The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-17
Senator Henderson Replies to the Let.
ter of Mr.. Galloway.
AIKEN, S. c. November 7, 1885.

Aessrs Editors:
In your issue of November 3rd, I finds let
ter headed "a trip to Aiken" and signed ar.
S. G." who I presume to be Mr.. r. S. Gallo
way, of Due West, who l had the pleasure of
seeing in Aiken on the day Of the town shin
election IF ''subscription'' or "no subscrip-
ton" to the stock of the c., C. G. & C. Ry. Co.
l shall not undertake to answer his cntire
suffice it to say in general reply that friend
Galloway was badly informed as to he rca-
sons why the subscription was defeated, and
the classes of people who voted against it..
know of Germans (not "vilc Dutch,' we
have none of that race in our town, but highly
respected Germans,) who voted for the sub
scription and who voted against it, and l as
sert that more than one-half of the native
Americans of the township voted against it.
Mr.. Galloway says, "the position taken by
greatest surprise to US, as he is L gentleman
Of culture and intellect. But 1t acds said
that tho Dutch had him employed rs their
counsel and that he was the power behind the
throne and the brains, the Dutch furnishing
the money Senator Henderson is an accom-
plished gentleman and has twice been invited
to Due West TO speak we twittcd him with
trying to cut off closer relations, when he
said thathe would subscribe $500 to tho Road,
but opposed the present tax we do hope the
Senator, now that the tax has fniled will make
his word gooSl'
Let me say in reply I have never taken any
position against the Road," but against the
ax-tw very different things. 1 have al
ways favored the read, and advocated Il liber-
al private subscription as a policy more pref
cradle than a forced subscription at the ballot
box, and am still willing to sign any feasible
subscription list. ! now own q small quantity
of stock in Road.
I opposed the subscription last submitted
to the people, among other reasons, and chief
", because it was sought to put the tax on
the topnships not the town as in the previous
election. The road would traverse not three
miles of the township, yet the tax
wards the Edisto river and would have to
he bJrne by a people who would derive little
or no benefit from the Road.
These people had always been faithful to
every public duty to a man they were opposed
to the tax and called upon us not to place it on
them a tax which would have doubled their
taxes for five years.. Recognizing the justice
of their position, l opposed the tax, and am
not ashamed of my course.
1t was a local matter, fraught with local is
than the people of the immediate locality.
/ thank Mr.. Galloway for what lie has said
OF me in a complimentary way. | hardly I'M
agined that he intended to leave the inference
that the mi had employed me as their
attorney and that FOR that rea son ] had adyo-
Gated "no Subscription" because they oppos-
ed it. If he did mean this, 1 ask of him his
author and his proof, for the Inference is with
out foundation in truth.
A s a fact my firm are not the attorneys of
all the German citizens in Aiken. Some of
my legal brethren who favored subscription
represent legally some Of "the vile Dutch"
who opposed subscription and we represent
some and all of us have found them good cit
liens. o.
l am sorry that ! was not able to go to Due
West when invited there, but was prevented
by extreme illness in my family, and if it be
my pleasure, as l trust it may be some day, to
visit Due West, | hope I shall not leave the
impression that l advocate a cause because
others advocate it, but that l do my own
thinking and act in accordance with my own
judgment. Let mt say, in conclusion, to Mr..
galloway that he has done injustice to the
German of our place. When he comes again.
may he come under more favorable auspices
and we will show him a little of our beautiful
town and some Of It's improvements, (Which
he seems not to have seen.)
Respectfully,
D. s. HENDERSON,