The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-07-31

ing the matter, judging from lis action in
the Convention and since Mr.. Pope has
stated that he had heard the ''same charge"
in 1882, and was authorita:iyely assured that
it was untrue, viii undertake 10 criicise
Mr.. .P.Is position in the matter, and suggest
that sometimes people who live in glass
houses I!:fow stones. Mr.. Pope is q lawyer
OF considerable experience and one skilled
in the arts Of the legal profession. II is
we'll recognized fact among experienced
members of the profession that nothing is
more dangerous 10 ones o@n position, or
more likely 10 tiIroS strength n:0 the hands
OF IN adversary, than 10 fly iaio passion.
Ard when great interests are AZ Stake it Is
Mattcr Of common prudence that Such
thing. should be carcfe.!y avoided. When
ever an experienced lawyer feels The strength
Of his position he can yindicatc il with COM
plaeene neg.~~~Nr. Pope did -Hnt-statc TO the
Convention HAT he had heard of this matter
before. He did not stale that he WAS IL
ormcd in any manner rs 10 its truth or fal-
Sly. He said what he did for Mr. J. he
would do -f0r~any man assaiied in his ab.
Sencc. Did Mr. Pope act fairly in not stating
to the Convention the authority upon which
he denied the charge" He couid not at
that moment have forgotten il; presumably it
was the absorbing thought in bis mind; vet
it waS not mentioned. Passionate as was his
address, fierce rs was his denuncialion, he
withheld his authority, and now says that be
was authOrimrively assured that charge"
was untrue. lie condemns me for making
nay statement upon The amthOrit9 Of others
which he regards from c legal view entirely
worthless: while he now SAYS that he was
authoritativcay assured in 1882 that the
Charge was untrue, but did not state 10 the
Conycnion the source Of this important and
relevant assurance; and docs NOT even now
give his Authority, unless we must infer that
he considers it sufficiently given in Mr..
JohnStorc's lcttc:' .'..' -T
- The public would like to know what mo.
tive prompted Nj Pope in 1892, when he
heard The same Charge against the political
record Of Mr. JoEn|tonc 10 pursue the mat.
ter so vigOrOuSg hat he did rot SOD until he
was authoritaliv:Iy assured that i; was un-
true. Was the iGT ,'Stigation undertaken by
him in bchalfGt Mr.. Johnstone, or in behalf
Of the agricultural people? II in behalf of
the former, and the consequences of guilt
were so far-Iraching and so destructive as
Mr. Pope now seems 10 appreciate, was il
not involved in common fairness 10 MI
Johnstone that this report, so Injurious 20
him, should he met wherever heard and
openly and fully denied, with proof of lis
untruth /? Its suppression on The part of
those auihoritatirtly assured that it was not
true could not benefit his interest. If in be-
half of the people, how far did the investiga-
ton extend? Was Inquiry made of the
Special Committee? The result was not
made public. II "authoritatiyely assured
that it was untrue" the public should have
known if, that the people might do justice
to puOl.c servant. Why suppress it Mr
Pope says that he was 2uthoritn tntiveIy assured
that the ''chargc was untrue" What feel
ing was Il that prompted such an exhibition
of passion and such severe language in the
Convention? Could full investigation two
years ago. with the authoritative assurance
that it was untrue, cause him, an expo
rienCed lawyer, 10 appear before the Con-
Vcniion in this guisc ? Did he consider the
gentlencn OF the Convention so deficient
in reason and judgment that a par
liamcntary statement Of his investigation
would Tot suffice ? and that his object
coald only be accomplished By the greatest
disorder a0d conluSon?:. -. ..
Mr. Pope wishes TO cXoncrate himself from
having caused delegates to leave the build
ing, and proposes that should relieve him
ofthiS burden. All have to say upon this
subject l.. that it is q matter for the gentle
men OF The Convention 10 decide. lame
dia!elv after the Convention, quick as an
electric fash cGuid convey the news, was
represented 10 the civilized country aS hav-
ing created rhc disorder" The admission
thatH was deliberate has been forced And
now that the admission has been made, and
the Substance CT my remarks is before the
people, will allow the public TO draw its
own conclusion. ..,I,.-G E...t
| desire 10 say in conclusion that the in
timatiou Of Mr.. Pope that what he considers
the grou dIeSS charge against Mr.. j. was
ESed with .cfFect at the clnb meetingS TO in
tiuencc delegates 10 vote for Col Aiken is an in
juStice,af 'castto, ,OGr club, can say that du-
ring the,ni"eting of tur club when delegates
were elected 10 the Convention, Col Aiken was
repeatedly spoken Of with approval, and DO
not remember hearing Mr, IS name men
toned; nmd believe it was not mentioned.
Quite humber Of members were present
Having commented upon all the essential
points OF Mr.. Popc'S letter, now submI, the
facts 10 The public. And will say that have
been acrua,ed in entering this controversy
by sense OF sclf-intc!cSt and public duiy
And if have in any manner contributed to-
ward securing proper protection 10 my own
interest, in common with that OF The mass Of
my fellow-citizenS, and in pronounciug dis
appreciation upon every attempt calculated
to nul!ify the free and unre$trained will of
the peop'r, will have accomplished all that
can be desired. Very respectfully.
JOS L. KgITr
July q, 1881