Year: 1875

Republican governors in the South have so
bad character that it is difficult for the pub
lie to believe that any one of the number can
be honest, capable and fearless in the dis
charge of his duty. Especially is this the
case in South Carolina, where the Governor
is a latter-day citizen, native of New Eng:
land an ex.oficer of the Federal army, and
was an ofice-holder during the four years
when wholesale stealing by public officers
was the rule and not the exception. Never.
theless Governor Chamberlain has satisfied the
masses of the people in this State that he is
true as steel in the fight against public dis
honesty which he began upon his installation,
and continues to this very day and hour.


This newspaper, as the public know, was
Mr.. Chamberlain stoutest opponent during
the canvass of last fall. 1t is due to the Ne,os
and Courier that the movement against Mr..
Chamberlain, which in the beginning had no
life or force, swept like wave over hills and
plains in South Carolina, and engulfed three
fourths of the expected republican majority.
We knew of what we spoke! When, there
fore, Mr.. Chamberlain, in his inaugural mes
sage promised reduction Of expenses and
declared, in substance, that he would have
1.-TWO clean years" in South Carolina, we were
not ready to jump to the conclusion that he
would and could do what he said. We re-
membered that for four years he was Attor-
ney- General, that he was member Of the f.
nancial board and the sinking fund commits
sion, and the like that he did not raise his
voice in protest he knew that the State was
robbed that he must have been, as far as we
could see, so weak as to sacrifice his convictions
of right to personal friendship or party inter-
est, or so blind and deaf, in public life, as to
be untitled to hold any high Office of trust.
These things could not be forgotten; but there
was ring of the true metal in Governor
Chamberlain's words, and, faithful to the
pledge that we would jud &c every man by his
acts and according to his works, no obstacle
was placed in Governor Chamberlain's path.
On the contrary, we said, and the public sus-
tained US in saying it, that, as far as promises
went, the inaugural address was all that could
be desired; that the new executive should
have fair field, and that the conservatives
would stand by him just as long as his acts
squared with his words.


At the first opportunity, when the election
of Judge for the Charleston circuit took
place, Governor Chamberlain broke away
from the corrupt members of his own party,
and accomplished the election of an unobjec'
tionable republican in place Of the blatant
and corrupt colored man who was the party
candidate. Only once did Governor Cham
berlain make the slightest concession to the
vicious element in the legislature. This was
when he approved the first legislative appro-
priation bill. Wherever any corrupt meas
ure raised its head in the legislature, Cover
nor Chamberlain struck at it. Whenever
any stealing bill passed he vetoed it, and his
veto was sustained. The veto of the Infamous
bonanza bill was his last act, but the extrava-
giant appropriation bill, passed just before the
adjournment, has not been signed, and will
not be. In word, it is due to Governor
Chamberlain that, for the first time in six
years. there was no considerable stealing dur.
ing the legislative session, and that not one
swindling bill became law. This session of
1S74-75 was far from being pure, but it was
a vast improvement on anything that the
State had seen since reconstruction. We DO
not speak Of Governor Chamberlain's scholar
ly messages, of his patriotic utterances, of his
unfailing tact and courtesy. We speak only
of his acts. By them we judge him. In the
light of his acts, since has been Governor, we
say now that, however much appearances
were against him, it is morally impossible
that he should have been, as Attorney Gen.
eral, either facile or corrupt. Such man as
he is can never have been the man we did be.
lieve him to be. Governor Chamberlain,
therefore, richly deserves the confidence Of the
people of this State. The people of South
Carolina, who have all at stake, who see and
hear what persons outside of the State cannot
know, are satisfied of Governor Chamberlain's
honesty. They believe in him, as we'll they
may!


No one doubts that Gov. Chamberlain is
man of ability and foresight. When he de-
termined to oppose square front to corrup'
ton, in whatsoever guise, be knew that he
must in that cut loose from the rogues who