The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-08
To. THE PEOPLE OF ANDERSON

To. THE PEOPLE OF ANDERso,
COUNTY:
In October, 1872, at a time o
great excitement, anxiety and fea
+ in political affairs, you deemed.
proper to elect,me a member of tn
House of Representatives Of thi
State; and when my term expired
in 1874. you still further promoted
me by electing me to the Senate foI
q term of four years. During my
canvasses I made certain pledges
looking to a reform in the admins
tration of our State. government
aud I now propose as briefly as pos
sible to render an account of my
stewardship, that you may determine
how far and in what manner ]
carried out and redeemed those
& pledges. I feel it due myself and
my family, and the voters OF both
\ parties who supported me, and es.
pecially those who voted for me
Notwithstanding they differed from
me politically, to make this exposi.
tion.
The delay in issuing this ad.
dress can be readily and sfactorily
! explained. Up to the expiration OF
my term as Senator / was constantly
and actively engaged in performing
duties assigned me as Chairman OF
the Committee to Investigate Frauds
against the State. I fels some deli.
cacy in addressing you Immediately
preceding the election in 1878, as
it might have been charged that [
desired reelection to the Senate or
] some further promotion. After that
election and before I could have
prepared this paper a resolution was
s introduced in the Senate by one Of
he Republican Senators, and adopted
by that body, appoint ting q Commit
tee to investigate the acts and con-
sductof the previous Investigating
\ Committee, Of which I had been
i Chairman. To have published any
communication personal to myself
iin5 ii5 advance of their Investigations
and conclusions would have been
premature and indelicate. This
Committee, after continuing in ex-
5istence for more than twelve months,
made their report some three months
since, yindicating my3acts and con.
duct in the fullest and most satisfac-
tory manner; and the time has now
arrived when I can properly spread
before the people in the most public
manner my acts and efforts to secure
an honest and economical admins
tration Of afairsin in South Carolina.
Atthe outset; permit me to declare
thatNmy objectis not political, or for
the purpose Of soliciting votes; asI
am not. and willnot be under any cir
cumstances, q candidate for your
suffrages at the coming election.
To explain my public acts for the
term Of six years, even as briefly as
possible, will necessarily occupy
much space, and must needs have
reference to the general legislation
before and during that period, and
the effects and results thereof
upon the political and financial
condition of the State. That may
be fully and fairly understood, [
shall refer to the Acts and Journals
of the General Assembly, giving
dates and pages, and with some
confidence trust that the Dem.
ocratic clubs Of this Countrywide
in 1876 censured me without a hear
ing, and condemned me unjustly by
refusing to investigate my acts
through their own representatives
when demanded by me-will. at
! their leisure, compare my state
ments and pledges made whilst q
candidate with the Acts and Jour
nails herein referred to, and decide
whether I have been true and faith
full to the trusts imposed and prom.
ises made.
1 take great pleasure in acknowl.
edging that efficient assistance was
rendered me by men of both politi.
cal parties; and, ere I close, l shall
endeavor to give full credit to all
who aided me, for I feel deeply
grateful to them for their counsel,
votes and assistance, which en-.
Aeouraged me to persist in efforts at
times when>it seemed impossible to
succeed.
MY first and great object was the
restoration of the State from con.
dition Of anarchy, confusion and
distress, arising from bad, reckless
and corrupt legislation, to one Of
corresponding peace, economy and
prosperity. I confess that l hon.
estly desired to accomplish this
through the instrumentality of the
Republican party. This was but
natural, and will be understood and
appreciated, / trust, before the close
Of this address.
A brief reference will be made to
some Of the evils and corruption;
which existed in the State govern
ment, destroying her character