The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-02-18
A Brief sketch of Ex-Governor Pickens.

Francis W. Pickens, one Of the earliest
and most prominent actors OF the recent
war, passed from earth on Monday last.
On that day Francis w. Pickens, formerly
member of Congress, Minister to Russia,
and Governor of South Carolina, died at his
residence in Edgcfeld, after a lingering
illness, aggravated, it is said by mental
anxiety and the disappointmcnts which
attended his life. The deceased was de-
scended from one of the most consplcous
men Of Revolutionary rcnown, his grand
father being General Andrew Pickens,
whose campaigns against the Indians and
British, in what was then known rs the
"Warsaw Settlement" are familiar 10 cv-
cry studer of American history. The sub
jcct OF this sketch graduated at the South
Carolina College in 1926, was soon after
admitted to the bar, and in 1929 was elcc-
ted u member of the State Legislature
After serving several terms lie was, in
1885, elected Representative to Con.
grcss from the district once represented
bv Calhoun and McDutfie. His career us a
member of tho House was sufficiently sue
cessful to Insure his reelection to five
successive Congresses. In 1915 he de-
clined further Congressional lonors, and
retired 10 private lifr remaining out Of
office until 1853. when lie was appointed
Minister 10 Russia by President BuChan.
an. In 1860 he WAS elected Governor OF
South Carolina, and was a member of the
convention which took the State out OF
the Union He was an ardent secession
ist, and did all that was in his power TO
make the cause of the South successful.
After his gubcrnatorial term had expired.
Mr.. Pickcns, as private citizen, was
CONSPICUOUS in his efforts to support the
Confederate authorities i'll vigorous
prosecution of the war. Large sums OF
money were taken from his private for
tune and spent to further the cause IN
which he had rsked everything. Alter
the Contcdcracy was overthrown he ac-
ccpted the situation in good faith. Elec-
ted member Of tic convention which
met under President Johnson's plan OF
restoration, lie did not hesitate to intro
ducc resolution declaring slavery abol-
ishcd, and to cspousc and support such
other measures as he believed were nee
essary to place South Carolina once more
on friendly footing with the loyal
Safes. That lie was disappointed and
hcart.sick at the failure Of the South to
achieve independence he ever freely ad-
mitted. The almost total loss of his i'm
mcnsc wealth, which included nearly SIX
hundred slaves, he declared affected him
less than the degradation to which South
Carolina was reduced by tho rcconstruc-
ton laws of Congress, which he ever o,p-
poscd Whatever may have been thought
of the opinions of Governor Pickons none
can gainsay his honesty and carnestncSs
in the vicws he held. His education,
which made those views Il part OF his
nature. was neither more nor less than
that of thousands in the South who were
taught to, and even now believe that tins
is. or was. q confederation of sovereign
states and not federal Union. The sur
render of Lee and johnson was blow
from which he never recovered, and 1t
would net be amiss to place his name in
the list of prominent Southern men
whose deaths since the war ended have
been caused more from mental anguish at
the overthrow of the South than from
bodily ailments. -Ne0 York Herald.