Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1878-02-21

- = 81 SSiSit VI ~ .tIS
j es employa bg these gentle lemsn. A
s first we, ass customary demanded
retainer, ht were prevailed npon t
saocept qtingent fee ont Of the ne
profits ofEhs contemplated invest
ment shouh Il prove successful and
4 otherwise hothing Before employ
ing us, thee gentlemen ascertaiped
ousyisWs TO the true policy OF the
people Of TIE State soaching the cues
lion Of the paslic aebk Then, as
now, we en- tsrtaiaed and freely ex'
pressed Tbs Q opinion that the valid
debt Of. .tae Stats ouS GE to be paid,
IA pubic dis effeetby
The of tle Sat, and an
ascertainment as far as could ibe=os
the valid and fraudulent debt Of the
State was demanded by her best citi-
zens. AL felt that no efforts should
be spared 70 dissipate the cloud that
enyeloped the, cond dition. of her fnan-
ees and to restore credit to the State,
Several days after being retained as
attorney, General Butler and I hap
pen;ng to meet Messrs. Childs, South
ron and Everett upon Nassau street,
the latter gentleman, whom until
thenI had never seen, was introduc-
ed to nae. For the first time a mem
orandum of agreement, embodying,
as Mr.. Everett said, our contract Of
aeryice, was presented to US by him,
and our approval and signature re-
ouested. 70 questions propounded
by US, after q hasty examination Of
the paper. and in explanation of its
contents, Mr.. Everett stated that
General Butlersand I, though repre-
sented as prominent citizens Of South
Carolina, were personally strangers
to him; and that, before embarking
in an enterprise Of such magnitude,
he would like TO have some assurance
~ n -
that we would not use our influence
Is break down the credit of the State
by advertising the udiation Of the
public debt, but would use our en-
deavors to restore toits proper value
her lawful bonded aebt. Without.
bestowing upon the paper much
thought, We assured him that we ia
vored the payment Of the honest debt
Of the State, were opposed on princi-
pie to reputation, and did not object
to do in our professional capacity as
s5ofneys What accorded lilly with.
-. .i,
entertained ss citizens Ae-.s State.
/ referred then to the public meeting
mentioned in the agreement, and m
formed Mr.. Everett that / could not
attend such a meeting in Columbia
8 q an.the Sd day of: May, 1871,
as private business Of pressing na-
,ture required me to be then Mn Ar
kansps. In that year Gen. Butler
and I.were engaged in the business
of life insurance in this State, and
had an Office in. Columbia, and it was va
then General Buffers purpose to be-
come, as he afterwards did, resident
of this city. The meeting, as we un- a-
derstood, referred to. in the memoran-
dunn, one to be held by the cltl-
zens of Columbia with reference'tc
the public affairs Of the State, and
possibly, but of this ] have no dis'
tinct recollection, for the purpose Q!
appointing delegates to the Tax Fay
ers' Convention, afterwards held II
this-city AT that time l was not II
political life, and was giving exclu
sivs attention to my private affair affair
aud professional business, and no
only only had no agency in bringing aoou
the meeting of this Convention, ou
did not expect to take part in its pro
ceedipes. Measrs. Childs and South
ron said they did not suggest tn
written memorandum or insist upol d
its execution, but Mr.. Everett sac
lhe desired it as a check to any actor
on our part as citizens, which, en-. .
stimulating a spirit of Reputation
| would render his heavy investment
4 disastrous, and stated that he kne'
nothing about the contemplated pul
bic meeting in Columbia. and that m
absence therefrom was matter
q Indifference to him. With this e.
4 planation we signed the agreemeI
rs attorneys at law. At TINS tim
April u, 1871. neither General Blu
Y Ter nsr myself had been chosen
attend the Tax Paxers' conyentio
which met on The 9th May feliowin
!. nor did we attach any Importance
! SO much Of ths agreement as referr'
10 a public meeting to be held n 9
lunbiia. Leaving New York Fl
cseded directly to Arkansas, an
! ! having finished my business, | !
j turned, reaching home on the mig
!. Of May 5, 1871. On the follow
.tdav. which was sales day, our q
{ uar.s net and chose as delegates
!. thu Convention General NJ 9. Butt
i James Il. Giles Q. Sheppard Es
: Col. A.sP. Butler, GOV. NJ. L. b
ham and myself. On the g semlli