Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1877-1881, 1881-04-14
GEN., NJ. w. GARY.

sad intelligence comes from Edge
field Of the sudden death Oh Satur-
day Of Gen. NJ w. Gary from con
gcBtion Of the brain.
We first remember Gary as gal
liant soldier. at the first sound OF
the bugle of war, although az frail rs
tlower from a naturally delicate
constitution, he rushed to the de
fence Of his State, undertaking all
the hardships and dangers Of the
field for the love lie held for what he
believed to be right; and, in all the
battles Of this long and unhappy con
flict, the plume Of Gary WAS always
found in the van. Enducd by ma
turc with great powers Of intellect,
and blessed with the culture and &C
complisllmcnts Of Il high classical
training, he soon rose to the emi-
ncncc Of command; but in his eleva-
tion he never esteemed himself one
little above his fellow soldiers, but
mingled with them rs comrades
working together for common
cause. Ever watchful TO the wants
OF his men, and concerned for their
safety, he won the admiration of his
whole command After the war, he
resumed the practice oflaw at Edgc-
field, taking no.part in public affairs,
until the memorable campaign OF
1876, when, il. opposition to the sen
tmcnt Of the whole State, he inaugu-
rated the straightout movement
which resulted in the overthrow or
Radicalisln and the placing OF Wade
Hampton in the gubcrnatorial chair
OF South Carolina. Had it not been
for Gen. Gary, assisted by Gen. But
Ter crand#the harleston Journal Of
Commerce, edited BY Z. Barnwcll
Rhctt Jr., Chamberlain would have
been acquiesccd in BY the Democrats
rs the nominee for Governor, and the
carpet Dagger would have continued
his grasp upon our government for
an unlimited period. The incmor-
able day when Gems. Gary and But
Ter rode upat the head Of the Edge
field rcdshirts and divided tim
with Chamberlain, and converted
Judge L. j. Mackay, was the turning
point in tho political current Of the
State. AS one Of the results of this
campaign, Gen. Gary was elected to
the State Senate from Edgcfeld.
Here, while there were many Of his
positions that VIC could not endorse,
there WAS much good done by him
which is little realized by the people.
lie was the father Of the usury Avs
which are now in full and harmon
lous operation. In this, as III many
other deeds, he has received the ap-
pellation Of the poor mans friend"
In 1878, Gen. Gary was brought into
collision with Gen. Hampton, his for
mcr friend, for whom he had worked
SO zcalously and unsellishly, and
in this issue We do not think that he
received fair and unprejudiccd pub
biz jud, m mt. During he campaign
Of this year lie was prominently
spoken Of for Governor, and in the
canvass which cnsued, 81 terrific war
fare was wagcd against him, under
which he was swept from the field.
But Gen. Gary bore himself as
grandly in defeat as i'll victory. Sur
rounded in the State convention by a
host Of opposing delegates, he calmly
and tlcliantly, and in the very soul Of
his classic cloqucnce, reiterated his
political views, refusing to bow "to
the ,psc di.rH Of any party autocrat,"
or to rccctle one step from what he
believed to- be right.
Gen. Gary had his faults, but he
had also his virtues. His political
opinions in many essential features
were not ours. III many of these we
conscirntiously opposed him. But
his manlncss, his honesty and his
independence, must always be ad
mired and it is upon these traits OF
his character that we love to linger.
When man begins to go down hill