The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1872-07-03

For many years he represented
Richland District in both Houses
OF the Legislature, and his opposi.
ltion was always very strong and
powerful. Money was spent most
! freely on, both sides. In one of
his elections for the Senate, it is
said that the price of a sand hill
vote was as high as fifty dollars. l
remember meeting Col. William
@. Preston in the cars once on HE
return from Virginia, who jest.
ingly said, he was hurrying back
to the election in Columbia, for he
understood that vote was worth
fifty dollars ! In one of the Gov.
ernor's contests for the Senate, he
fcame to- Greenville during the
GUNNER, and I inquired how he
could possibly leave homo during
Ethe canyass2 He said nothing but
a miracle could defeat his election.
But he was defeated by a few
votes. Wien met him that fall
in Columbia, | said to him the
miracle" had happened. He
replied, yes; that he had spent ten
thousand dollars on the election,
and his opponent fifty thousand;
that he saw it would break him if
lie continued the contest, and gave
1t up. sa 2 "a
Just before these elections in
Richland, both sidesakept what was
called t"pens," where those who
were willing to sell their votes,
were housed two or three days be.
lore the election and marched to
the polls when opened. They
were not to be trusted after barter.
ing their suffrage. The Governor
told me an amusing anecdote in
connection with this last canvass
of his. He said q friend came to
him one day in Columbia andtold
him there was a sand. hill voter in
town, and he thought he might be
secured, although he had already
sold his vote to the opposite party.
The Governor hunted him up, and
began to talk about the election.
The description of the fellows
personal appearance was most lu-
dicrous indeed. He had on his
head an old straw hat, which look
ed as if half of it had been eaten
up by the COVE. He was a long,
pale faced, 'gangling sand d.lapper,
with a calico hnnting.shirt in tat
tiers, baretooled and a ragged pair
of pantaloons, which came only
halfway between his knees and
ankles. The fellow told the Gov
ernor that he was paid by the
'other, party, but seemed willing to
sell his vote again. The Governor
asked him how much he would
Itake to 60 down to Gadsden and
stay till the election came on9--
He replied, fifty dollars. The
Governor said it was too much,
and proposed giving him ten dol.
lars, which would be a clever com.
pensatlon for two or three days
services. But you must retneni.
ber,' General" said the black
guard, "that my honor is involved
in this matter, and | ought to have
something extra for that ~ The
Governor said he was so much
amused at such a fellow, on the
eve of selling his vote the second
time, talking Of his wounded hon.
or, and demanding All additional
price on that account, that lie
burst into a hearty laugh, and
turned off.
Governor Adams, after his de.
feat for the State Senate, was elect.
ed Chief Magistrate Of the State,
and came very near being elected
United States Senator at the expi.
ration Of his Gubernatorial term of
office. He was a member of the
State Convention which seeded
from the Union, and appointed
with Barnwell and Orr to 20 to
Washington and negotiate with
President Bnchananoas to his Civ
ing up the forts in Charleston, on
the United States being compen.
sated for them. Soon afterwards.
his health became very bad, and he
did net live to witness the misfor-
tune, degradation and ruin of his
beloved State.
Governor Adams was the finest
looking horseman in saddle, when
in full uniform, that | ever saw,
and the best rider. He was a
gentleman thoroughly educated,
and possessed highly cultivated
mind. He spoke well and wrote
well. He was q most cordial and
warm.hearted friend, and a de.
voted friend. Some time before
his death, he became a member
and communicate of the Episcopal
Church. ! remember this infor.
nation Yves given me, at the time,
by his son,in Jaw, Mr.. Brooks, and
| I Wrota iny,renlv aynrass,no ~,