On December 15, 1875, South Carolina Governor Daniel H. Chamberlain took a significant stand against corruption within the state’s judiciary. The state legislature had elected William J. Whipper and Franklin J. Moses, Jr.—both figures widely criticized for corrupt practices—as circuit court judges. In response, Governor Chamberlain refused to issue their commissions, effectively blocking their appointments. ?

This decisive action alienated many within his own Republican Party but garnered appreciation from prominent citizens, particularly in Charleston, who commended his commitment to reform and integrity in governance. ?westbrookfield.org

Governor Chamberlain’s refusal to commission Whipper and Moses underscored the deep divisions and challenges of the Reconstruction era, highlighting the tensions between efforts to reform government and the entrenched corruption that plagued South Carolina’s political landscape during that period.