The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-09

In presenting this report Gen. conner Sillu
the cOmmittcc had given the question before
them the most earnest and careful tunsldcrit
ton, and the result Of their deliberations hnu
been the adoption Of the above report by II
majority Of the committee.
REPORT.
Gen. William HarlIcc, on behalf OF n mi
nority Of the committee, submitted tho fol-
lowing minority report:
The undersigned. or behalf OF the minority
OF the on resolutions, to whom
were referred the resolution Of the delegate
from Marion touching the pr0prirty OF max
Ing nominations by this Convention, brgs
leave to report the following resolution. with
the recommendation that the same be adopt
cd by this Convention:
Resolved, That this Convention do recon-.
mend to the Democratic party Of this state to
elect delegates 10 Il State nvention for the
purpose OF nominating candidates for ELECTORS
Tor PRESIDENT and Vicc.rreSident Of the Uni
ted States and for State officers on tho l0th
day Of August next.
Respectfully submitted, ",
For the minority of the Committee.
Debate on the Resolution.
Gen. Harllec, in support of the minority re-
port, said that while the matter had been 1alr'
Voted in favor of the majority report, u very
large minority, representing, he belieyed, Il
majority of the white voters Of the state.
were equally earnest In insisting thai this
Convention should not make nominations nj
the present time. The minority OF tho COM
inittcc opposed carly nominations, first, be-
cause 1t was contrary TO the precedent ana the
tions al the present time would be unwise and
premature, because the people Ind not had
the time TO make up their minds MS to their
choice Of candidates, as they had presumed
that theold custom would have been adhered
to and they would have had Abundant time
for reflection. Third, If the Convention nom
mated electors now they you'd be eiectlng
not been nomlnnted and q platform which
had not been framed. He protested against
placing the people Of South Carolina IN such
a humiliatihhs p '6s Sat;or Ihe Ia o nvcn Wo%'a and
would he compelled to submit docilely TO any
action that that Convention might choose 70
take. Fourth, nominations at the present
time will cause dissension and destroy the
unity and harmony Of the party. He consid-
cred that it would he Il harsh measure to force
nominations on SO large n minority OF INC
people OF the State, and the result would pea
tendency to apathy. and indifference and dis
gust u:,Ong u very large portion OF the mem
beers of the party. There would be q paralysis
and want OF enthusiasm among the people,
while. II Il postponement was agreed TO, the
party would have time to heal al differences
and settle down upon n candidate who would
represent the whole people. IN conclusion
Gen. uurllcc moved that the minority report
be adopted rs q substitute for the majority re-
Mi. Andrew Crawford. of Richland, follow
cd Gen, Harllce. He said he had but one
point to submit to the Convention, and he
spoke as an unqualified and ardent supporter
or Gen. Johnson Hagood. 1t was said on the
streets everywhere that this was n Hngood
Convention, and that IT they alu not nohil
nate him now when August came 1t mightbc
found that lie was not the man Tor the place,
and n third party might LIZ brought into the
contest. II Gen. Hagood was tho representa-:
tive Of the Democratic party to-day he would
be their representative i'll August and In No
vcmber next, and he thought 1t q very dam
gerous course to rush ahead and make nolnl-
nations now. because II was feared that Ger.
tain candidates would not be Us strong later
on. Such action, he'said, was calculated to
crentc u dissension and dissatisfaction among
tho memhcrs OF the Democratic party, which
the party could very Ill afford TO give cause
Mr. T. NJ. Gilland, Of Williamsburg, favored
early nominations. In the first place, he said
the objection Of those favoring the report OF
the minority that 1t would be inconsistent to
nominated was unreasonable. When South
Carolina sent her delegates to Cincinnati she
committed herself to abide by the action OF
that convention. and IT was unreasonable to
-ay that South Carolina. one or the smallest
In the Union, would turn aside In disgust from
any. nomination that the National party
might make. AS TO the point that the cam
paisn would be precipitated, he said the cam
raign had already begun, and the people were
might rally with perfect confidence. In add.
lion to this, the executive committee, IN
whom the people had perfect confidence. were
instructed 10 so manage the campaign that the
interests of the agricultural sections might
not suffer. lie had no fear OF independent
ism. Once q leader was placed In the field the
people would heal their little differences and
come together In support of their common
liberty. With these facts In view, he saw no
reason why the majority report should not be
adopted.
Mr. J. c. Calllson, Of Edgefeld, opposed the
majority report. lie could hardly believe
that q Convention composed OF the wisdom Of
the State would do a thing so rash and so In
consistent rs TO nominate Electors Tor q Prcsi.
dent who was not yet nominated. In ms
were a large minority among the voters OF the
state. Under instructions from his County
Convention he could not vote for d State ON
these nominations now. The ~up-country
wanted time to settle upon q candidate who
would be acceptable to the entire party, Inc
result Of postponing nominations In ls7g was
bcrlain. and so 1t would be now. If nomina.
tions were forced upon the people now 1t
w ywSiai r erspte rr q u dfsvsirnns IS a tho S peI'ih IN.
tereStS of the State aud Of the party.
Mr.. b. w. Ball, of Laurens, favored the ma
jority report. The other side had raised Il
great cry, he said. about the traditions of the
party. The Democratic party in South Cnro-
ina had no traditions since reconstruction.
Hampton was the only candidate the Demo-
cratic party had had, and it required more
IllitIl OllC COIlNtltstIS ~ SIStatS IASS ~
egatcs had been elected to Cincinnati and
they would take part In framing a plItform
for the Democratic party. The State Demo,
most likely adopt the platform OF the nation
al party. The Convention was not assem-
blcd TO follow In the beaten track OF usnge,
but to act for the best interests Of the people.
lie thought that nominations by the present
Convention were greatly to be desired.
Gen. J. w. Gray, of Grecnville, stated that
he was n member Of q delegation which had
been Instructed to vote against carly nolni.
nations. but in the event of the nominations
for 1n;t Gen. III Harood. He believed that the coun.
ties were entirely unpreparcd for nomlnn.
the majority report contained q majority OF
the Democratic voters OF the State. The chief
objection to present nominations, In his opin-
ion, was the election of electors to support q
platform that had not been framed and to
vote for n President not yet nominated.
Mr. James Aldrich favored the majority re-
port. He denied that the election OF electors
for President would bind the Democratic par;
ty of the State TO tho action OF the NatlOflul
Convention my more than the election OF
delegates TO that convention would do. IhoSe
who said that there would De apathy ana IN.
difference In the party If the nominations
were made at present we're those who were
inclined to be indifferent now If they could
not rule. So fur rs he was concerned, II the
he would bow to their wisdom and give his
whole hearty support to whatever action they
should take.
MIR. J. II. Earle said he had ut first been In
clincd to oppose nomination at the present
time. but after hearing the arguments which
had becn submitted he had come to the con-
clusiOn that 1t WAS best To have the nomina-
tons now. The Convention had the right to
make these nominations: the people knew.
when they elected their delegates, That the
Convention would In all probability make
nominations for State officers, and they would
be disappointed II they wcro not made. He
had no fear Of 1ndcpcndentism. There were
but two candidates In the field for tho, posi.
tion of Governor Johnson Hagood and Nj. w:
Gary. He knew Doth OF these men too well
to fear Indcpcndcntism from them. AS soon
~ one was nominated the other would fall In
line. Some counties needed more Time than
others, and it was. In his opinion, n very wise
course to make the nomination, so that those
who wanted to open the campaign at once
could do SO, while In other counties tho OPEN
inp OF the campaign could be delayed as long
Mr.. ". P. Wldcman, of AbbevIlle, opposed
the majority report. He said, before the step
that Is contemplated, and, as / believe, deter
mined upon, Is taken, there Is one thing that
of the voters Of the Democratic party consists
OF farmers, men who have always done their
full patriotic duty when the proper timc ar
rived. But there Is n time for all things. This
is The season for work. not excitement. When
1t becomes necessary to lay aside their work
and don the red shirts for the march, they are
the ones that have II to do. When 1t becomes
necessary togo TO the polls the evening be,
fore and remain until they ave opened, and
bear he discomfortso Of q chill! November rost,
becomes necessary, as 1t has been IN the past,
to divide time with the Republicans and risk
the chances OF prosecution and punishment.
they are the ones that have 1t TO do. It is
mcnt. IL Is q voice that shohld not be I'M
needed. It is a voice that we htst obey.