The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-31
Abbeville's II oval Welcome to General
BOnham.

gentlemen were discussing the probable
result Of the meeting Of the State Dem
~ocratic Executive Committee and sur
missing who would be the successor of
the lamented Manigault. All, with one
accord. thought our townsman, Captain
NJ. L. Bonham, DR., ought to be the man,
but were afraid that he was guilty of
the political crime Of being IAN Able
bcville man, In the midst Of the dis
~cuSsion u telegram was received an
%nouncing his nomination.. Three cheers
went up for the gallant Captain and the
news spread like wild fire over the town.
1t was determined at once to welcome
him home in grand style. The Able
vile Rifles, which company he has com
mandcl for a number Of years, took the
initiative step. 1t was learned that he
was to return OF Friday, and they dom
ned their uniforms, polished up their
rifles, and under the command of Lieu
tenant S. G. Cason, marched down to
the depot to meet him.
AS the train rolled up. and Gen. Bon
ham, stepped on the platform he was
received with cheers.
Lieutenant Cason, after the Rifles had
come to present arms" and then to
..Parade Rest" made the following r..
marks: -,
Gen. B0nhnm, No class of citizens
rejoice more over your deserved promo
ton than do the Abbcvillc Rifles, and
we have come to welcome your return
home, and thereby show our apprecia-
ton OF the honor done you. Gentlemen
of the Abbeville Rifles l now have the
pleasure Of presenting to you Gen. M.
l.. Bonham, commanding officer OF the
Militia Of this State.
Gen. Bonham in reply stated that
words were inadequate to express his
appreciation Of the honor done him by
his old command. 1t was altogether
unexpected to him. Hc hoped, how.
ever, to be able to give them some idea
Of his appreciation ut some other time.
He was then escorted to Il carriage
bedeckcd with flags and drawn by four
splendid grays. and in company with
Capt. l.. w. White, Hon. W. c.. Denet
Lieut.. Il. T.. Cothran, and Sergt. H.. 5.
Link, driycn to his home. .
Tho Scrcuade.
The citizens Of the town wished also
ty.shnw their appreciation of the honor
done their follow citizen and arranged
fora scrcmade. The Abbeviile band
was called into requisition aud about ten
O'Clock u goodly number OF them con-
eresated in front Of his residence. After
..,o.,I ,:,,,,, ,,r,.r., ,1svn,l saw fEn hand
Gen. Bonham was called out, and Us he
stcppcd ,on: his plaza. Captain l.. W..
White made the following remarks
~, =. Captain Whites Speech.
Gen B0nA0m, We, your fellow
townsmcn, your n%cighbors and friends
are here to welcome you home. We
have conic 10 exl re IS to you our SUI
premes satisfaction 20 give you our most
heartfelt greetings and to extend to
you our warinrst and sinccrcst congrat-
ulations upon your success.
Sir, when your name was first men
toned in connection with the high and
responsible position Of A'jutant and
Inspector General Of the State Of South
Carolina, we could scarcely even dare to
indulge the hope that you would win
the prize, although from the. bottom of
our hearts We desired you to have it,
and knew your merit and qualifications
were such M most richly to. deserve it.
But Sir, we knew that you. III common
with many Of our more worthy citizens.
were answcrablc to that charge, which
III the eyes OF some Of the people Of
South Carolina at least seems almost to
amount to II ''grievous fault."-l refer
!to. the fact that you live in the county
Of Ahbevillc.-and because our county
had already been honored with * place
on the State ticket in the person OF our
distinguished feliow-c:tiZcn, Col. j.. II.
Rice Of Nincty-SiX. we were afraid her
representation would not be increased.
But, Sir. we are proud to see that the
Executive Committee, upon whom de-
volved the grave duty Of supplying the
vacancy occasioned by the death OF the
la,ncntcd' ManigauIt,' were seeking for
merit III the discharge Of their import
ant trust, and that they were not slow
t. recognize such merit when found,
though found, forsooth. within the Dor
dcrs Of our grand old county Of Able
vile. ..
Sir, we urc aware that the people oil
this State have exalted you more highly
by bringing you SO conspicuously to the
front, but we know Just as we'll that You
will be equal to the responsibility and
that your worth and abilities are such
as will enable you to honor and adorn
the office YOU are called upon to fill.
We commend most heartily the wis
dom Of Gov. Sheppard and that Of tho
Executive committee and we are sure
their action in your selection will be
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