The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-07-01
South Carolina at the Centennial.

South Carolina at the Centennial.
His Honor Judge bIackey has written
and published letter to Major T. w.
Woodward, President of the South Caro-
lima Agricultural and Mechanical Society,
in reference to the representation of
South Carolina at the national centen-
nial. at Philadelphia, on the 4th of July,
1876. He says:
am informed, through sources enti-
tied to the highest respect, that the np-
pointment Of the present Centennial
Commissioner for this State (Gen. VIM.
Gurney, of Charleston, nominated by
Governor Moses,) hns given widespread
dissatisfaction, and repels from partici-
pation in the proposed exposition the
very Observation-Disclosures, mechanics
and manufacturers active co-ope-
ration it is essential to secure. 1 shall
not discuss the causes of TINT dssatis-
faction, or the reasons ndduced to Justify
1T, but propose to show that it is not
material to the accomplishment of the
important end in view who wears the
title, whether deservedly or undeserv-
edly, of Centennial Commissioner of
South Carolina" The character and
scope of the centennial exposition, and
the class of agencies requisite to it's sue
cess, will be best understood by recur-
ring to the Act Of Congress creating it,
approved March 5, 1871.
Then follows the Act of Congress, re-
ferred to. He also says:
There is no provision of law, and nm
not aware Of any regulation adopted by
the commission, that constitutes the
State Commissioner the agent of parties
deslrous of exhibiting any article Mt the
centennial exposition, or that gives such
Commissioner any control over proposed
exhibitors, or over the transmission of
such articles rs they may intend for ex-
hibition at Philadelphia. Iwould there
fore urge upon your attention the expe-
diency of your taking the initiative, Mt
an early day, in the creation of IN or
ganization which may be entitled "The
South Carolina Centennial Association of
1876" Such organization, I nm salts
fed, will effectually accomplish the OBJ
jects for which it is designed The asso-
citation may place itself in direct COM
munication with the National Centennial
Commission at Philadelphia, which, 1
have no doubt, will give its cordial en-
couragement and cooperation to any
effort tending to insure that South Caro-
lima shall be creditably represented, and
her natural resources and industrial
achievements fully excmplified in the
exposition of 1876.
AS considerable fund will be neces-
sary to defray the cost of Transmitting
articles intended for exhibition, the col
lection and preparation of specimens of
the natural products of the State, mine
raj md vegetable, the printing of de-
scriptive catalogues, &C., feel assured
that the General Assembly, which it is
now the fashion to berate most hnrshly,
and often most unjustly, will, if pro
perly mcmorialized, make the requisite
appropriation, say $4,000 or $4,000, to
carry out the object of the association.
His Excellency Governor Chamberlain,
VINO is always ready to cooperate most
earnestly in all efforts to advance the
substantial prosperity Of the whole pco-
pie of Sonth Carolina, or that reject
honor upon the State, assured ME re-
Gently that such memorial will receive
his cordial sanction and active support.
TO this letter Of Judge NInckey, from
Which we have quoted, Major Woodward
makes the following reply:
WINSsBoHo, S. c., June 81, 1870.
J"fJe 7: d. MacLey-DEAE SIR: Your
letter of the 11th instant, addressed to
me as President of the State Agricultural
and Mechanical Society, was only re-
ceived by me two days ago. While I
appreciate most heartily the patriotic
sentiments SO happily expressed, which
do honor to your head and heart, still I
must in cnndor say that your judicial
position enables you to take q dispas-
| sionate view of matters of which 1 am
utterly incapable.
The appointment Of Commissioner for
this State to which you refer, renders it
impossible for me to have any lot or part
IN the centennial celebration. regret
tnis' but so 1t is. The present Commits
sioner shall and can never represent me
or mine. He is the fit representative of
South Carolina carpet-baggers, and not
of the descendants of South Carolina
| revolutionary patriots.
While Governor Moses is to be blamed
for the nomination, Gen. Grant cannot
be excused for making the appointment
without remonstrance. Why did he