The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-05-09
Wednesday,. May 9, 1877.
The Meeting on Sale Day.

except two LownGHSVilte ana MaSRo
Col. Cothran the President vas not pres
ent he having been called unexpectedly
IN Columbia in answer to the following
telegram, s
To Colonel Jas. S. Cothran Overcrowded.
Come a'"n 10 S'''' - SNs, CONNER.
W. II. Parker the Secretary called the
meeting to order and stated tho reason OF
the absence of the President and thai the
first and second Yice-Presidents Senator
Maxwell and Representative +. a. Con-
nor were also absent. The third Vice
President John II. Morrah being present
presided.
Capt. J, W. Rock,
offered the following preamble and 1880
lutions:
Uhercus, we deem, 1t proper that we should
express our unalterablt fidelity TO the tradi-
lions n principles OF the Democratic purity
of South Carolina.
AMI uhereaS, we think 1t absolutely neces-
sary to the uniilcttion and ~olidlhcttion OF
the blessing OF good government, that VIC
should elect to Office none but Democrats OF
the most pronounced and earhest convlc-
tons.
departure from the cardinal doctrines OF our
ptrty to support the claims OF carpet baggers
Thcrefore, be it resolved, I. That we do en-.
dorSe the nomination OF General Samuel
Mc,iowun for Chief Justice OF SOUTH Carroll
ma. and that in SO doing we make only q
slight acknowledgement of his patriotism, OF
the services he has rendered to his country,
OF his moral worth rs Il citlzcn anu OF NlS
ability as S lawyer.
>. That we are opposed to the election OF
Willard. because 1t would be In opposition to
our policy OF home rule. and local SELF gov.
eruInopt, to ignore the claims OF good and
true natiy0 Democrats, and elevate to office
an alien Radical adventurer.
3. That Senator Gary from EdSef1eld en-
pressed the sentiments OF this club IN his
speech in the Senate ON the Sd instant, when
he said, that we cannot afford TO "Gringe and
Surrender principle, for any momentary pol
icy. 1t is doing that which has kept US UNI
..der the heel OF Republican plundercrs for
the last ten years"
1. That we nave perfect confidence In Gov.
crnorfIampton's Integrity and patiiotism ana
that these resolutions are not lptenqGd 10
impugn his motives In any way whatever,
hut that we deem it our duty, to express our
earnest conviction, that 1t Is Incorporating
with the principles OF the Democratic party
of South Carolina, and against the best IN
tereSt OF the State to elevate Radicals 10 OH
cial positions.
ZIG SuplOllCNl 1919 s<hNA &AN
That while he did not in any way in
tend to impugn the motives of our wOr-
thy and patriotic Governor, yet he
thought that the reasons that had been
assigned by the Governor for advocating
the claimsOf Willard to Office were insult
ticient to command the support of the
Democrats of South Carolina. If there
was any political wisdom. justice, mag
~naniInity or consistency in Democrats
supporting pronounced Radicals for office,
under any circumstances, he was unable
to see. it. He hoped his resolutions
would be seriously considered and thor
oughly ventilated by this club.
General. McGowan after q few
earnest, touching and patriotic romarks,
asked his friend as a personal favor, that
the resolutions should be withdrawn.
w. II, Parker, Esq.
said in substance as follows. That years
of intimate association with General Nc
Gowan had inspired him with feelings
of profound admiration and strong al
lection for Linn, and that he fully appre-
ciated the noble qualities Of hoad and
heart, and breadth Of intellect, which
made him so beloved by the people of
this county: that he fully concurred III
the spirit of the resolutions offered by the
gentlemen; that he could not agree with
the Executive that Willard had "saved
the State" that it waa saved by the votes
cast by the people on It'll November last,
and Willard by his judicial decision, only
d ,clared the voice of the peoples as made
known by the election nor could he
agree with those who advocated his cleo
ton, because he had done his duty; that
lo s~n..It tbar, ,t-,ra lifn 1nnu nnp,nnrofc
natives of tho State, quite rs able lawyers
rs Judge Willard, who had more claims
upon the party than he had, for the exalt-
ed position of Chiof Justice but that
while entertaining these views he felt
constrained as al act Of Justice to Gener-
al McCiowan to oppose the adoption Of
tho resolutions; that General McGowan
w:ls not in antagoniSm TO the administra-
ton but in full accord with it and sup
ported it; and that the policy known as
the Hampton policy had been enter
tanned and publicly expressed by General
McGowan before General lianlpton's
nomination; that, while he could not con,
cur in the feeling that Opposition" to tine
election of Willard was "antagonism" TO
Hampton ad administration, he had during
that, however distasteful to a large pOr-
lloi vi VA VOC btbO StSSkAN}A ~
Willard, a considerable number of tho
members, perhaps the majority, were in
clincd to yield to it as a neccSsity under
tho circumstances; and that in this poll
CIV it was believed all the State officers
concurred that in the second place he
opposed the adoption Of the resolutions
because General MCGOWAN had placed
himself entirely in the hands Of the dele
CATION from this county in Columbia, and
he was perfectly willing to abide by their
decision, whatever it might be, having
perfect confidence that his honor was
safe in their hands and that we had no
definite information M to the line OF
conduct proposed to be adopted by them.
o. T. Calhoun, ESQ.,,
remarked as follows OH the resolutions
offered by Capt. w. j. Rock:
MI. President: l am sorry to SEQ this
opposition to Governor lIampton's poll
cv. but at the same time it stings me to
the quick to think Of having u carpet
Dagger rs Chief Justice of South Carroll
na. A great many claim that Mr.. Will
lard is entitled to the position because he
did his duty, in deciding tho question of
who was Governor. l admit that he did
do his duty, but this is tho day when
men must not expect to be rewarded for
doing their duty, but tho day when men
in Office must be forced to do their duty,
I ask that the resolutions DO withdrawn,
because, 1 think that it would be unwise
at this time to oppose the policy of Gov.
Hampton, and because it is the wish of
General McGowan that they should be
withdrawn, and his reasons for wishing
them withdrawn must be good, for his
manner tells me that i'll wishing them
withdrawn he is not prompted by modes
ty alone.
We have trusted Governor Hampton
so far and he has not led us astray, let us
crust him one step further, and if he
wishes it, let him make Willard Chief
! Justice. I for one believe that his mo-
tircs in wishing to do so are pure.
General MeGowan here repeated his re-
nuested that the resolutions be With
drawn, whereupon Capt. Rock said: "As
General McGowan requests it, I with
draw them"
General MCGOWAN,
after thcse resolutions were withdrawn