. Cardozo knew it too. | confess
did not expect to see the element which views
the public service as mere chance to make
money, able to make such headway as they
are now apparently making against Mr.. Car
dozo. 1 did hope for better things, but also
expected to find howl and outcry against
any man who did his duty by the treasury.
do not wish to be understood as implying that
all who are opposed to Mr.. Cardozo are con
sciously striking down a faithful public off
Ger: but every man here in Columbia knows
that the real force which urges on this attack
upon Mr.. Cardozo is not desire to guard the
treasury Ispeak now what every man con
fesses to me when I ask him the question.


Reporter. But, Governor, what do you say