Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-06-23

(. Our County-Its Great Men.

lt0ue6riuiiY9I IuRu Our6clt tn0t OmceB 0ro not
created for the benefit Of any individual or
location, but for the public welfare through an
!, efficient administration Of tho different de-
II partments Of governments. In filling thom
the eihonesty and competency Of the individ.
\ ual are the first and Indispensable requisites,
location coming in as a matter Of policy and
public convenience as woll as one of justice
to different sections. In this day of general
:, education tho qualifications of individuals
are limited to no section, but can bo found in
every county Of tho State. The day was
when this was not tho case. Tho lower
counties being irst settled enjoyed the first
benefits Of schools and colleges and enjoyed
tho bulk Of educated talent. This, too, was
true Of business Of all kinds, which moved
Westwafd as population and development
progressed.
In tho early days courts were only held in
Charleston, then further up till they reached
. Ninety Six, then wo had courts at Picxeus-
villo, Pendleton, Old Pickens and finally at
Wnlhala. The upper counties during thcso
days grew in population, wealth and intcll-
gonce, until by right of qualification thoy
claimed the right of promotion to official po
2 sition. In fact, few States possess moro
? progressive and refined citizenship than tho
Piedmont section of South Carolina. and in
educational facilities it has of lato years out.
stripped lower Carolina. Spartanburg has
it's malo and female college. so has Green
vile, so has Abbcvillo and so has Oconee,
while high schools arc found in these and
other adjacent counties, offering tho best
advantages for tho instruction Of thor popu~
lation. The progress of our county has been
remarkable, for citizens of middle age can
remember when there was scarcely q gradu-
ate Of any literary institution resident in this
county, whie now there arc number of
them following the avocatons of farmers,
doctors, merchants, lawyers, teachers and
other pursuits.
This whole section of country, with it's
healthy atmosphere. mild climate, generous
soil and man ufacturing facilities, bids fair to
become the gal don spot Of our State, and
being a part Of it, wo have felt both tho
righ. and need of proper recognition to office.
We have heretofore said that no location can
claim any royal prcrogatiyo of native talent
and that mon are 10 great degree creatures Of
opportunity. We do not mean by this that
by constant application men may not become
distinguished in any calling but TINT oppor~
tunity for promotion gives energy and np-
plicaton and creates distinction, which apart
from it would not exist. In this respect
line county is at O disadvantage 1t touches
its neghbors only on one sido and fails of
that benefit resulting from moro central
position. There has been an impression hero,
well founded or not that no Office outside Of
the county was likely to be held by any of
our citizens. 10 dispel this idea, wo pressed
our claims to tho Solicitorship. believing our
candidate competent and that his appointment
would stimulate our citizenship in tho future
and retain among rs some who might, from
dosro of promotion, seek other fields Of
labor.
Our county has furnished to other States
mon who have risen to crnincnce nnd use
fulness and who hero would probably mover
have reached n high position. Among them
wemention United States Senator Rusk, Of
Texas, who was brought up in threo miles Of
Walhalla, and somo of whose relatives still
reside in our county. Senator Brown, of
Georgia, was born and brought up in the
most broken part of this county, and his
brother, Judge Brown is also native Of
Oconcc. Dr.. II. V. Miller, an cx momber Of
Congress, from Georgia, was taught in child
hood by Rev. N. Sullivan, an old Baptist
minister, living near Walhalla. Ex-Gov
Porly is tho only native of our county who
has risen to eminenco in this State, and no
has filed no official position higher than that
Of Provisional Governor. Has any State
produced man of greater force of character,
of moro indomitablo will and energy or of n
higher order of sound, practical states.
nIansRip than Gov. Perry' He will live in
history rs one Of tho great mon Of this ago,
and his life is an example to oil Of what may
bo accomplished by cnorgy and perseverance.
Born and brought up in Oconec, no scttled in
Grconvillc, q wealthier and moro advanced
county, ond had an advantage greater than
If he had lived here. in q corner county,
hedged in by Georgia and North Carolina.
We mention these distinguished names tt
show that tho mountains arc not utterly bar.
gen Of intellect, and further, that location
and surrounding circumstances contro
largely in the promotion of mon. Wo will no
deny, but that they should have groat in6u.
ence. but in 20 doing we claim that we hav
the right to advance the claims our people t
Office, and further, that an occasional favor t
remote counties would benefit their citizon
shipand the State OF largo.
A workingman says "Debt, poverty an'
suffering haunted me for years, caused by
aiok fan,ilv md lar0a hiIla fnr dnotori N -