The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-24
R Il r Y.
Letter From General MCGOWAN.

ABBEvILLE, s. c., January IT, 1877.
Editors Chronicle and Sentinel:
A friend has this moment brought to
my attention q communication i'll your
paper of tho 10th instant, over the sigma.
ture Of "a Tildcn Democrat" upon the
subject Of the late canvass in South Car
Dina. Our court is 20 in session, and
/ have little time at my command but
az reference is made to me by name, it
seems proper that I should make a short
statement. l shall not, i'll this hurried
way, attempt to do moro than refer to tho
matter which concerns myself. Other
gentlemen can speak for themselves.
l was one of tho electors at large for
the State of South Carolina on the Demo-
cratic ticket, and az such, in association
| with other electors, had in charge spc-
cially the interests Of Tildcn and Hen
bricks. 1t was not only my duty to sup
port their election and promote it in .cv-
cry honorable way, but / did it coma
more. Having o strong opinion of the
great importance of their election, l sup
ported them earnestly o. u matter OF
principle and patriotism. The design Of
your correspondent seems to beat least
it will be tho effect of his communica-
tion-to make itappear that South Caro-
lima, under the leadership OF General
Hampton as o candidate for Governor,
gave TO Tildcn and Hendricks q luke
warm support in the late election.
Among other things he says:
Though tho scheme ii. q. to with
draw tho electoral tickct) failed, the
made itself felt in the campaign and vt
the election. 1t is not too much To say
that the State was lost to TiIdcn and tho
national Democracy through the policy
pursued by General Hampton. : Y =
= y Tilden and Hendricks seemed
entirely forgotten, and the whole fight
was mado against Chamberlain This
seems to reflect upon, or ut least to iE-
moro altogether, the electors.
THE STRUGGLE TO REDEEM TIE STATE
NOT INCONSISTENT.
General Hampton, with tho other gen.
tlenlcn on the State ticket, and the olcr-
tors, %canvaSscd the State together, and
spoke at the same appointments made by
the State Executive Committee. / heard
and believe it is true, that a proposition
was made during the anvass by certain
| Republican leaders in the State to sup
port Hampton against Chamberlain if
the former would have the Democratic
electoral ticket withdrawn. Such a prop
~osition, however, I had not heard of UNI
til in our progress we had reached Able
vile, where Judge Cooke, believed to be
one of the Republican leaders referred to,
make his first speech for Hampton. at
that place the matter was brought to our
attention and was talked about, but the
proposition was not entertained for one
moment. On that occasion Il good deal
was said in Il free conversation about the
importance and prospects of our success
| hath -, H., St,tn n,. - tI,n S1a. ol-.
tons. With 4 colOred majority Of near
ly 8 10000 in the State, it was we'll known
that the contest would be a desperate one.
The administration Of the State govern
mont had been so infamous, and touched
the people so closely, and affected them
so disastrously, that reform in tho State
seemed to be considered paramount in
importance. NJ appearances all indica-
ted that the leaders OF the national Demo
cratic party had little or no hope from our
State, and that we would have to fight it
out by ourselves. 1t was suggested that
possibly they might consider tho active
campaign which we w~eraobligcd to make
in this State as calculated 10 damage them
in other States. Yet, in the absense of
information on that subject. it was con-
cluded that the struggle for the State gov
eminent was not Inconsistent with all ct-
fort to aid in the larger struggle to re-
deem the general government and that
nothing should induce even the consider
alton Of the proposed withdrawal, unless
the Executive Committee of tho national
Democratic party should request it.
TWO ELECTIONS ON THE SAME PLANE.
The effort to redeem tho State would
| doubtless have been made il no Prcsidcn-
tial election had been pending ; but as it
-x Ill.,. a -..,- ,-I ~, tIo.,o ,,,1,
election for President, 1t was not perceiv-
cd how tho two Notwithstanding in the
same plane of reform-could materially
! conflict with each other. Indeed, sonIo