The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-03
MIR. BRAWLEY'S LITTER.
The Disnifed and Convincing Reply
Of the "AbbeviiIe Medium to the
Structures Of the Hon. W. n.
DraWlay.
I6berille Medium.

Hon. W. II. Braw:cy's letter published In
our last issue does not demand much ntter-
ccpt some sharp thrusts at us, a complacent
audatIOn Of Charleston and the quality of her
representatives and u little advice. He makes
a kind Of general defense Of Charleston
members In the matter of the census, but
does not reach the case as made out by US at
all.
Our argument was that by the failure OF
the census measure some parts of the Slate
would be deprived OF just rcpresent tation and
Charleston would have more than her share.
This would have It's influence IN State and
Congressional conventions and Charleston
would thus have more than her just power.
Rchlnnd would also have n tictitiOns repre-
sentatinn. Mr. Brawlcy has not disproved
this for 1t cannot he done. He took care not
to attempt any such thing.
Next, we gave some law based on the deci
sion in the State v. Williams demonstrating
that the rc-apportlonment could be made
next Summer If the census had baen taken
in the Spring. Mr.. Bra~ley has nothing to
say abont this law. lie would very soon los
his fine reputation as a lawyer if he under
took to prove our position wrong.
Mr.. Brawley voluntarily comes forward as
the champion of Charleston hut does not
deny that Charleston will have more than
her constitutional proportion of representa-.
tives until census is taken. Neither does
he show that our law is bad. He muSt there
fore admit that we have the Constitution, the
law and justice on our side and SO plainly too
that he would not attempt to show the con
trary.
Mr.. Brawley, however, seems to take parti'
culHr umbrage at our charge that the mcln-
bcrs from Charleston put themselves on re-
cord as denying fair representation TO the
balance of the State and proceeds to give
certain "flctS."
Let us take this clause in its proper connec::
tlon. 1t occurs in an article on the $50 called
rider" and reads:
"The manner Of taking the census was pre-
scrihed by law and, OfcOurse, the work was 10
be paid for. The appropriation was defeated
by q long and spccons argument that the
ana nobody knew it better than the members
from Charleston who put themselves on re-
cord as denying fair representation TO the
balance o: the State"
Here is the time and place of Charleston 5
detection. Here Is where She put herself on
record 1t needs but one fact to prove 1t and
that is the vote on the question of recedine
from the census appropriations It stood. as
ceding and II members from Charleston vot-
ell to reccdc. Thus they put themselves on
record as "denying a flir representation to
the balance Of the State This was the cru
She was in full accord with the House until
the decisive moment and then by her II votes
refused TO sustain the appropriation and so
will have five more representatives than she
is entitled 10 for some years to come and also
an unjust prcponderance in State and con,
grcsSional conventions. This very vote did
deny fair representation to other parts OF the
State and did keep five extra members for
But MIR. Brawlcy says that (when Charleston
turned and fed) the question was not as TO
taking the census, but "$hall the House force
the Senate 10 accept its views on this subject
by defeating the appropriation bill?" We
heard Speaker simmons put no such ques-
ton to the House. If Mr.. Brawlcy thought
that was the question we excuse him for thai
vote although he was wrong on the census
from first 10 last. IF Speaker simmons had
put any other question that tho usual parlia,
mentary one, he would have framed it some.
what as follows:
'Will tile House stand by the Constitution
and will the members stand by their oaths to
support it?" and Charleston would have vot-
Mr. Brawley need not have looked further
than this vote to find where Charleston s
power was used for II sectional advantage. II
may not have been so intended, butsuch has
been the effect for she will have five more
representatives Counting by the U. s. ccnsus)
than she Is entitled to-
Mr.. BrawIcy is the last man of Charleston
who should have attempted to defend his
colleagues. He voted against the census
every time and docs not even give the ccono
my excuse. If he did SO because the amend.
mcnt was y "ridcr" he was strangely incon
siStcnt in voting for two additional professors
in the University which was clearly against
the law. We heard nothing from Charleston
about this being rider although tho effect
of that item in the appropriation bill wns tC
make two new officers and provide pay for
them.
If to claim equal rights for Beaufort, Sum
ter, LaurcnS, Spartinburg and other counties
| is sect iOnaIiSm, VIC may be counted III. We
will not he diverted from the true issue but
! will continue to show the great lnjusticC
f3nnn the whole State