The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-10-27

justification of my course. I feel
authorized in stating hcre-.and
think that tho opinion OF all who
know mo well will bear me out in the
asscrtion--that I have never evinced
a disposition to oppress the hum~
blest citizen, but am willing to &c
cord all legal rights to everybody.
AT the same time, it is known that
l advocate character first ,,and
! qualification next for any and all
offices, from constable to governor
Knowing as L did that Mr. Martin
did not possess these prerequisites,
and feeling that my rights were not
stfo in his hands, I felt that | had
the same right which belongs to
everybody, in every department of
business, this is, tho privilege
Of removing, getting rid of an OBJ
jectionablo, Inefficient agent. It
was for this purpose and this alone
that L made the strenuous efforts of
which many of you know, both in
Columbia and at home, to Aavo him
kept out-which was the only way
Of getting rid Of him. You recol>
lect that ut public meeting in the
Court House L took the position
III accordance with Sec. 20, Art. IT.,
Of the Constitution, that Martin and
nll other Mackoyitcs were us much
.t""ct"s oNcio, having refused to
qualify, as if they had died, de-
parted the State, or resigned.
This is still maintained by most
lawyers, and was undisputed by
largo majority of tho members of
the Legislature. But policy ruled
the hour md Martin was seated in
tho face Of protest, contest, memo
rial and bigamy. Fellow citizens Of
Fairfield ! bitter indignity was
offered you, and gross financial
outrages perpotrated upon the
poverty~stricken taxpayers of the
State by Democratic Legislature,
for each Mackcyitc admitted drew
ln.y.
But to tho case After Martin had
performed his grand hcgira from
Columbia, leaving Sheriff Ruff many
miles behind, Senator Byrd came to
mo in the hall of the House of
Representatives, and said thai he
supposed that 1 did not propose to
take advantage Of Martins absence
before the committee which had his
case in charge, and asked that the
matter be postponed for n week, SO
that Martin might bring down
papers in his possession, to show
that Squire Kirkland had divorced
him. Iasked him if the papers could
be produced, and he said that they
certainly could and would be, if the
time asked for was granted. I
asked him further if ho know any.
thing of tho first marriage with
Martha Martin, and he said that he
had heard gift, but that he knew Of
the divorce having been granted,
and therefore did not object to the
second marriage with his step
daughter. This was said in tho
presence of another gentleman now
in Winnsboro. Knowing that this
statement before the committee
would establish the very point
which was anxious to make, / said
to Mr. Byrd that he had better sec
the committee, and proposed to &c
company and introduce him. We
were in the act of entering the room
when Mr.. Sheppard, member, con-
fronted us in passing out Byrd
wns introduced, made his statement,
and Mr.. Sheppard let fall his unfor-
tunnte remark about trial Justices
and divorce cases, and, Byrd's eyes
being opened, he declined to enter.
Now I have reproduced this little
piece Of history, to show that this
was Martins and Byrd's first line of
defense-this plea of divorcemont-
for Byrd said that he knew that it
was good, as Lawyer Melton had
told him SO. Mr.. Sheppard's little
slip, and perhaps little legal advice
to Martin, after he cunee home,
caused change in his programme,
and we find him denying everything
in reference to the first marriage.
Even Sallio Gibson, the witness
NuI,~ nHs Il =