The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-21

guage more bitter and scathing. Neither
in this Convention nor out Of it, before
nor since, did I directly or indirectly do
or say anything derogatory to the honor
of South Carolina, or inimical to her well
fare or the interest of her honest tax
paying citizens. was not a member of
the COMMITTEE of eleven" nor did en-
deavor, in any manner, to intrude my
counsels into their deliberations, or to
control their action, or the action Of any
member of the Convention. This COM
nittee was composed of Messrs. NJ. G..
Butler, Gabriel Cannon, w. H. Wallace,
A. NJ. Lowry, E. J. Scott, Cadwallader
Jones, B. W. Ball, Richard Lathers, G.
A. Trenholm, w. B. Smith and T. G..
Weatherley-men as pure, as honorable,
intelligent, and as patriotic as there could
or now can be found in the State. With
the labors of this committee had naught
to do. My whole attention was given to
the subject referred to the committee on
election and suffrage laws, of which l was
chairman, and ! challenge any member
of the Convention, or any other man, to
say that either during the session of the
Convention or before OF after its meeting,
held any conference with him, or in any
manner sought to exercise influence in
reference to the action on the matter of
the public debt of the State.
Out of the Committee of eleven" was
selected subcommittee, of which the
Hon. G. A. Trenholm was chairman
the ablest fnancier of the State-and
this subcommittee were specially charged
to Investigate the finances of the State.
The ability, eSrnestness, integrity, and
patriotism of the gentlemen composing
this committee and sub-committee cannot
be questioned. Their names sufficiently
negative the slightest suspicion that they
could be influenced by corrupt men or by
corrupt motives. From the labors of this
Committee of eleven" came two reports
upon different branches of the subject
matter of investigation-the one submit
ted by General NJ. G. Butler, upon gen.
eral grievances of the State; the other by
the Hon. G.. A. Trenholm, upon the
bonded debt, both of which were ap-
proved and adopted by the Convention.
General Butler and were but two of
q delegation of six from Edgefeld, and
but two in a convention of delegates from
twenty-six counties in the State, COM
posed of her ablest and best citizens.
The action of that Convention was en-
tirely in accord with our views and sen.
timents touching the public debt and
measures of State policy in general, and
in fact all its proceedings were character
lied by unusual gravity, earnestness and
harmony. To charge US with betraying
the true interests of our constituency in
that Convention, or conspiring against the
welfare of the people Of the State, is To
lay a similar charge at the door of every
member of that body. To say that. We
improperly controlled or influenced their
action is an insult to their intelligence
and integrity, and q base slander upon
them as we'll as upon ourselves.
This argument, so unfairly and mali
ciously paraded before the public, was
open and free to be exhibited. About it
there was nothing secret or designed to
be hidden. General Butler did not hesi-
tate to 20 to the city Of New York, and
in open court in the suit between Childs
and Southern against VIM. E. Everett,
to testify to the genuineness and purport
of this paper, and the circumstances
under which it was executed. Prior to
his going to New York, it was proposed
or suggested by distinguished lawyer of
this State, in a letter to General Butler,
intended for our joint perusal, that it
would be better that the suit should be
compromised, in order to suppress this
agreement. This proposition General
Butler, with my hearty concurrence, de-
clined, and unhesitatingly unfolded the
paper to the world by his testimony in
open court. Distorted construction to
his prejudice he defed, and SO do l, con-
scious as we are of nothing wrong in
agreeing to serve, as attorneys, gentle
men of high character and to lend our
aid by proper means to reinstate the
ruined credit of the State.
From this transaction we have never re-
.ceived one dollar, nor, 80 far as / know,
have those who invested their money in
it. This "twice told tale" is, with deep
malice, designed to impair the usefulness
of Gen. Butler and myself in our respec-
tive public spheres, and to injure our
private characters. My warfare against
public thieves and robbers has been bit
ter, unrelenting, and, am happy to say,
successful, and such has been and ever
will be my devotion to her institutions
and her veal that neither tho voice nor
the pen of the defamer shall cause me to
falter in my course, or to swerve from my
duty to the State. For the honor and
welfare of my people | have fought, and
for the redemption of my State | have
struggled. She is redeemed, thank God,
and stands to-day the proud peer Of any
State, and, so far as my heart and voice
and arm have availed, and may hereafter
avail, so shall she stand forever.