The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-01-25
Letter from General McGowan.
ABBEv1LLE, S. c., Jan. l6, 1877.

Editors Chronicle and Sentinel: p
A friend has this morning brought to
nv attention communication in your
paper of the 10th instant over the sigma
ture of "a Tilden Democrat" upon the
subject of the late canvass in South Car
olina. Our court is now in session, and
have little time at my command; but
as reference is made to me by name, it
seems proper that l should make short
statement. shall not, in this hurried
way, attempt to do more than refer to the
matter which concerns myself. Other
gentlemen eau speak for themselves.
was one Of the electors at large for
the State of South Carolina on the Dem.
ocratic ticket, and as such, in association
with other electors, had in charge speci.
ally the interests of Tilden and Hem
dricks. It was not only my duty to sup;
port their election and promote it in
every honorable way, but I did it con
amore. Having strong opinion Of the
great.importance of their election,L sup.
ported them earnestly as a matter OF
principle and patriotism. The design
of your correspondent seems, to beat
least it will be the effect of his commune
cation-to make it appear that South
Carolina, under the leadership of General
Hampton as candidate for Governor,
gave to Tilden and Hendricks a luke.
warm support in the late election
Among other things he says:
''Though the scheme Il. e. to withdraw
the electoral ticket) failed, the spirit
which inspired it survived. and made
itself felt in the campaign and at the
election. It's not too much to say that
The State was lost to Tilden and the ma.
tional Democracy through the policy
pursued by General Hampton. =
n Tilden and Hendricks seemed
entirely forgotten, and the whole fight
was made against Chamberlain" This
seems to reflect upon, or at least to lg-
more altogether, the electors. .a
General Hampton, with the other gen.
tlemen on the State ticket, and the elect.
ors, canyassed the State together, and
spoke at the same appointments made
by the State Executive Committee. |
heard, and believe it is true, that pro.
position was made during the, canvass BY
certain Republican leaders in the State TO
support Hampton against Chamberlain If
the former would have the Democratic
electoral ticket withdrawn. Such pro-
position, however, I had not heard Of un-
til in our progress we had reached Abbe1
Vile, where Judge Cooke, believed to be
one of the Republican leaders referred
to, made 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. .a4 Il.
On that occasion good deal was said
in free conversation about the impor-
tance and prospects of our success both
in the State and in the Federal elections.
With a colored majority of nearly 80, 900
in the State, it was we'll known that the
contest would be desperate one. The
administration of the State government
had been so Infamous, and touched the
people so closely, and affected them so
disastrously, that reform in the State
seemed to be considered paramount in
Importance. The appearances all indi.
Gated that the leaders of the national
Democratic party had little or no hope
from our State, and that we would have
to fight it out by ourselves. It was sug-
gested that possibly they might consider
the active campaign which we were
obliged to make in this State as calcu-
lated to damage them in other States.
Yet, in the absence of information on
that subject, it was concluded that the
struggle for the State government was
not inconsistent with an effort to aid in
the larger struggle. to.redeem the general
government; and that nothing should
induce even the consideration of the
proposed withdrawal, unless the Execu-
tive Committee of the national Demo
cratic party should request it. nay.
The effort to redeem the State would
doubtless have been made if no Presi-
dental election had been pending; but
it was not "an off year." and as there
was an election for President, it was not
perceived how the two elections-run-
ming in the same plane of reform-could
materially conflict with each other. In
deed, some of us thought, and still
think, that the most certain and effective
way to correct the evils of the State gov
ernment is to secure the triumph of the
national Democratic party and a change
of rulers at Washington; that the re-
demption Of the State government cannot
be complete without that triumph and
that consequent change. For these and
other good. reasons the proposition to
change the programme at the instance oi
the Republican leaders, was not enter.
tanned. On the contrary, we adhered to
our platform aud original resolution--tc
make common cause and fight together
against corruption and for reform, both
| in theState and general governments. So
far as I know, the Republican leaders re-