The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1872-11-27
go "REMINISCENCES
p u B LIC MI E N.
.aSuBi2 +-
~, pY Ex.GoyERSoR D. ". PERRY. taf
[cont;nued from. last Week.
THE STATE CONVENTION.

,od 1.-THE STATE CONVENTION. -
| In the Fall Of 1892. Convention Of the
State was called for the purpose Of nullify.
ing the tariff acts Of Congress Gov. Heury
Middleton. Col. Thos p. Broe kman. Silss r.
.Whitten and myself were elected member 9
OF the convention from the district Of Green
vile. Judge Earle, Dr., VIM. Butler, wm.
Thruston and Col. Berj Arnold were the
candidates Of the Modification party. The
Union majority at the election was about
Tour to one in Greenviile. Gov. Middleton,
before his mission TO Russia. had been a cit.
lien Of this, dintrict, and owned a large Ian.
ded estate, which he sold to Geo. W. Earle.
Esq, The summer preceding the election
the Governor had spent in Greenville, and
as It wss well known that he was a staunch
Union man. we determined to put him in
nomination for the State Convention.
Sunday evening before the convention
met In Columbia, Gov. Middleton and my.
self went from the Copgaree, Hotel, where
we were boarding, to zee Judge Huger, at
Hunts HOTEL, near the State House, where
most of the Union members were saying =
The Judge spoke Of the proprety Of our not
taking seats In the convention He said il
was improper for us to do SO, and that he
wished a meeting Of the Union members
that night TO determine on the proper
course to be pursued. After supper we oil
assembled, about thirty in number. dele
gates and visitors Judge Richardson was
called to the chair, and Judge Huger made
long speech against the delegates taking
'he'r seats in the convention. He said he
had been sent by the Union party OF Char
lesion TO urge this course. "If we take our
seats In the convention" said the Judge,
we shall be the means Of keeping the Null
iihca'ion party together. We shall hear
things said there that will coll for blood -
lie said it would be impossible TO 81, there
and listen to their speeches withou, resent
ing what ia said. IF they talk as sun,
pose they will, blood must be shed I, can
not be avoided"
Mr. wilkins spoke next, and said. that
although he had been cent by his coustitu +.
eh's 70 take HE seat in the convention, vet.
u ihe Union party thought it better not to
DC s". he would take the responsibility of
following their advice. The propo.i,ion Of
Judge Hnger was opposed at some length
oy Col. Ervine and Col. Philips, Of Cbester>
NELL expressed my Willingness to &C.
qn'esce in any course that might be adopt-
cd. but that thought it better 70 ,aka o,r
seats. Judge Richardson opposed the pro.
position, and urged strongly the propriety
OF going into the convention 1t was the
agreed TO ros'pone the further considera.
lion OF the question till the next morning,
at o'clock. We met the next day agreea.
ble TO our Adjournment Judge Hug.r was
uowell aud did not attend cur meeting. II
was decided that we should take our seats.
lhe next question was, whether an oath
would he required Of The delegates, and il
80, what would be the nature OF in It
seems that the Uoion members had some
suspicion that an oath might be required.
which would be inconsistent with their
allegiance to the Federal Government. In
order to ascertain this fact, a committee was
appointed, consisting OF Judge Richardson,
Gov. Manning aud myself
Judge David johnson then addressed the
caucus. and informed US that he had Just re
turned from the State Of Georgia, where he
had been sent as a delegate by the Union
party. Chancellor Harper was sent as a
delegate by the Notification party. On
their arrival in MilledgeviIle, Judge John.
son addressed a note to the State Conven>
uon, which he found in session. and went
before them to explain his views and those
OF his party in South Carolina lie said
Two thirds Of the people OF Georgia we're o,
the Union party The Nuriifiers callei
themselves Resistance Men," bat. would
not assume the odious cognomen by which
their political brethren in South Carolina
were known. They were for Southern
! Convention. Both parties he'd organized
clubs and associations. He had ascertain,
ed that the south Carolina Nullifers would
go into Southetu Convention lift was pr o,
posed by Georgians. % s-<saS'
The State Convention was organized at u
o'clock. and was indeed most dien;fi d
assembly. containing most Of the great men
of both parties in South Carolina. They
were fine looking gentlemen, and showed
the greatest respect tor each other through.
out the whole sitting OF the Convention. -
No oath was required of the members, and
could not have been with any sort OF pro.
prety. Gen. Hamilton, then Governor oI
the State. was elected President His ad-
dress On taking the chair was foe and ap-
propriate one. The members were called
on TO enroll their names, by districts and
the first district called was Greenville. Al
| had headed the ticket elected from
this district, it gave me the honor Of hav.
ing my name at the mead Of the parchmen,
Roll. ~ ~
A committee Of twenty.one was appoint.
ed by the President to take into considers
tiOn the tariff. and report thereon. TIL.
convention met on Wednesday to hear the
report The ordinance OF notification wal
also reported, and expressed very frankls