The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1872-11-13
"REMINISCENCES
y u B Lie M II N .
[comtinued from last Week.l
~ Ex -aovERNoR n. y. pKRn,

hfs~ ~@A< . - &sSAADcbt MA SON tION.
started about the fist Of August. 1856.
to attend the Pbilsdslphia, National Union
Convention. AsBslton I met Governor Orr
and General Harrison We were joioed by
Judge wsrdlaw and General Mcoowan at
Cokesbury. In Columbia we were detsin.
ed all one day. and went 10 see my friends,
the Hon. Robert Bsrnwell and Mr.. John
LeConie. Mr.. Barnweli gave me a great
deal OF prudent advice relative 10 tho course
to be pursued by the Southern delegates 10
the Convention. He thought we ought to
be entirely passive aod simply acquiescs In
what was done. We ought not to speak
unless !, waste represent the condition of
The South and the feelings Of the Southern
people. Prominence should be given to
the Republicans in every thing. and the
Democrats keep In the background. 2
AT Chester we were gratified with meet,
Ing Judge Dawkios and his lady, and also
his brother, Judge Dawkins, OF Florida, and
Col. Farrow, OF Spartanburg. We had q
bountiful sspplv of 'provisions and some>
thing TO drink.a Our Journey to Richmond
was very pleasant. There the omnibus
carried us, against our understanding and
earnest prot estations, TO the Exchange Ho.
tel, instead Of the Srotwood. In order to
show our independence, and that we were
not to be carried where the omnibus driver
saw proper TO land us, we all determined
to walk on to the Spotwood Hotel, where
we were handsomely entertained till we
took the night train for Washington. We
arrived there about daylight, ard stopped
at Willard's. After going 10 headquarters
OF the Johnson Ci"b 10 enroll our names n,
members Of the Philadelphia Convention.
we went 10 call on the President. lis anti
or reception room was full, aud we bad 10
wait several hours before getting an audi
ence. In the mean time, we made the ao
4naintance OF a great many delegates from
the Northwest, who were waiting. like
ourselvss, to see President johnson. When
we were ushered into tie presence Of His
Exceliency, he made us a short speech told
us he was very b"psiul Of the Convention,
and that 1t was the most important Conven.
ton which had assembled since the adop-
tion of tho FeIeral Constitution. The
President was looking emaikably we'll.
and seemed in good spiri's Thought he
had improved in every respect since lasl
saw him-his arpearanee giving The lie To
all the SANDERS about his drinking. He IL
indeed very wonderful man. ' ar'.1
In the evening we took the train Tor
Philadelphia. and had very unplsa,ant
ride in old cars filled To suffocation with
delegates. All the way heard the inquiry
made wi ether Vallandigham would be per
"il'ed to take his sat Ia the Convention 7
This surprised me very nuoh. I though,
all would be willing to receive any one who
could give strength or bring influence to
the Convention. said, II Vallandipham
was to be excluded on account Of his South
ern sympathies during the war, all the del,
esates from the Southern States ought like
wise to be excluded. There was certainly
more propriety in rejecting a rebel. than a
mere symrathiser with rebels.2' We arrived
IN the city about midnight and took lodg.
ings at the Continental Ho'el. Ihad tele.
graPhed from Columbia 10 reserve rooms
for us, Thinking from the high sounding
titles affixed to our names, that We were
all gentlemen Of f'rtunes, the hotel keeper
had reserved magnificent private parlor
adjacent to our sleeping apartments Tor us
to receive our company in, and for which
he charged u'a round sum when our billie
were footed up A great many delegates
and friends did. however, pay us the honor
OF calling TO see us The next day, which was
Sunday. ....... -.....r ...,,,t ~
In the evening, Governor Orr was de.
Puied by some Of his Western friends to
call on Mr. Vallsndigham and urge on h i'm
the Piopriety OF his not taking bis seat in
the Convention. The, Governor requested
me to accompany hin. which I did but at
the some time, expressing myself decidedly
hostile to the object OF bic mission.
thought IL great, outrage for such prop
os''ion to be made by a Southern man We
found Mr.. Vanandighsn Ia the midst Of a
large circle of,friepds. who had called at
his room TO see him. After chatting q
while. he requested Us to walk into another
room, where Governor Orr briefly stated
the object Of his visit. He told Mr.. Val,
landigham that his Withdrawal, for, the
aakc OF harmony, would rebound to his
popularity, and be appreciated by himself
and foe'. In reply. Vallandigham spoke
for aoout an hour most admirably, eloquent
ly and fselingly. He said the opposition
10 histsking his seat. came from men who
had grievoosly Injured him, and never could
forgive him, although he had never harmed
one OF them. IL was easier for an injured
man to forgive an injury. than for the one
'nfiicting the injury to forget IL. Hs said
his voluntary withdrawal from tho Con.
Vention would be q confession OF 10 fanny on
his hispsrt-that IL would be an ackno Wedge
ment that his anteeedents had been such as
10 render him unworthy Of seat with
honorable and patriotic men Moreover,
he had been appointed by his constituents
TO represent them. and N would be an nm.