Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-10-09
lAayertisepient.]

To the Editor Of tho Edgefieid Advertiser :
DEAR SIR: My attention has been
called to certain preambles and resolu-
tions strongly rejecting on my private
and political character, and purpor'ing
to have been adopted at a public meeting
of Republicans, held at Liberty Hill,
Edgefield county, on September Goth.
1878, and published in THE UNIoN-HER-
AID of the 25th ultimo.
In regard to this meeting, every one
acquainted with the low cunning, tricke-
rv and vnnal rascality Of John III. Nc
| Dewitt and his colleagues, cannot fail TO
recognize the above advertisement as the
| Joint work of himself and other rene
gades, well known to the Republican
party, who are fast destroying Its organl-
zation and influence as party by con-
duct unworthy of honest public officials
and respectable men; and 1t is painful to
| to those members of the party who adj
vocate reform to know that this corrupt
and dishonest Official is upheld by Il few
Observation-Disclosures only-in Edge
field county, who are 6eneftcd by his
inidelity TO his official and political du-
not lung since on charge Of forgery,
and. after a full and fair preliminary ex
animation before trial justice, was re-
uuired to give bond for his appearance ut
the Court of General Sessions for Edge
field county, to answer the said felony.
The specifications of the charge in
substance are, that McDevitt before and
up to January 18th, 1873, whils- ho was
ct ND off 1,a
cana auditor, forged school checks on
the county treasurer of Edgefeld county,
tn a large amount, which got into the
/ ads Of Paris Simkins, and that Paris
s Ains got these forged school checks
cashed by P. A. Eichelberger, whilst he
was county treasurer. l have in my
possession the damning evidence of the
criminality Of McDoyitt anti his col
leagues, and would have convicted him
and them before any honest jury in the
county long ago if he and his associates
in villairy had not destroyed, in effect,
the sacred right of the trial by jury, (for
the present at least,) by tampering
with the jury box. The scene in the
court house at Edgefeld last June, in
regard to the jury box, is fresh III th"
memory Of the people, and only men,
ton the fact now to account for the delay
in not bringing this man and his abettors
to public trial
If in my strenuous efforts to preserve
the integrity Of the Republican party in
Edgeheld county, my movements are to
be impeded and counteracted by such
men as McDsvitt & Co. then let the blame
of its worthlessn ess and influence rs
a party rest on those who combine
and confederate with him and them
u destroy tho law, derency, homes
ty and morality, by substituting in their
place the vile arts of the inp0stor and
the infidelity Of the trescherous dema-
gogue.
am charged, among other things in
the preamble and resolutions of this So
cnlled meeting, with getting up petitions
for the removal OF McDevitt from the
office of county treasurer. / deny that
have beer, instrumental in getting up
any such proceeding, whilst freely ad
NIT that + approve Of such action or the
part of the honest members OF the party,
and would, and will, do anything to
purge it Of its u7uporthy and vendI hing
ers-on, The preamble and resolutions
herein alluded to are about as correct
and true an expression of the Tepnbli-
cans at Liberty Hill against mo as the
forged ones alleged to have beentadopted
at the public meeting held at Edgefield
Court House the i7th May last, we're In
favor of the honesty and integrity of
MeDevltt m county treasurer, and pub
the signstpre Of" Observer Both Of
these McDeYltt puffs are antththsi and
are the. si;ork Of this po ltticnt dirt Ganecf
Himself, bit fathefed by his less cunning
colieag6ss, Who af6 paid for their co op=
Seration in dsgtadiag anu destroying the
Rspuhlioan party In EassRela county