Saturday, November 30, 2013

DID YOU KNOW THAT???

On November 26, 1877, Republican Congressman Robert Smalls was accused of accepting bribes while he served in the South Carolina state senate. Smalls was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
 Many newspapers claimed the charges were false and said the Democrats targeted Smalls because he was a successful black representative. Smalls was released, pending his appeal to the state supreme court.
 Democrat George D. Tillman used the unresolved conviction to defeat Smalls in 1878. However, the U.S. Attorney General investigated charges of voter suppression and intimidation during that election.

 South Carolina Democrat Governor William Simpson agreed pardon Smalls, if the attorney general stopped the investigation. Smalls was pardoned and the investigation was dropped.

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