Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-06-17

Such mon would have been astounded that
George Washington should prefer his
country homo on tile bauks of tho Potomac
to the crown tondcrcd him by grateful
people, and would have sought to find
some corrupt motive moving him thereto.
They cannot understand how Gordon could
have quit tho Senate with five years before
him and as they are very complimentary to
say now-"for life time if he wantod it"
-uulcss moved by wicked motive. My
countrymcn, you will pardon the assertion,
but if they had followed mo during the wsr
They would have found me capable of doing
o good many things which they would not
dol (Grcat appluusc) If they had sat by
my bedside in 1862, with two bulls through
my right leg, a third having shivcrcd my
right arm, fourth through my shoulder and
fifth through my check and jaw, and had
seen mo in that fix refuse call from my
Alabama people in tho district in which
then resided to become candidate for the
Confederate Congress, which would have
given me moro money, greater comfort and
somewhat less of danger, (appausc) do you
think such men could understand why
Gordon should calmly lie there awaiting
strength to rcmount bis horse aud return to
the field, instead Of going to Congress?
(Chcers) Now, my counirymcn, know
you will believe me when say refer to
these facts in no spirit of vain boasting
nor to popu!art"; for [ ask nothing Of this
people save tho consideration duo an cx-
soldier, private citizen and all honest man
Applausc) refer to this fact only TO
press the question upon these self righteous
men, whether they think that such mdn
is made of the stuff to barter aud dickcr
away his hooor for any man, or any money
or any power beneath the stars7 (Grcat
applausc.)
a STAIGnTwAY ANSWER.
repeat that in answering these men
shall 60 utterly ovcrwhclm them as to bring
the flush of Indignation to the check of
every proud and fair minded man in Goor-
gia. (Chccrs.) Eager in the wild hunt
chased the fox to his hole! The sequel
will tell whether they have rushed into
mares nest or den of lions (Chccrs.)
I come now to the second fact which has
excited adverse criticism, viz: the appoint
mcnt of man who has done much to pro
woke hostility and resentment among the
Gcorgians. The sediment Of large per-
ton of our people was naturally opposed TO
such an appointment, and they gave .cx-
preston to this opposition without waiting
to know tho reasons which controlled thc
Governor or the ultctior effects upon the
future of our party or the country. Many
of these men were guided by tho highest
impulses known to our manhood. The
of vi
advantage of this sentiment to strike him
down. An instant appeal was made to the
prcindiccs and passions and sentiment of
the people. They said, naha. we have him
now They sent tclcgrams flying over the
country. held Indignation meetings; uu--
barred tho magazines of thci. wrath and
fired at him the rcd hot shot of their malice
and dctraction, until they thought they had
slaughtered him.
"DUT lie LIVES"
[Chccrs.] lie still lives my countrymen!
Renewed cheers. The hero of Ocean
Pond, of Olustcc, still lives, and from
every drop Of blood drawn from the veins
of Alfred Colquitt in such an unholy
warfare thcrc will spring champion Of his
cause, panoplicd in tho nrmor of truth
valiant, bold and invinciblc! [Continucd
cheering end great applause. Why they
forgot that Alfred Col1utt had the conf
dcnco and love- and affections of The people
who 'hnd known him from his youth up.
They forgot that thcro was such u thing as
sober second thought with the people
They forgot that the people love justice, and
that justice had her scat in tho clear, calm
nj Y,lp rf wi Al.
murky clouds and dust of partisan pas
sion! Ghecrsl.
Now everybody knows that am not the
champion of Governor Brown; but [ nm
the friend Of Alfred Colquitt and Of tho
Democratic party, aud / would be an in
CRATE to both, as | shall presently show, if
| should refuse to expose tho wrong which
is being done to both my friend and tho
party by these unwarrantcd assaults. |
have known Governor Colquitt almost from
my boyhood know the secret impulses
of heart and brain which guide all his
actions, and do know that no executive
was over moved by higher, moro unsclfish
OF patriotic considerations than was Gov
crnor Colquitt 10 making this appointment.
[ repeat that for tho ungcncrous, unjust,
unloly assaults upon his fidelity and his
honor, my voice would not have boon heard
i'll this campaign; but as shall presently
show had, by my refusal to accedc to his
earnest and repeated requests to withdraw
my resignation, forced upon him the ncoes.
sity of making an appointment to fill tho
vacancy. am not guided therefore, rs
some might imagine, simply bya chivalric
devotion to my friend in thus coming be-
foro tho public, but by grave sense Of
public duty y--duty to him and TO the party
which has honorcd mo far boyond nv