The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-02-05


clay Oh MncduTI" 60.
From tho News and Courier
EDGEFiELD G.. H., January 29.-As
tho letter Of Col. John G. Haskell,
which was published in tho Nevs and
Courier Of the 2Sth inst, had aroused
the kecncst interest rs to what line of
action Gen. Gary would adopt in meet
ing the charges SO pointodly mndc
against him, determined to ascertain
from Gen. Gary himself, provided he
wcrc willing to indicate it, tho course
he would pursue. With this purpose
in view | arrived ut Edgcticld Village
this morning and called upon the Gem
cral. snid to him that had como as
II reporter Of tho Ne,cS ana Cou,'jcr tc
learn il he desired to say anything in
answer to the charges madc against
him by Col. Haskell.
Gen. Gary replied at some length.
intimating that he considered Col.
llaskcll's letter as II covert attack bv
Senator Hampton, tho assertion Of
Col. Haskell that Senator Hampton
knew nothing Of his (llaskclrs) pm-
pose Of publishing the letter, to the
contrary notwithstanding, and, for this
reason, declined to notice any of the
charges preferred in the first portion of
Col. liaskclfs letter. lie regarded the
matters therein alleged us pertaining
exclusively to the controversy between
Senator Hampton and himself and he
did not feel inclined to recognize Col.
Haskell right to intrulc himself into
controversy which in no wise pre-
Scntcd an issue between Haskell and
himself, but which related exclusively
to the pointSundcr discussion between
Senator Hampton aud himself. lie
gave me an extended account of his
own attitude us Il public man during
the last five years, claiming that events
had vindicatcd his political course, and
denying that he had ever shown any
thing like personal hostility to Senator
Hampton. The conversation then pro-
ccrdcd rs follows:
Reporters: Wen, General, what have
you to say III regard to tho Haskell
letter?
Cen. Gary: The attack Of Col. Has
kcll upon me is evidently q wcll-pIan-
ned attempt to shift tho issues and
clangcthc actors. Col. Haskell has
intrulcu himself in Il rude and unman-
ly manner between Senator HAMPTON
and myself, no doubt with tho view of
relieving Senator Hampton and giving
himself some importance. lie nc,
knowlcdges that he is not authorized
by Senator Hampton to say ANYTHING.
and | certainly have not invited him
to do so, for have no cause of ouorrri
or controversy with him. II Senator
hampton wishes to continue the con-
troversy or discussion am ready to do
so upon any field he may select.
Whatever have stated in my several
interviews as facts ofmy own knowl-
cage here rcitcratc that they arc true
aud such tnctS as have stated mon
the knowledge and Information dcriv-
ed from others here reiterate TINT
believe them to be true.
Reporter: W hat have you to say in
regard to the charges against you con-
famed IN the latter part of Col. Has
kcll's letter?
Gen. Gary: AS to his personal filings
ana abuse or us to what he thinks the
people think of me, have nothing to
say. AS to his charges, they have been
made and repeated in Radical news
papers for the last tivo or six years.
Inc one numbered First, appeared in
tho New York Times, the National
HeP"ohc"n and tho Union. .HcruM.
IN February, 1873, it was laid upon the
ucSRs the members ofthc General
Assembly Of this State, while |, with
others, was engaged IN the fight
against tho ring of fraudulent bond
holders. l at the time rose to uucs-
ton OF privilege, md replied to this
malicious talschood against Senator
NJ. Z. Butler and myself in a complete
answer, which Silcnccd tho Radical
press, and satisfied our friends; but it
seems that some Of our Democratic
enemies arc trying to burn this ammu-
milton second time to our disadyant-
age.
Asto tho second charge, that cncaecd
to aid in securing the approval of tho
taxpayers Convention to tho lelin-
quishmcnt by tho State of its first
mortgage on the Blue Ridge Railroa:,
to private parties, l would saw that
would have stultitled myself as a law
yer had | agreed to aid in any such
proposition. The Taxpayers Conven-
non was voluntary body and had no
legal existence or Constitutional pow
crs and could not have mado such q re.
hhqulsmcnt. The charge that ever
entered into any such agreement or
TINT ever received pay for tho samo is
as false rs 1t is malicious.
The third charge, that was the con-
slant defender Of McDevitt, tho Radi-
cal treasurer Of Edgcficld, Is also false.
l mover defended McDcvitt on tho
criminal side oftho Court. On tho
civil side of the court defended j. ri.
McDevitt county treasurer of EDGE. !
tield county, in the celebrated case Of J,
George r. Curry and Hardy Wall. F!
plaintiffs, vs. Harrison StWm, Wesley