The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-24
An Interview With Gen. N. W. Gary
From tie ElgcEeld Advertiser.

Wv WV
REPoETER-General, we see that you
are not invited to speak at the various
appointments made by the Executive
Committee, what is the cause of this?
GENERAL GARY-I received letter
from General John D. Kennedy, Chair
man of the State Democratic Executive
Committee, several weeks ago, asking if
1 would take part in addressing the De-
mocracy in the present campaign and
consent to be assigned to speak at the
mass meetings appointed by the Com
mittee. 1 replied that it would afford me
pleasure to do so, and asked to be as
signed to the Eastern and Southern
Counties, as I had never spoken in those
portions Of the State. received no.
tice dated September 10th assigning me
to speak at Aiken On the Goth of Sep
tember. On my way there 1 met General
Kennedy and we went to Aiken together.
While we were together he told me that
he had received letter from Governor
Hampton in which he said that he lGov
Hampton) must not be assigned to the
same meetings with myself, for he would
not attend meetings at which was to
speak. General Kennedy asked me what
it meant. Ireplied I did not know, but
I regarded it high-handed request, and
that he was on a very high horse. He
said the request appeared an unreason-
able one, and that he would look into the
matter. At the same time informed
him that had been invited by the Chair
man of the County Executive Committee
Of Marlboro County to speak at Bennctts
vile, on the 9th of September. l found
that on the 18th of September Governor
Hampton, in speech at Greenville, had
made an unexpected and unfair attack
upon Inc politically and personally. L
also found an invitation, dated Septem-
Der 18th, from Col. Law, Chairman of
the County Executive Committee of
Darlington, inviting me to address the
Democracy on the 25th Of September.
Also an invitation from ]. r. Boylston,
S. D. Ford, J. II. Wilson, per w. G.
Vardcll, Jr., for Committee, and one
from Col. George Tupper, President of
Dorchester Democratic Club, to address
the Democracy on the 26th of September
at Summerville. l accepted the invita-
ton to 60 to Darlington on the 25th of
September and declined with sincere re-
gret the invitation to speak at Summer
Vile. Having received no notice or COM
munication from General Kennedy or the
Executive Committee since the Convcn-
ton at Aiken, left home Monday night,
September 23d, and reached Darlington
on the evening of the Oath Of Septem-
ber. l went ut once to the home Of my
friend, Capt r. w. Boyd, and soon NJ
ter my arrival there l informed him of
what Gen. Kennedy had told me in re-
gard to Gov. Hampton's request, by let
ter to Gen Kennedy. ECapt. Boyd then
stated that he did not intend to tell Inc
what he knew about the matter as lie
did not want to embarrass me, but since
seemed to know some of the facts he
would tell me what he knew about it.
He then stated that Col. Law had called
upon him and had asked in his (Col.
Law's) name to revoke the invitation
which had been sent to me to attend
their meeting, and that after consider
ing it he had declined to act in the pre-
misses He saiG Col. Law, in obedi-
ence 10 request instruction from the
State Executive Committee, or its Chair
man, had sent me telegram not TO
come, and it was understood it was done
at the instance of Gov. Hampton. l
replied that I regretted that had not
received it, for then / would not have
come. Shortly after my arrival ut the
home of Capt. Boyd and after the above
conversation with him, Col. Law called
upon me and took me to drive. During
the drive he stated to me he had sent me
n telegram not to come. | told him that
if had received it I would not have
come. He then stated that he had re-
ccived information from the State Dem
ocratic Executive Committee that Gov.
Hampton would not attend meeting
where 1 was to speak. Under these cir
cumstanccs he said he had sent me the
revocation Of the invitation and had de-
termincd to invite me to address the De-
mocracy Of Darlington during the County
Fair. He said that the Governor would
be there on the next day and that he was
in somewhat of 4 dilemma. lie asked
mo If 7 wished to sncak I roplied that