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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