The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-07-30
Vol. IL.
A Card.
Editors OrangeJurg Democrat:

I, therefore, beg leave through your
widely circulated paper to give the
public few facts relative to the Or
ganization of the so-called "Willow
Swamp Straightout Democratic Club,
as it seems, from its name and other
circumstances connected with its his
tory, desirous of making the impress
sion on the public mind that f,fsion or
Radicalism had tarnishcd the hitherto
bright escutcheon Of the evil
low Democratic Club" And if
in giving the public brief history OF
this straight model of Democracy,
should give offence, have only to
say that I am responsible at any
time, under any circumstances, for
every word uttered, and have no
apology to offer, only my devotion TO
the cause Of trnth and right. Previ
Gus to the reorganization Of the clubs
in the county Mr.. w. c. Mitchell, an
entire stranger in this township, re-
peatedly asked me TO allow him to
use my, name for nomination for
President of the "Willow Democratic
Club" to which / finally, with reluc-
tance consented. The club met for
reorganization in May. Mr. G. L.
bowling, the President, briefly stated
the object of the meeting, and while a
member Of the club was Offering my
name in nomination for President,
Mr.. Mitchell interrupted him by Of
fering the name Of Mr.. Bowling to
the utter astonishment Of myself and
others conyersant with his (NIitch
ells) course. The election was by
ballot, and the result rs reported by
the tellcrs was eighteen for evans and
five for Bowling. The next election
was for Vice President. w. l.. w.
Riley being the only one nominated,
was, on motion Of Mr.. Mite, ell, Sc
,conded by Jesse Baker, elected by ac-
clamation. On the next day at Will
low Swamp Church Mr.. Mitchell stat
ed to me that, while my worst ene-
mics did not object TO me, he (Mitch-
:cll,) Mr.. Bowling and others, did
object to Mr.. Riley's holding the po-
sition he did in the club, and asked
me to reassemble the club TO recon-
slider Riley's election. I said to him
that Riley was fairly elected and
could only be removed from the posi-
tion he held as a member of the
County Executive Committee by ac-
tion Of the Convention, but that my
duties were, if I rightly understood
them, to consult the wishes Of the
club, and that would re-assemble
the club on the next Thursday at ten
o'clock A. NJ, and reconsider the
election Of Riley, and 1 so expressed
myself to several gentlemen, among
the number the Rev. Mr.. Baggett, all
concurring with me that as the turn
out on the day previous was small, a
larger one would give more general
satisfaction and that the ratification
Of Mr.. Riley's election would be u f.
male to the whole thing. The cub
did assemble pursuant to notice, and
after one o'clock, with much larger
turnout, called the club to order,
and definitely stated the object of our
second meeting, when, after a long
pause, Mr.. Mitchell sprang to his
feet and in very unparliamentary
manner disgorged himself of one Of
the most sarcastic and uncalled for
harangues it has ever been my mis-
fortune to listen to, applying to Riley
every epithet that vulgarity or malice
could suggest, using language unfit
for the occasion and which you, Mr.
Editor, would doubtless regard rs an
insult were to offer it to the readers
of your paper, to all Of which Mr.. Ri
ley put in flat denial, demanding
the proof which Mr.. Mitchell failed
to give. Well under the impulse of
the eloquence Of Mr.. AIitchell's speech
- I,