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

aam,o They arc known by all honest men,
North, South, East and West, irrespective
Of party alliances, as thieves. and robbers"
r. K. Scott was Governor, Daniel II.
Chamberlain, Attorney General, Niles G.
Parker, Treasurer, and j. l.. Ncagle, Comp.
troller General. In parliamentary Il body,
| could not have used language more severe.
Subsequently, at Edgeficd Court House, on
the 18th Of August, A. D. 1876, I felt at
liberty to denounco D. II. Chamberlain
again, face to face, in language moro bitter
and scathiug. Neither 10 this convention
nor out of it, before nor since, did directly
or indirectly do or say anything dcrogatory
to tho honor of South Carolina, or inimical
to her welfare or the interest Of her honest
tax paying citizens. ] was not member
of the "committee of oeyen," nor did
endeavor, in any manner, to intrude my
counsels into their deliberations, or to con--
troll their action, or the action of any NOM
Der Of the convention. This committee
was Composed of Messrs. NJ. Q. Butler,
Gabriel Cannon, w. II. Wallace, A. NJ.
Lowry, L. j. Scott, Cadwalader Jones, B.
w. Ball, Richard Lathcrs, George A.
Trenholm, w. B. Smith and L. G. Weather
ly-men as pure, as honorable, as intelli-
gent, and as patriotic as there could or now
can be found in the State. With the
labors of this committee I had naught to
do. My whole attention was given to tho
subject referred to tho committee on cleo
ton and suffrage laws, of which was
Chairman, and challenge any member of
the convention, or any other man, to say
that either during the session of the con-
veotion or before or 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 elcven' was
selected sub committee, of which tho
Hon. G. A. Trenholm was Chairman-tho
ablcst finanoier of tho Statc-and the sub
committee were especially charged to inves.
tigato the finances of the State. The ability,
earncstness, 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
tho subject matter Of invcstigation-th
one submitted by Gen. Butler, upon general
grievances of the State, tho other by the
Hon. G. A. Trenholm, upon tho bonded
debt, both of which were approved and
adopted by the convention.
General Butler and l were but two of d
delegation of six from Edgcfeld, and but
two in convention Of delegates from
twenty six counties in the State, composed
Of her ablest and best citizens. The action
of that convention was entirely in accord
with our views and sentiments touching
the public debt and measures of State
policy 10 general, and in fact all its pro-
cecdings wcrc characterized by unusual
gravity, oarnestness and harmony. 10
charge US with betraying the true interests
of our constituency in that convention, or
conspiring against tho welfare Of the people
of the State, is to lay similar charge at
the door of every member of that body.
To say that wo improperly controlled or
influenced their action is an insult to their
intelligence and integrity, and base SANDER
upon them as we'll os upun ourselves.
This argument, so unfairly aud malicious.
ly paradcd 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 hesitate to go to the
city of New York, and ip open court in tho
suit between Childs and Southern against
Wm. e. Everett, to testify to the genuine
ness 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 letter to General
Butler, intended for our joint perusal,
that it would be better that the suit should
DO compromised, 10 order to suppress this
agreement This proposition General But
Ter, With my hearty concurrence, declined,
and unhesi .tiDgy unfoldcd the paper to
tho world by his testimony in open court.
Distorted construction to his prejudice ho
dcfed, and so do I, conscious as we aro Of
nothing wrong in agreeing to serve, as
attorneys, gentlemen of high character and
to lend our aid by proper means to reinstate
the ruined credit of tho State.
From this transaction VIC have never re-
ceived one dollar, nor, so far as | know,
have those who invested their money in it.
This "twico told tale" is, with deep malice,
designed to impair tho usefulness Of Gen.
Butler and myself in our respective public
spheres, and to ipjure our private characters.
My warfare against public thieves aud
robbers has been bitter, unrclcnting, and,
am happy to sny, successful, and such has
been and over will be my devotion to her
institutions and her veal that neither the
voice nor the pen Of the dcfamcr shall cause
me to falter in Giy course, or tc sworvo from
l,t 10 81 tn A. 4