Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1885-08-06
When Grant Was Mad.
The South Carolina Delegation from
the Taxpayers Convention Called
to Account for Mart Gary's At
tack OH Mrs. Grant.


to Account for Mart Gary's At
tack OH Mrs. Grant.
l never heard the General swear,
says writer in Washington Capital,
but l certainly saw him mad enough
to make things blue if he had broken
out.
In the Spring of 1874 a delegation
came here from taxpayers conven.
tion in South Carolina to eypostulate
against the intolerable extravaganza,
folly and fraud in their State govern
ment. Frank Moses, "the young ma.
tive Governor" shc had been dubbed
by those who thought carpet baggers
the sum Of all evil, who had shown
them that the finger Of Moses was
heavier than the loins of Scott, was
nearing the close of his term.( 10
prepare for desperate effort to re-
deem the State, non partisan tax.
PAYERS convention was called, and
the result was "an appeal to Ce gar.
A delegation Of twenty of the most
distinguished men Of the State came
here; General James Chestnut, who
died recently, was at its head. went
with them, by appointment, to the
White House to present the bill of
grievance. AS we were passing up
the stairway to the President 's;recep.
ton room, Senator John j. Patterson,
the carpet. bag Representative Of the
Palmetto State, passed down. He
had a grin on his somewhat sardonic
face which was indicative of disaster
10 those he grinned at.
General M. G. Butler, now Senator,
| certainly construed it =. danger
signal, for he said to me-: Now, l
wonder what Patterson has been up
to?" The delegation was not long in
finding out. When they filed into
the reception room Grant was stand.
ing to receive them. one clinched hand
resting on the table, an angry flush
upon his face, and an expression OF
the eye filter for the battle field than
Tor the reception room. lie went
through the ceremony of Introduction
coldly, and then aaid: What can |
do for you?" w. D. Porter, Charles
ton 8 most famous lawyer, presented
the resolutions of the convention and
the protest Of the taxpayers Of South
Carolina against the continued exist
ence of the State government. Mr..
Lsthers unrolled three long proof
sheets Of an individual protest, which
! 'I1sfe svotilA Lr-rt. fsree+.s-iel- atreadh had
not Grant, with an impatient gesture
interrupted him. Gentlemen" said
he, "that all you have to say con-
cernIng the present government OF
South Carolina is true, do not admit
or deny. The administration OF al
fairs in that State is in the hands oil
those who were elected by large
majority of the people to represent
them; you must fud yonr remedy at
the ballot box; but even if had it
in my power to prevent the evils Of
which you complain, do not think |
am bound to do 80. Why ahonid /
help those who shamefully abuse me? :?
The convention which sent you here
even dragged the name of my wife
into its debates and made her the
subject of false and scandalous accn-
sations.
The delegation was dumbfounded'
The members had not expected any
warm sympathy, but this turning Of
the tables was t sudden to find them
prepared. Those who had noticed
the exit of "Honest John Patterson
were, however, not so much surprised
at Grants familiarity with the pro-
ceedipgs of the convention. That sly
politician had primed Grant for the
reception, and on the table close te
Grants hand was newspaper clip
ping-the report Of General Mar
Gary's speech in the convention.
Gene. Al Gary, as Chairman of ths
Committee on Federal Relations, hac
opposed all appeal to Grant. He de
nounced him as q drunken ;yrant, nj
better than his fellow Radicals il
South Carolina. "While Moses an(
his fellow thieves" said he, "are rob
bing the people Of South Carolina
, Grant and his fellow thieves are rob
. bing the whole people Of the Unlte'
, States. While negro harlots are ped
ding legislative pay certificates il
, the streets Of Columbia, the wife o
Grant is selling the secrets of tn
f Treasury to the gamblers Of Wal
street"
t So the taxpayers delegation wen
, away sonowful. If Grant had bee'
3 calm enough 10 listen to explanation
he wonld have learned that Genera
Garys report and apeech had bee
markedly rebnked by the convention
! which referred the report back to hi
committee, and adopted an addres
f temperate, non partisan and conservs
q tive in ita place.
t General Grants last signature wa
: made upon the back of check 10
N, oon ..l1 Cons or 6vo dow