Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-03-07

Z
the State touching the question of tho
public debt. Then as now we entertained
and freely expressed the opinion that tho
valid debt Of the State ought to be paid.
A public declaration to this effect by tho
tax payers Of the State and an ascertain
ment, as far as could be, of the valid aud
fruduent debt of the State was demanded
by her best citizens All felt that no efforts
should bo spared to dissipato tho cloud that
envelopcd tho condition of her finances,
and to restore credit to the State. Several
days after being retained as attorneys, Gen.
Butler and |, happening to meet Mcssrs.
Childs, Southern and Everett upon Nassau
btreet, the latter gentlemen, whom unit!
then had never seen, was introduced to
mo for the first time; mcmprandum of
agreement cmbodying, as Mr.. Everett said,
our contract OF service, was presented to us
by him, and our approval and signature re-
quested. TO questions propouuded BY Us;
after hasty examination of tho paper aud
in explanation Of its contents, Mr.. Everett
stated that General Butler and 1, though
represented 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 havo
some assurance that we would not use our
influence to break down the credit of the
State by advocating the reputation of the
public debt, but would use our endeavors to
restore to its proper value her lawful bonded
debt. Without bcstowing upon the paper
much thought, we assured him that we
favored the payment of the honest debt of
the State, were opposed on principle to
repudiation, and did not object to do, in
our professional capacity as attorneys, what
accorded fully with the views of public
policy which we entertained as citizens of
the State. referred them to tho "public
meeting" mentioned in the written agree
mcnt, and informed Mr.. Everett that could
not attend such meeting in Columbia, S.
G., on tho Sd day of May, 1871, as private
busttcss of pressing nature required nc to
be then in Arkansas. In that year Gcp.
Butler and l were engaged in the business
of life insurance in this State, and it was
then Gen. Buffers purpose to become, as
nc afterwards did, resident of this city.
The meeting, as wo understood, referred to
In the memorandum was one to be hold by
the citizens o. Columbia with reference to
the public affairs of the State, and possibly
(but of this | hav no distinct reoollcction)
for tho purpose of appointing delegates to
the tax payers convention afterwards held
in tliia Sity.
At that time was not 10 political life,
and was giving exclusive attention to my
private affairs and professional business,
and not only had no agency iu bringing
about the meeting Of this convention, but
did not expect to take part in its proceed
ings. Messrs. Childs and Southern said
they did not suggest tho written mcmoran-
DUN or insist on its execution, but Mr.
Everett said ho desired it as check to any
action on our part as citizens which, by
stimulating spirit Of repudiatiou, would
render his heavy investments disastrous, and
stated that he cared nothing about tho con
tcmplated public meeting in Columbia, and
absence therefrom was matter of indiffer-
cnce to him. With this explanation wo
signed the agrccmcn: as attorneys at law.
At this lime, April II, 1871, neither Gen.
Butler nor [ had bccn chosen to attend the
tax payers convention, which met on the 9th
of May following, nor did we attach any
Importance to 80 much of the agreement as
referred to public meeting to be held in
Columbia.
Leaving New York, l proceeded directly
to Arkansas, and having finished my bust
ness, returned, reaching homo on tho
night of May S, 1871. On the following
day, which was saleday, our citizens met
and chose as delegates to the convention
Gen. NJ. G! Butler, James H. Giles, o.
Sheppard, Esq, Col. a. p. Butler, Gov.
NJ l.. Bonham and myself. On tho as
scmbing of tho convention, was nomI,
mated for President, as was also tho Hon.
W. D Porter. declined the nomination
in the following words:
II am here not as an aspirant for any
Office within the right Of this convention,
but rs representative of the people of
Edgeield. Since the results of the war
have boon SO disastrous to US, must con.
fess that whatever ambition | might have
had previous to that timo havo none now
/ au,, therefore, unwilling that, by the use
of my name, tho harmony of this convcn-
tion should be disturbed. do think that
at time like the present, when we arc
oppressed, VIC should present solid 'front.'
VIC should have no difference between u.s.
Actuatcd by these feelings, must decline
the nomination."
An examination Of tho published pro-
ocedings of the convention will show that
but three rcsolutions--;tw ex.
tending the privileges of tho floor to friends,
and ono upon tho subject Of cumulative
voting 1nmy speech in support Of that
measure took occasion to uso the following
language:
~ would ask, why havo wc gathered
together from all parts Of the State? Why
have tho wiso mon of tho State met in