The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-21

SNNA
as I would unhesitatingly write at any
time. A newspaper is a business under
taking; and the object of its publishers,
while holding constantly in view its
public uses and purposes, is, as in any
other profession or business, to earn q
fair return for the skill, labor and capital
they employ. They cannot be "blind
advocates" They "must be independent"
Upon these principles I have acted since
I have been connected with Journalism
in South Carolina; and only when it can
be shown that in seeking to make money,
I have been o "blind advocate, " or ceased
to be independent" shall I see any er-
ror in my course. There certainly was
no idea on the part of Governor Scott
that 1 gave him a blind support, for his
later Messages contain bitter attacks upon
the Charleston Neaus, and in the columns
of that paper are the most exhaustive
and denunciatory exposures yet made OF
the faults, follies and crimes of his Ad-
ministration. The remark, in the letter,
that I desired to be "posted" about any
scheme that wants putting or crushing"
was just what I have constant occasion
to say to the gentlemen who now repre-
sent the Neacs and Courier in Columbia:
1t is their business to keep us "posted,"
and we are governed in large degree by
their suggestions. When it shall be
shown that have, with any corrupt pur-
pose, or regardless Of its merits, supported
or opposed any scheme whatever, infer
ences to my prejudice may be drawn from
what I wrote TO Woodruff. -s... .a..
The letter of January 80, 1869, confirms
the statement made by me to the Senate
last month, and shows that Woodruff was
paid by us for the work he did in collect
ing money due us, and that. his instruc-
tions, from me, were to pay himself IN
full first, and remit the balance, if any.
The rate charged by the Charleston Meacs,
in 1869, for ordinary advertising. such as
the Acts, was Is cents line. offered
to do the work for the State at ,33 per
cent, or ,16 per cent. less than was
charged to private persons for the same
kind and quantity Of work. I doubt that
many other persons who have done work
for the State can say and prove as much.
see no impropriety in allowing a COM
mission upon the work. obtained and
money collected, and such q practice
obtains in every department Of business.
What is said in the concluding sentence
of the letter I now repeat: eve are
willing to give helping hand to any up
country project, railroad 9or otherwise,
and free I" - if.. =
For many years I have, with such
ability as I could command, and in such
manner as promised the best results to the
State, laid bare the rascalities Of faithless
public servants. In this work [ have
necessarily made many enemies, who are
not all members Of one political party.
Threats without number have been made
against me. No charges against me have
Been too grave. The hope was that by
assailing their accuser, the thieves might
divert attention from themselves. 1t is
some satisfaction to know that they have
doubly failed. They have not silenced
the paper represent, they have not saved
themselves, and they have not, when put
to the proof, made good any single charge
against me. Fl ~ =.
The letters on which Woodruff lays SO
much stress were private and confidential
business letters from an employer to an
agent or employee: They were not in
tended for publication, any more than IS
any other matter of detail in the man
agement of our business. I see in them
nothing to regret, except that in writing
them I trusted al unworthy and treacher.
Gus agent, who now endeavors to shield
himself from the consequences of his
subsequent corruption and profigacy by
violating the sanctity of private cores
pondence and adding per6dy to his other
crimes. ''''' i!@.s3 :. s.G.''''''.if
I respectfully request that my previous
statement read in the Senate by the Hon.
S. S. Crittenden be made q part of this
reply, and am Yours, obediently,
Ht F. w. DAWSON.