Year: 1874

HIS CONNECTION WITH THE SOUTH CARO-


LIMA SWINDLES.


REPLY TO HIS DEFENsE-NO ATTEMPT EVER MADE


BY Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN TO ARREST THE FRAUDS


TWO CHAPTERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORY


Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN THE ASSOCIATE AND APPAR-


ENr ALLY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE RING.


TO the Ediior Of The Tribune


SIR: The brief editorial in THE TRIBUNE of
the 22d dspOses pretty efeotualy OF Mr. d. II. Cham
berlan's reply to my recent letter his record as
South Carolina official Perhaps no rejoinder on my
part need be made Permit me to say, however, that
cannot see in what way his discovery Of errors in my
statement the dates of the passage OF certain acts
under which the bonds issued his assertion that
he did not himself draw those acts affects the substance
OF the charge made against him by the refoers OF his
State. Rehearsing that charge, said that Mr. Cham
berlan was member OF financial board who. In con-
nvance with their agent in NewYork issued fraudulent
bonds to the amount Of eeOOO.OoO, which bonds were
afterwards repudiated by the Legislature In reply to
this tho would be Governor says effect 1--WE did not
issue the bonds In the way aege and the Le0isa-
ture did not repudiate them the date you say did,
He does not deny the fraudulent character OF
the transaction, or his knowledge Of 1t while
1t was in progress, nor does he pretend
that he attempted a member Of the Board to
prevent the contamination Of the fraud, or as Attor-
to prosecute In the Of the State those
concerned in It, admit that there may have been er-
in letter In the matter OF dates The Legislative


literature of South Carolina is not much in request ex
cept by her plundered taxpayers and swndled bond
holders aud could not find copy OF 1t here, to see
when the bond acts passed. Mr. Chamberlain
makes q great ado these mistakes, hoping by
loudly denying the truth OF unimportant assertions to
make the public oblivious Of the grave allegations
against HIM.


There was once a shrewd fellow who stole pocket
book early on certain afternoon Next day the VICTIM
colared him and said You are the man who took my
purse yesterday morning. whereupon the fellow began
to vociferate You le did take 1t yesterday morn
ing" and declare he could bring witnesses to prove
that lie did not. So vehement he in his assertions
that OF the bystanders began to believe he was In
nocent until the victim explained that he was mistaken
about the time of day. and that the oense not COM
mted in the morning but In the afternoon.


For the benefit Of people who not familiar with re-
cent events In South, Carolina will rehearse bit OF
history which will explain why the propertyhoders and
honest people generally in that carpetbasged Common
wealth do not want Chamberlain for Governor When
the to be there came up to Co.
lumbia nondescript crowd Of negroes and Northern
whites who had been stranded by the close OF the war In
Charleston and along the seaisands. The latter class
were few in number, and, o rule were bankrupt in
character 30 were they that several had
TO borrow money to 20 the where the State
offices were parceled out and weak In number that
there were not enough to ill the Offices that some OF
them took two three apiece. The only man among
them who had good education was d. H. Chamberlain.
He had made failure cotton planting. and was on
his last legs financially have heard 1t said He had
studied law and therefore made Attorney General.
A speculative Freedmens Bureau Agent was elected
Governor, a retired sutler put In for Treasurer ;
fellows who had never mad case III any
court made judges, while other places were
filed with Adventures and bummers OF all sorts. Re
construction as q welcome windfall to Oil these
men, No had they got the State Government to
running than the whole motley crew Of white carpet
baggers and their black allies began to look about for
something steal Various forms of bonds were hastily
printed put the market for whatever they would
bring. A curbstone broker was selected 10 ma pur'
chasers for them in New-York. Old forms OF State OBJ
LEGATIONS were manipulated so as to afford proht


flock OF vutures down from the North and devised
new ways OF despong the PROSTATE state worthless
lands were bought at figures as pretended
charity to freedmen among whom they we're to be ap-
The property of State in her railroads was
seized and divided among ring OF plunderers Every
dollar that could be wrung from the taxpayers was
grabbed as soon as it came In the treasury The State
debt was doubled and trebled. NO puDnc improve
ments we're undertaken the schools we're not half sup
ported and the charitable institutions Iapgusned and
starved Bare faced corruption showed itself in all pub


lie offices.


Brbes we're handed about In the Legislative halls.
Everybody was on the make" Afrightful carnival OF
vice and punder prevailed. After four years, during
which affairs steadily grew worse the principal Office
holders who went when the State was reconstructed
retired TO give place TO hungrier horde who had been
browsing on the outside of the public crib on such stray
crumbs ss they could pick up. The first lot of Office
boiders were worth nothing when they took office they
we're all rich when they went out Their salaries
ranged from 5000 year. and they managed to
accumulate by strict economy no doubt from $4,000 TO
sq5O 900 apiece The costest houses In Columbia were
scarcely good enough for them They drove fine horses
wore fine rameut sported rich jewelry and every Sum-


or freoueuted the Northern pleasure resorts Among
these retred o0ice.holders was ID. II. Chamberlain,
now the Republican nominee for Governor To oil ap-
pearances he had profted by the reign or thet ana
knavery much the others inc worst corruption'
ists and punderers In the state are now supporting
him He has never broken with them for day aud
does not dare denounce them now HOW can ne expect
the public to believe that he is cean-handed when the
black dngermarks Of the administration OF which ne
was the leading intellect are seen OF Gil mem


Another bit of history and am DONE Soon after tho
Moses administration succeeded that OF ecot is
urer Mr. f. L. Cardozo, took quarters at tne Astor
House, New-York, and advertised that nc was author
lied to offer the holders OF the State bonds new bond
an which interest would be paid. The rate Of exchange
WAS ~ remember right 81 ceus on tue dollar Bond
hoders who did not accep the offer were TO get no In
terest and we're left with small hopes OF ever getting
their principal back. In elect the otaee sau W iss
creditors will rob you OF half the money you ient'
and q, vou don't consent 10 will not pay you any
thing When the bondhoders brought In their securi


ties for conversion the Treasurer scrutinzed them to
eo whether the color OF tho number In the corner was
red or blue II one Color the bond was good; II the
other he pronounced 1t worthless, and fraudulent da
nlcate of genuine bond in the right color These du
plicate bonds as we the genuine were issued oy H.
L. Kimpton, Financial Agent OF the ota.e' po'oni
,,ond ~ Chambcrlaia holding his appointment from
the Roard Of which Chamberlain was member


Now. Mr.. Chamberlain. will you answer few ques-
tions -


Who Is responsible the issue of 100000 OF fraudu
lent Conversion bonds repudiated by the Lsssisnren