The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-07-12
4 Modern Cincinnatus.

Those who have read of the old Roman
who left his pillow, and ruled the nation,
returning again to his humble farm,
must be proud to think how many in
stances of the same kind our own history
furnishes. Washington was a Cincin-
natus, and here is an account of another.
At the session of the South Carolina
legislature, in 1914, the members were
perplexed for a suitable man to elect
governor. The difficulty did not arise
from any scarcity of candidates, for then,
as now, men were ambitions, but from a
want of the right sort of man. The mat
ter became worse as the time wore on,
and the election of some Objectionable
candidate seemed inevitable.
One day, however, as several of them
were cOnversing upon the matter, Judge
O'Neall, then a young man, and present
by invitation said, Gentleman, why
not elect General David R. Williams 20
David r. Williams! he's our man
he's the man " they all exclaimed, as
they began to scatter to tell the news.
The day of election came on, and Gene
raj Williams was elected by large vote
A messenger was at once dispatched
with carefully prepared letter to inform
the general of his election, requesting his
acceptance, and hoping he would name
the day on which he would take the oath
of office. After a long ride, the messen-
ger stopped at the generals residence, in
Marlboro district, we believe, and in
Quired if he was in. He was told that
Mr.. Williams was over at his plantation.
The gentleman said he would ride over,
as he had a note to deliver to him as
soon as possible.
When about half way, he met fine
looking man, dressed in plain homespun
and driving a pair of mules. Am on
the road to the plantation of General
Williams ?" asked the messenger. " Yes,
sir it is about a mile further on" was
the reply. "Is the general at home {. u
No, sir" Where is hep" I am
the man." "Don't deceive me. I have
an important letter for Gen. Williams.
If that is your NAME" said the doubling
messenger, "here it is, handing the let
ter to the general.
Mr.. Williams opened the letter, and
found, to his utter astOnishment, that,
without his knowledge or consent, he
had been elected governor of South Caro-
lima. He took the messenger home, and
entertained him for the night, and nam
ing time on which he would be in Co
lumbia, the messenger returned. On
bllU dDJOlllCO a JCW AAAAhNOCo OC1OlC
twelve, a man, dressed in homespun, and
on horseback, rode into town; hitching
his animal to tree, he made his way to
the capitol, where he found brilliant
concourse of people.
But a few knew him personally; still
there was something commanding about
him. He took his seat in a vacant chair ;
and when the clock in front of the
speaker had struck the hour of twelve,
the general arose. and delivered the most
mastery speech that had ever been de-
livered there. The farmer statesman
entirely electrified the assembly. He
made an excelllnt governor, This thing
conveys a beautiful idea; here was a
farmer elected; he accepted, and from
the pillow went to the governors Office to
preside, in a stormy crisis, over the des-
tiny of a sovereign state. Long live his
memory