The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-17
The Press and Banner,
Wednesday, Dec. II. 1872
General MCGOWAN Elected Associate
JuSticp.

"
General MCGOWAN Elected Associate
Justice.
Our distinguished .townsman Gcneral
Samuel MCGOWAN was elected Associate
Justice by the Legislature last Thursday,
over his competitor, Judge wallace o'
Union, by a vote of n to %. The STATE
had nothing to lose in the election OIL
either candidate, and we are confident
that the election of General McGowan
will give universal satisfactlon-to the
friends of Judge Wallace, as we'll rs to the
friends of Judge MCGOWAN. The race
WAS between two of the best ana strong
est men in the State. and we are Si"o 70
be able to state that it was conducted with
fairness throughout. The Speaker OF the
House. and the President of the Senate,
were strong friends Of Judge Wallace,
and bv virtue of their personal populari-
tv. and by reason Of their official posi-
non, they welded a powerful
for their f~avorite candidate. General
MCGOWAN had no kindred in the General
Assembly, and held no official position to
he made vacant by his promotion
elements in a close contest, Of great
force and value and although a
member of the Legislature and as such
entitled'to a vote, he withdrew from the
House before the election took place.
without having "paired off, with any OF
the supporters of Judge Wallace, in a
contest the issue of which the friends OF
both candidates foreknew to be doubtful.
The result was as stated above, and Will
give one moro evidence of what true
worth and ability shall obtain as q reward
from the people of South Carolina. 1t
must have been with special pride that
the Laurens Senator and Representatives
a their votes to elevate to that hlgh
nos;tion one who was born in their Coun-
tv- and who has from an humble begin
ming assembled to the Supreme Bench OF
the State.
To the reflective reader, who is ac-
uuainted with the facts, the examination
of the names of those who supported Nc
Gowan and those who voted for Wallace
will furnish food for thought. General
MCGOWAN preached the gospel of tree
onciliation, fraternity and peace and an
"obliteration of the color line" to such
all extent that in the campaigns of 7G
and '7s the sobrtquet of "Old Frater-
nity," was conferred upon him. So con-
spicuously did he represent the conserva-
tive Democracy of the State, that extreme
Democrats have sometimes claimed as an
objection to him, that he did not quite
come up to the rigid requirements OF
their creed. And on the up-country and
low-country question, no man in South
Carolina has labored more earnestly to
prevent an antagonism of the sections
than he has. He always claimed to be
citizen of the State, and held that what
. eyerinjured the low-country injured the
~up-country.
Under the circumstances, it was natu-
raj, to expect that he would receive q
strong support from Charleston. as
we'll as a share at least Of the Repub-
lican votes. But, contrary to all rea-
sonable expectation, Charleston gave
him only five votes out Of nineteen n
eyery Radical in the General Assembly
voted against him. They voted solid for
Judge Wallace, and General McGo"an
has the satisfaction of knowing that ne
was elected entirely by Democratic votes,
AGAINST the unanimous vote of the Rad
icals.
It must be very gratifying to General
MCGOWAN, who has 80 long labored as a
lawyer in the Eighth Circuit, to remem-
Der that the numerous delegates from
the counties composing that Circuit gave
him a support which, but for two votes,
would have been unanimous. The
twenty-one delegates from this Circuit
who voted for him not only paid General
MCGOWAN a high compliment but they
reflected the o~piuions of their constit-
uents among whom he has so long been
popular.
We believe General MCGOWAN possess
es the requisites of an excellent Judge.
Fair minded, not subject to prejudice,
laborious and pains-taking, s~crupulously
conscientious, he will make rs upright
and able o Judge as yer wore the ermine
of South Carolina.
The election of Judge MCGOWAN makes
another vacancy in the Abbeville Bar.
A year ago the Hon. T. c. Perrin ceased
from his labors. More recently Judre
Thomson CAV up his large practice to
, occupyia place on the Circuit Bench, and
now Judge MCGOWAN on taking his seat
in the Supreme Court relinquishes a large
and lucrative practice. In all probability
the next man who will break ranks in
the Abbeville Bar, will be Mr.. Cothran.
His ability, energy and force Of charac-
ter, together with his popularity, mark
him ont as the next man to be "called up
higher" It is thought by some that he
will be our next Attorney-General,
and Others again think he should be on
the Bench-our belief is that he can get
any place he may desire, and that he will
adorn any office he may accept. All these
vacancies will necessarily bring our
young lawyers nearer to the front, and
they should aspire to fill creditably the
places SO long and so honorably occupied
by the veterans Of our Bar.
The Political Chaos Of the Present
Hour.