The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-11-16

~ MODERN CINCINNATUS.-ln o
long and pleasant conversation recent
ly with distinguished friend, whose
mind is rich with the recollections Of
the past, we gathered many incidents
not the least interesting of which wa:
the following: At the session of the
South Carolina Legislature in 1914.
the members were perplcxed for a
suitable man to elect Governor. The
difficulty did not arise from any scare
ity Of candidates, for then, as now,
men were ambitious, but from want
of the right sort Of man. The matter
became worse as the time wore on,
and the election of some Objectionable
candidate seemed inevitable. One
day, however, as several of them were
conversing upon the matter, Judge
y Neall, then young man, and pres.
ent by invitation, said : gentlemen,
why not elect General David r.. Viii
liams 2" David II. Williams he's
our man-hc's the man :" they all ex
claimed, as they began to scatter to
tell the news. The day of election
came came on, and Gen. Williams was
elected by large vote. a messen-
ger was at once dispatched with a
carefully prepared letter to inform the
General OF his election, requesting his
acceptance, and hoping he would name
the day on which he would take the
oath Of office. After a long hard ride,
the messenger stopped at the Gener-
ais residence, in Marlborough District,
we believe, and inquired If he was in.
lie was told that Mr.. Williams was
over at his plantation. The gentleman
said he would ride over, as he had a
note to deliver to him as soDn az pos.
sible. When about half way he met a
fine-looking man, n,drcssedin plain home
spun, and driving a team of mules
" Am on the road to the plantation
of General Williams 2" asked the mes
senger. Eyes, sir; it is about mile
further on" was the reply. is the
General at home %" No. sir" where
is he?" 81 am Gen. Williams" D" "You
Gen. David r.. Williams?" l am the
man. " Don't deceive me. have
an important letter for General vii.
liams. II that is your namc," said
the doubling messenger, " here it is"
banding the letter to the Gen'l. Mr..
Williams opened the letter, found, to
his utter astonishmcnt, that, without
his knowledge or consent, he had been
elected Governor of South Carolina.
He took the messenger home, and en-
tertained him for the night, preparing
note in the meantime accepting the
appointment, and naming time on
which he would lie in Columbia. The
messenger returned. On the appoint
cd day, a few minutes before II,
man dressed in homespun,and on horse
back rode in town hitching his animal to
a tree, nc made his way to the Capital,
where he found a brilliant concourse Of
people. But lew knew him personally;
still there was something commanding
aboat him. He took his seat in a va
cant chair; and when the clock in front
of the Speaker had struck the hour
Of twelve the General arose, and deliv-
cred the most mastery speech that
had ever been delivered there. The far
mer-statesman entirely electrified the
assembly. lie made an excellent Gov.
ernor. This thing conveys beautiful
idea Here was farmer elected he
accepted, and from the plough went to
the Governors Office to preside, in a
stormy crisis, over the destiny Of SOW
ereign State. Longlive his memory.
- Wilmington (N. Co. Dem. Free
Press.