Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-10-12
To the Voters Of oranseburg, Edgsfield,
Abbevine, Newberry, Lexington, Rich
land, and Fair Geld


FELLOW. CITIZENS: After much hesitation,
| have consented to be put in nomination for
your Representative in the Congress Of the
United Suites. 1 publish this card, because
the District is SO large apd the time before the
election 20 short that could not, if desired,
| canvass the District. If a canvass were pos-
sible, however. do not think it becoming or
desirable. In my Judgment <hs. is no time for
| a scramble for Office. 1t seems to me that no
one properly impressed with the soemnity of
the crisis. and the dclicacy and importance of
the duties to be discharged. could seek the po.
stion. For myself. dcclure that have no
W ish but to serve the State.
In 1883, South Crrolina, through a coIiyep-
tion of her people, became one of the United
States. She remained member of the Uniou
until Decembers 1860. whah through another
convention of hcr people. she repealed the Or
dinance Of 1888. seeded from the United
States, and with certain other sister States en-
tered into another government known as the
Confederate Government We believed that
we'had the right to secede and that our securi.
ty required It's exercise in cooperation with
| our Southern sisters. South Carolina, in 1852
proclaimed by solemn ordinance the right Of
secession. 1t had long been the settled 5fh ion
of the State that she was sovereign and enti
tied to all the rights of sovereignty, She as
serted self government in order to secure her
institutions and principles from great evils, be.
heved to be imminent. Secession was in the
nature of proceeding quia ti,net. 1t was con-
ceived in the spirit of selfpreservation-not to
injure others but save ourselves. 1t cannot
ha -. xbsk Y IL
believed it was an honest effort for honorable
purposes. The United St ates Government de-
MED the right of secess on and waged war up
on the Confederate States. which stood upon
the defensive. A terrible war Of. invasion and
desolation followed. and finally the Confede-
| rate States we're overwhelmed by force of
numbers and dissolved. Al the end Of the war
the State of South Carolina found tho Confed
eracy broken up, her citizens who sury ivcd the
terrible ordeal exhausted aid impoverished,
her institutions destroyed. aud the whole coun-
try occupied by the m iiiary forces of the Uni.
ted. States. Under the &c pa in ful circumstances
the President Of the United Stntcs invited the
States lately composing the Confederacy to re-
organize their governments and reaLOre their
connection with The Constitutions aud Govern y
/ ment of the United States, upon certain con-
ditions the principal of which was On acouies
been accomplished by the uiIitary authorities.
The State, wisely in my judgment. responded
favoratiy to the invitation. 1t is true that
| the mere issue Of bn:tle docs not prove rivht
any more than did the old wager of battle :"
but it does prove power winch cannot be dis.
regarded. A Provisional: Governor was ap
pointed, who called another couyeniion Of tile
people, which has lately repealed the Ordi-
nance Of Secession, md by an article in the
State Constitution. recognized the abolition Of
slavery and prohibited its establishment.
Of 1858, through wLioh South Carolina be.
came member Of the Union, was ipso facto
revived, and we are this day in the Union pre-.
| cisely as We became in 1883 aud remained up
| TO 1850. .t
We are now in very anomalous position
Relying. upuu tha good fall, aud patriotic in.
tentions Of the President of the United States,
we have done all that was required of us TO
restore bur old relations to Tic Constitution
and The Union !; but ..still we have not been
| receigad into fellowship at Washington. That
important part of the plan, of reconstruction
remeIne yet TO be accomplished. It is under.
plan Of reorgapizipg the. States and giving to
| them equality of rights, and will insist upon
still farther despoilipg and crushing the States
Of the South as conquered provinees THIS
radical iauaticnl party opposed our leaving the
= Rni1Ri sndno~ they oppose Gur returning 70
US on account Of slavery. They waged war
upon us because we tried to separate from
them, and now that NO propose ~ return with
! out slavery, they still object In this emer.,
gency, The State needs the assistanee of all her
true men. Much remains 70 be done. and not
fhs least 10 70 ,secure . prudent, faithful and
patriotic representation in Copgress,} to assist
and forward the work Of ifsstoration which
stht StAta'has 7epmmenceS- . arrogala not 10
pyseif atnes. q; form ta psrt of sleh a
tatiou, but friends have urged me fokN NnYds and
= f., you . are wiling q, try me- apy
IN soms ,respset. We are sat the bssihhiSs Of
iauf policy, q 'ff gesNeTs efRsv ststs about
70 assums nev relations with; our mater Stctss
bnt niust NOT )lsw ourselves q forget eiist
In other sapsoissw sws are nm old State-..a Stale
sfx,sg ns%e 70 at.ia ssd
uajn, the unsertsin future the past at feaSt il
| secure. South csroilna .:has- never sNerved
from the path of honor, ss shc soon cev ed r.
We hsys 9 record Of which mono Gnsed be as.
hsmed aud vhsn any apostate son, of hers,
disaiaims Or dispasages i, may .hs>cast him:
trus son Of the State adherss in advecsity a.
we'll as 10 pfosPsrity.-is loyal through evil az
Well lhfpngh good repors and ID the midst
Of III gssstsst .stigketh closer
Atsss at.,s dslsgstion. from the Southern
many delieats aud Important ,dutiss W. ~ y ~ IL
the ireednsep or ths South, and Inc scoStsol.
whiqh y! go9gssia or 9: party sin Congress, may
Fdenrs sttf 70 exeroise over them. ig tnsF moi
6s ,IpEoper, IN this epnneetIons % say Hat
u nh.s sssIias ssles. q.
Govssnlaspto stsses sik HI been
Rponst thk sad sSxpsSsatf tf6fi that tba Efsts2l
- so6n - tsec1att d 10 fsyS eRtjro con.