Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1885-04-09
her, In making the ap
wit await the result d

= u u YAift await the result Of
a primary election or will follow such
recommendation after the same is
made"
Section l6l Of the General Statutes
of South Carolina provides, that in
the event that a vacancy shall at any
time occur in any Of the ttlices in any
County, = i; $ the Governor shall
have full power to appoint some suita
BILE person to fill such office. This
provision of law prevents the trouhle
and inconvenience to which the peo
pie Of any County would be subjected
in filling such vacancies by special
election. A primary election wonli
cause to the people of a County quite
as much trouble and inconvenience
as special election. Whether such
vacancies can best be filled by the
Governor or by the people of Coun-
ty, is not question for me to consid-
er. It is plainly my duty to execute
the law as I find it laid down in the
Statute. For me to submit the selec-
tion of a Clerk of the Court to a pri.
mary election, would, in my opinion,
be violation of the spirit, if not Of
the letter, of the law. 1t would be
needless to await the result of pri
mary election, unless I should agree
in advance to appoint the person who
might be chosen at such election. The
law puts the responsibility for this
appointment upon the Governor, and
no recommendation, from any source,
can relieve him of that responsibility.
70 agree, in advance to abide by the
result of a primary election, would
be to evade the duty required Of the
Governor, and would be a further vic.
lation Of law.
If the question Of filling the va
cancy in the Office of Clerk of the
Court for Edgefeld County be decid-
ed by primary election, then all SINH
lar vacancies should be filed in the
same way. Such vacancies are rot
only liable to occur, but they do fre
quently occur. Last year several
County Offices, among which was the
Office Of Clerk Of the Court for Barn
well County, became vacant, and were
filled by Executive appointment. AL
ready during the present year, va,
cancy in the Office of Sheriff OF Beau
fort County has been so filled, and
vacancy now existing in the office of
Sheriff of Horny County will be filled
as soon as I can determine upon
suitable person to be appointed. 1
am bound by my view of duty under
the law not to evade The Statute by
calling upon the people Of a County,
by a primary election, 10 relieve me
from the responsibility which attaches
to the office of Governor.
Permit me to add that l would be
glad, if it were practicable, to be re
lieyed from making the selection Of a
suitable person TO fill the Office Of
Clerk Of the Courtfor Edgelield Coun-
ty. The exercise Of the appointing
power is at best a thankless task. 1t
will be especially SO in this case. The
number Of those applying is large,
and the earnestness shown by some
of them, and hy their friends, is such
as,to assure me in advance that can
make no appointment which will not
cause great dissatisfaction to the dis
appointed applicants, and 10 those
who have urged their respective claims
with so much zeal.
l have thought it best to write you
thus fully, not only because | appre
ciate the desire expressed in your let
ter "to save the 7 eople the annoyance
and trouble ofiaprimary election at
this seaa6h Of The year if the same
will be Of 20 consequence when held"
but also, because it has not been pos
sible for me toreply to the communi-
cations asking me to await the result
of primary election before making
the appointment.