The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-20
HON. +. 4.
HIS Action in the Judicial Election
Duty before Syinpathy--Iils Sympa-
tines for Cooke, his Judgment with
ThOmson--A Manly Account of his
Stewardship = Hard Work in the

Editors Press aud Banner:
Ny letter 10 r.. &. GraydOn, Esq, in refer
encc 10 the election Of Judge for HE Eighth
Judicial Circuit was private, and its publica-
this time ft having been written 18th Jnnua-
ry,J together with our comment that our
representative would do his duty despite pc
~titions" is calculated TO make Il wr0n. I'M
preston. At the time the letter was written
there was no ~cxcitcmentin the country on the
subject, and l supposed we would have been
left quietly to do our duty, according to our
Judgments.
l confess to having the same sympathy
for Judge Cooke that the Si@ncrS OF the petit
tons to have him restored to the bench do;
yet | could not let that feeling control my
Judgment in the performance of SO impor-
tant Il duty to my people and TO the people of
the State. But few questions OF so grave iInl,or-
tlnce, and none SO embarrassing to me. have
come before this legislature as the election of
My SympathieS were with Judge
Cooke, my Judgment. my conscientious con-
v~ictions of public duty were against the pro-
priety of restoring him to the bench. | could
well understand how such Il sympathy us |
felt. would prompt many of my constituents
To sign 4 petition In his behalf, but in my pO-
sltion | am answcrablc for the public good,
and the future will hold me TO account. In
the spirit II language of Senator
i nnmnr Of :b,t T lhs ii,al is M, fee feel very
when this cbuiliiion OF Je"ii"q,. very natural,
will pass OF aud the people will recognize my
course as wise and Just and armed with hon
est convictiouS Of my duty. l shall calmly
await results. believing in the uttr!uncc Of Il
great American wio never trusted his coun-
try!ncn in vain, {" that truth is oln-
nipotrnt and public Justice certain"
I felt satisfied from the h%r:inmins
Cooke will be provided for. The Democratic
party will not abandon him entirely. / for
one, and ! express the opinion Of scores here,
desire that some position should be given
v.it. .tNi rel ln - rn ,N ,.tn,Nf IN MI H.. Inns ~,
idea himself of turning his back upon the
purity for this act. 1t is not necessary for me
10 say anything in dislnragcmcnt of him. but
! must he permitted 10 say that he Is not, In
tween him and Judge Thomson, il is the
flicker of II candle 10 IL bright calcium light.
| could not lose the opportunity Of aiding
In c!rctin$ one OF our own pure, gifted. and
The position once held by W'ardlaw, O'Ncii,
Harper. These arc some Of the reasons that
Influenced my course on this subject. | was
sorry TO differ with my colleagues, but | ac-
cord to them equal purity of motive, and
determination 10 do their duty, but men
often take different views OF questions orpub-
lie interest.
Judge. from some of your filings. that you
are anxious for us to adjourn. and | think
you represent the genera feeling; but ! assure
you the large majority Of the members are
co seIily Az anxious. We are working night
and day. and Il great deal Of business has been
in tue last two weeks, mostly OF
local interest. The lien law is almost the
same as the old one which Ntricd so hard last
December TO have restored. IL gives Il pre-
fcrrcd lien 10 the landlord to the amount Of
one third OF thrrrup for rent, and Is 10 be reg
iStercd ut II fee OF II cents. 1t expires ut the
end of this year. aud trust our farmers will
prepare 20 do without it hereafter by raising
their own grain as far as possible. 4 bill to
incrc:,S" the pay of County Commissioners in
certain counties (which includes .Abbevillc.l
to three dollars per day has passed it's second
reading in the House. The lomg-lo0ll I'd for
report Of the Bond Commission, was laid On
our desks saturday and | send you Il copy.
The TWO lines Of battle will be- to accept the
OF the committed US Il basis OF settle
ment with the ho~ldhOldcrS, and next to ac-
crpt the consolidation act as Il tinality. II *
u curious fact that the bonded debt OF the
State, taking the consolidation act as Il settle
ment, Is actually less by one and Il quarter
million than ii would have been If the Rndi-
Gals had not got into power. They %repudintc.
n great part OF their own debt. and then scaled
the balance, together with the oncxt old drGt,
To nifty cents on the dollar, which the Demo-
Gratis never would havc done. They have the
odium OF reputation while the taxpayers
save 81 2,E!.Giai by their rnscality.
a Bill has passed it's third reading to "eStab-
lish by law the voting precincts in the vari-
Gus counties Of the State" In which are lei;
ont. in .thbrville county. Sinithville, White
Hall, and No. y ut Ahhcville.
An extra term OF Court for .Ahbcvillc. will
DC nciu III April. opening on the fOurtiI Mon
day. The pay of witnesses In State cases has
been reduced to fifty cents per day. and five
per mile one way. That somewhat in
terfcrcS with professional witnesses.
| have hnrrirdly written this letter, the
first l believe since the recess. and perhaps
the last. Some people think we havc an easy
time. and perhaps VIC do in some respects.
Some Of us are worked harder tl!an others
three committees, chairman OF committee
on Claims, and am busy from eleven
from 10. \ NJ. except an hour for
dinner, until dark; and then after tea u night
session until generally 10 i. NJ. 1t Is very
probable that the Legislature will adjourn ut
the end of next week. Debate on the bond
question, however, may prolong the session.
+. y. Z.