The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-09
Col. SiniOntOn.

Col. Sinonton.
CHARLESTON, s. c.. Jan. l6, 1886.
Hon. James y. L;pscomb, Secretary
Of State, Columbia, S. C.-Dear Sir
Your letter Of 18th inst. conveying copy
letter of Aug. ID. Small, Esq, Of Allston
Station, Boston Mass, Of date 12th Jan
uary, came to-day. l was a member Of
the House Of Representatives Of l9GO-61.
No Act or resolution was passed respect
ing yankee Doodle," nor was it inter-
dicted by Legislative authority. Nor as
far as / know was it forbidden by Exe-
cutive authority. The Acts Of 1S6O-61
are before me as write [ was also
member Of the convention of Septem-
Der, aud Of the Legislature Of $685."
''Yanke Doodle" was not mentioned, or
discussed or lcgislated upon either in the
convention or legislature.
Indeed the whole statement is of tho
most absurd character. When this
State passed her Ordnance Of Secession,
her people felt the gravity ofSthc occa-
sion. They did not repudiate the histo-
ry and the Slories Of the past. They
clung to their inheritance and the st1ug-
giles and victories Of the Revolution.
They believed that they were following
the example Of the colonies, and they
claimed Yankee Doodle as a tune in
whose ownership they had title.
Yours respectfully,
CHARLES II. SIMoNToN.
'Tae+ ClcFk oFetIle House:
C"LuMsIA, S. c., January 13, 1886.
Hon. James n Lipscomb, Secretary
of State-Dear Sir: Yours of the 18th
instant, enclosing copy Of a letter sign
ed, "Aug. ID. Smalls,' received.
Mr.. Smalls asks these questions:."W
Yankee Doodle interdicted in South
Carolina in 1861? HnS the intertlict
been removed ?" and states that Apple
toms Encyclopedia says Eyes" to the
first query. Upon examination l was
amazed to find in Appleton's Encyclo-
pedia (page 77O) the following "In 1861
the Legislature Of South Carolina, by
enactment. prohibited the use of the
tune Yankee Doodle in that State"
This publication is untruc-a fabrica-
ton.
AS you say. was clerk Of the House
of Representatives in 1861, and may
add that | had the honor to fill that Of
flee continuously from 1854 to 1868
that am now clerk Of the House of
Representatives. and save been continu-
ously since 1876; that was clerk of
the convention in 1865. The Journals
reports and resolutions. ..and Acts of the
General Assembly, together with the
proceedings and ordinances of the con-
vention Of 1865, iare complete and cx-
tant in the legislative library.
Not one word can be found in either
OF them III reference to Yankee Doodle.
and ! have no hesitation in saying that
the matter was never alluded to in the
House Of Representatives. AS to such
an inteodict having emanated from the
executive department, no one can give
more positive testimony as to it's falsity
than yourself. You were member of
the House of Representative in 1861,
the son-in-law of the then Governor,
(Hon. F. W. Pickens.) Your intimate
relations with the department. (well
known to myself precludes the posi-.
bility Of such prohibition being issued
without coming under your observation.
Yours very truly,
JOHN 4. SLOAN,
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
CorrObaratiye Testimony.
HoDaEs. s. c., Jan. 18, 1886.
Hon. James N. Lipscomb, Secretary
of State, Columbia, =. C.--Dear Sir {:
Not appreciation the importance of the
questions submitted to yen by "Aug. d.
Small" of Baston, Mass, answer only
through respect to your request.
II the tune of Yankee Doodle" was
ever interdicted by the authorities of
South Carolina, am not aware OF the
fact. feel confident that neither the
Legislative nor Executive authority ev.