Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-01-23

foot. My toes seem so colo, ana my IOOC at
times is so painful. Then again it itches me
beyond endurance, and when half awake 1 find
myself stretching my hand to scratch it, but to
find it's presence a mere delusion. Yet am
doing very well and feel myself on the mend. D
Friend-'sThis is a bright, beautiful day.
Have YOU taken the benefit of the fresh air
this morning % .. ,.,.s.... N. b,.,
"Not yet,' was the reply. "But shan't
miss it, I assure you. shall see the glad sun
before the day is over.'' - 4. .".- -,a
~, THE TELLER INVESTIGATION. ~.
Correspondent-Gov 1 would be pleased
to know if you feel well enough this morning to
enter the list and talk with me alittle on pub
lie affairs. 1t is not fattery to say to you how
much your own people rely upon your cOunsels,
and how much we fondly believe the whole
country, without reference to party lines, re-
spect your frank, OutspOken views. Whilst
therefore have done myself the infinite pleas
ure, as citizen and friend, Of calling upon you
this morning, (smiling,) L yet mean little
business, if you are confident OF being equal to
the task" ...J...... e., .,...,..,..,., III,
Governor-''I don't think it will hurt me a
bit. and whatever my humble opinions are
worth, 1 feel that the country is entitled to
them just as they are.'' . -r..r, d,
Correspondent--"Well, then, Governor,
what have you to say touching the Blaine-Tel-
ler investigation ?',E, .a., ,"7i ia
THE BOTTOM FACTS WANTED. ,i.-l"-
Governor-''I have no earthly objection to
the investigation itself, if the right to make it
is conceded Of course, under the present cir
cumstances, we could not lodge an objection
touching the unwarrantable espionage involvr
ed in this measure without being miscon-
strued, and think Thurman, Lamar and But
Ter, and others with them, received this meas
ure with most becoming spirit. Now that it
has been undertaken, l wish to see it go to the
bottom. Whatever we here have done amiss,
let it be shown However it may expose any
possible dereliction of ours, it must do us good
in the end No good citizen, no wise man,
no good patriot, can afford to cloak and cover
up fraud or corruption in elections. 1tgoesto
the root of our institutions, and it destroys the
fruition of liberty itself. But we have right
to ask that the Teller committee shall tell the
whole story and not the half of it, Whatever
comfort there is in it, and l confess 1t Is
very Door one, due and honest inyestiga-
tiOn will discover as much irregularity on the
Republican side of our household as the Demo-
cratic. And this much may say, that SO far
as intimidation is concerned, there was literal
ly none whatever on our side; whilst on the
Republican side there are the most urques-
tionable evidences of gross intimidation Two
cases of this kind happened with two of the
employees of my son-in-law, Colonel Haskell.
Two of his ''hands" were sadly beaten for vot-
ing the Democratic ticket. So, too, there
were instances of unquestionable intimidation
on the part of the Republicans all over the
State. This was more or less to be looked for.
We had all the surrounding influences of supe-
rior wealth, social and political power, on our
side, which, naturally without actual or undue
constraint, exercise great control over the
average voters of the country. When, then,
the Republican party saw power Slipping from
their hands like water from the broken vessels
at the well, they first denied it and then put
the thumb-screws on their cOlOred partisans to
hold them to their old political reckonings,
whether or no. Every sensible man, North
or South, will at once recognize this condition
of things, and the unvarnished truth OF the
relation thereof. Hence, though have not
been permitted to exercise the executive func-
tions of nv office since the election, owing to
the unhappy accident which befell me, the OK
ecutive of the State, in the worthy hands into
which it has fallen, will be found, doubt
not, recognizing facts as they are, opposed
lending itself to useless and unworthy recrim-
nations OH the colOred Republicans in this
matter. Our courts are fully opened to all
parties, and our State laws will be found am
ply provident and sufficiently penal touching
this whole matter. Our judges are gentlemen
above reproach, and will know neither Repub-
licans or Democrats in the discharge OF their
duties, and whatever fault might be found
with juries on the score of partisan bias, eth
er on one side or the other, there would be the
evidence taken under the control of bipartisan
which could not and would not squint at fraud
tnf;p un1r hoppono IL fhQn that
no complaint touching the elections are lodged
with our courts? Why, plainly, because the
Republicans know that ssthose who live in
glass houses should not throw stones"
COrrespondent-"Go Governor, do you frankly
acknowledge, then, that there were irregulari-
ties in our Democratic householder ...
Governor-s'I do unquestionably. 1t SEEM
ed impossible to prevent it in view of the ter
rible moral obliquity visited on our people by
the Radical rule under which they have lived
since the war This is far greater curse to
us than all the thefts that have been perpetra-
ted on us, bare catalogue Of which filled
columns of our newspapers. No one can re-
gret this more than do, and no one could
have striyen harder to impress its wrongful
ness and absolute impolicy upon our people
than have, And now hold, as ever, it's ut
ter impolicy. ....,,..
IdE DEMOChAlo In rOLL SoN Ahoh VI AAAA2
q p. STATE. a. ..".s
Correspondent-'Gov what have you
to say as to the actual Democratic strength OF
the State ?''
Govelnor-"It is unquestionably and over
whelmingly in the control of the State.
Hence, even the poor excuse of being neces-
sary to the preservation of civilized rule is
wanting to any irregularities put afo0t on our
side I have no disposition to shirk; inyesti-
CATION. and want it, as have said, to go to
the bottom of the matter. If we can have
such an honest investigation as shall keep it's
eyes wide open to election Irregularities, in all
parts of the Union, it is well and more than
we'll. So far as the practicability of such an
investigation is concerned, is another ques-
tion. Yet, without this, what of the fairness
of an investigation in corner where the hust-
ings everywhere else are "full Of dead mems
bones ?" Why investigate elections in the
Southern States, where Irregularities have
sprung like thistles from Radical sowing,
when the government departments at Wash
ington and Federal officials all over the Union
are openly and shamelessly taxed for Republi-,
can campaign funds? If the amount taxed
on these officials is not necessary to their sup
port, then it is SO much Of the peoples money
taxed for the maintenance OF party rule,
which could not be otherwise maintained, and
if it could be otherwise maintained, then it is
so much squandered to satisfy partisan greed.
All we want is square and fair effort before
the people of the country to purify the politi
cal atmosphere, and we are content and more
than content to take all the ill consequences
arising to us Immediately, in view of our own
ultimate good, and the great good to the
whole country, which is no less our country
because we are Southerners and Democrats"
Here the conversation at the hands of the
correspondent was turned for while into
Of no material moment, so as to
rest the distinguished invalid, who it was
feared might overtax himself without being