The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-20
THE DUTY or TIE so UrR.


THE DUTY or TIE so UrR.
! V1cwB OF COnRreesman Evlns on tho Pro
srammo that Should BIO Adopted.
Among tho interviews published by
the Nes0s and Courier with tho Con-
grcsbmcn from this State, was one
with the Hon. j. II. Evins, which has
received considerable notice. Tho
Washington correspondent of the Now
York Herald thus notices it at length:
What many of the Southern Repre-
sentativcs and Senators think and say
is ell shown in the following extracts
from u conversation in which Repre-
sentative Evins, of South Carolina,
shortly after tho first veto, expressed
himself on the situation. This inter-
yicw has been printed extensively in
South Carolina. Mr.. Evins said as to
the true policy to be pursucd:--
| The Democratic majority have done
oil they conld to secure the repeal Of
the odious laws in question. 1t was
in the power of the President to defeat
their efforts, and he has cxcrtcd that
power. The responsibility for the
failure rests upon him and his party
alone. AS tho Democrats cannot pass
the measures in the face Of their oppo-
sition, we ought now to accept the
defeat gracefully and pass the 0ppro-
priation bills at once without the po-
litical riders. We ought even to pass
them first and then offer bills repeal
ing the obnoxious laws as separate
measures. This course would leave
the Republicans without excuse for
their opposition, as we would be
acting in manifest and perfect good
faith, and they could not say that we
were holding back tho appropriations
by way Of threat. If they refused at
last TO pass these measures, we could
go before the country and let the peo-
pie decide upon them. have no
doubt as to what their decision would
be. 1t is important for us to got these
issues before the country without
aftording any occasion for having our
motives 80 much as doubted, and with
| out tho measures themselves being
f1tamgIed with any other question.
presented for Judgment upon their
merits alone. BY adopting this course
we would relieve ourselves of any
charge that wo have used coercive
measures or questionable methods.
Mr.. Evins thought tho South ought
not to allow itself to be drawn from
its duty by Northern Democrats. lie
said:-
We should not allow ourselves as
Southern men to be diverted from
what we think is the true interest Of
the people by any pleas Of party
necessity on the part Of tho Northern
Democrats. We are really tho ma
jOrity Of the Democratic party in each
branch Of Congress, and will be held
responsible for the legislation of Con-
grcss. We have the right, therefore,
to dictate the policy to be pursued.
Any attempt to adjourn without pass
ing the appropriation bills will be con-
sidcrcd revolutionary by the country
and we cannot afford to be put in that
position. We have been between the
upper and neither millstones long
enough. We are willing to do the
voting and allow the Northern Demo-
Gratis to hold the offices, but we claim
the right TO shape the policy Of the
party for which we must and will be
held responsible. What Conkling said
in his recent speech is true-that we
are the controlling power in both
branches; and while It may be very
pleasant for Northern politicians,
seeking their preferment, to keep up
sectional strife, our interests demand
that we shall have cessation Of such
strife. Should we adjourn without
providing the means Of carrying on
the government, / believe it would
solidify the North as much as did the
firing upon Fort Sumter in 1861. Our
Northern Democratic friends might
then find the tide too strong for them
and leave us in tho lurch by seeking
new alliances with tho National or
Grcenback party. We cannot afford
to take tho risks which they can. We
cannot afford to play cat to their
monkey any longer. If there arc any
chestnits to be had they will get thom !;
the burnt paws are ours every time.
They stand in very different position
before the country from ours.
It Is natural that the Northern peo-
pie should look upon us with distrust,
coming as we do into control Of
tho government so soon after tho war,
and we must learn to labor and to
wait.
As to tho appropriation bills Mr..
Evins said:---
I do not consider that the party has
been committed to doing anything
more than to exhaust the constitution
al and parliamentary means to secure
the repeal Of these laws, The declara-
tions Of individual members Of the
party in Congress that we would
withhold the appropriations In the
event Of veto binds no ono but those
who made them. There has certainly
been no authoritative declaration OF
| the kind, and ! fail to see how we have
been committed to such q course.
True, the Republicans have given this