The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-20
THE CANVASS FOR GOVERNOR.
A Noteworthy Letter of Gen. Hagood-Tht
Democracy have Got tho State and Will
Keep it, but Need Repose and Rest.
The following letter was addressed to
Gen. Hagood by the Newberry Demo-
cratic Club:

The following letter was addressed &c
Gen. Hagood by the Newberry Demo
cratic Club:
NEwBERRY, S. c., May 8, 1880.
Hon. johnson Hago0d, Comptroller Gen. :
SIR-It becomes my pleasant duty to
communicate to you the action Of the
Carolina Democratic Club of Newberry
County lately taken in reference to your
self. The subjoined resolutions which
were adopted by our club, will convey to
you the information and our desire:
Rcsoired, That we request Gen. John
son Hagood to name some day within the
next two weeks when it will be conven-
lent for him to attend and address mass
meeting to be assembled under the aus
pices Of the Carolina Democratic Club.
Resolued, That Gen. Johnson Hagood
be the guest of this club during his stay
in Newberry.
Hoping to hear from you at some early
date asserting to our request,
remain your most obedient servant,
J. E. BROWN,
President Carolina Dem. Club.
The reply of Gen. Hagood is as follows
COLUMBIA, May 6, 1880.
j. E. Bro,on, Esq, President Of Carolina
Democratic Club, Nepberry, S. c.
DEAR S1R-Your communication of
Sd instant is received, forwarding to me
the invitation of your club to address a
mass meeting to be assembled under its
auspices. l beg very sincerely to ac.
knowledge the qualification afforded me
by this evidence of appreciation on the
part of my fellow citizens of Newberry,
and my sense of the kind terms in which
you have been pleased to convey it.
Th&ssues of the approaching political
campaign are to us of the gravest conse.
quence. They involve the maintenance
for the next two years of the honest and
economical administration of State affairs
which was inaugurated in 1876 by exer-
tions previously unparalleled in our po.
litical history, and which it will be
difficult to repeat. They involve also
that which alone can place us beyond the
danger of relapse and Radical rule, and
at the same time give US release from the
political strain under which we now labor.
The Democracy have got the State Gov
ernment, and they are going to keep it,
but from the peculiar position of South
Carolina she is liable to be battlefield
between the two National parties in
every Presidential election so long as the
Republicans are in power in Washington.
We need repose and rest Four years, if
no more, OF National Democratic rule
will give us this and afford our people
time to become thoroughly harmonized
and solidifed under the broad banner of
equal rights for all and good government
for the whole. Politics will not then be,
as it is now with US, matter of State
life, and our people can, in greater
degree, turn their energies to material
progress, while population and capital
from abroad will, in confidence: seek to
share in developing the. abounding re-
sources of our favored cline.
In view of the magnitude of the inter.
ests at stake, feel that no risks should
be run which prudence can avoic, and
that if ever there was time when per-
sonal aspirations should be subordinated
to the general good, it is pre-eminently
so with US now. The united ensrgies
and harmonious action of all the good
men of South Carolina are needed for
success in our local struggle, and for
worthily bearing our part In the great
effort for national regeneration.
Among the causes, in my apprehen-
sion, tending to impair this harmony
would be a personal canvass before the
people by those whose names have been
mentioned by partial friends for nomina.
ton upon the State ticket. The heat of
mere personal partizanship likely to be
engendered, would be an element of dis
cord before the nomination and draw
back to harmony afterwards, which we
cannot afford to encounter.
The friends of every man who is put
forward at such time as this for promi-
nent place should be assured that his re-
cord is sufficiently pronounced and known
to enable the people to pass upon his
merits without commentary from himself.
They should he passed upon by the peo-
pie after the fullest and freest discussion
in the press or otherwise, but a discussion
originating with and among the people
themselves, and the decision be reached
upon considerations of known principles,
character and qualification. The unbi-
ased verdict of his fellow citizens thus
rendered should, as I am sure it will, be
accepted by all who have been honored
by mention in this connection. And
whether it assigns one to the baton of
leadership or places him in the ranks,
his energies should, and no doubt will,
be cheerfully and freely given to the
general welfare.
Impressed with these views / have de-
clined from other sections of the State
invitations similar to that which your
club has honored me. In this, as in ev-
cry other act of my public life, my course
is submitted to the verdict of those whose
interests are at stake; it is based upon
convictions of what is best for the well
fare of my State and people, and, trust,
is not devoid Of the modesty which
should characterize one in the presence
of high responsibilities responsibilities
which, once conferred, cannot with honor
be laid down short of success-if success
be not impossible.
Renewing the expression Of the pleas
ure given by your invitation, and ASST
ring my friends of Newberry in whatever
capacity / may be called to serve of the
certainty of its acceptance at a later pc
riod of the campaign,
am, very truly and sincerely,
| JOHNSON HAGooD.
Union Times: Revenue officers Cum
miugs, Mounz and Charley EVhitlock,