The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-30
THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE. :
The sPrcss and Banner" Interviews
Mr., Benet.

Mr.. Benet being asked by the Prsss and
Bui.ne1. II he had any objection to define his
position with regard to the CongressionaL
"Sone in the world My position is not
difficult to define. Perhaps the best way To
do SO will be to submit TO you the following
heard his name mentioned as probable can
didute:
ABBEv1LLE, % May, 1885.
DEAR JUDGE CoTHRAN :-it was my p1r-
pose to call TO see You this evening or IN inc
morning, but find you are TO hold Court IN
sumter this week. and must suppose you Will
leave home for Ferdery or Green wood this
evening. IF that be so, can I zee you before
you go? desire to know whether you are q
candidate for Congress or no. heard your
name mentioned Tor the first time last Mon
day evening, in Columbia, In connection with
the Congressional race, and I have had no
opportunity of discovering either from your
self or yonr friends or mine whether bhe re.
port Is welI-lounded OF no;
for Col. Aiken's withdrawal to offer myself as
Il candidate. This has been pretty generally
understood among my friends in Abbeville
County and the other counties Of the Third
District. Now, that he hos publicly with.
drawn, I shall at once announce myself
candidate. unless you are a candidate. II you
are, then will not allow my name TO be us-
ed, but win In the public prints state my de-
This Is my position and naturally, wish
to know yours; aud 70 know It at oncer tor
there is no time to be lost eitherby you'or by
me. Hence my desire TO zee you. You Will
kindly let me know II 1t will snit you for mo
to call on you this evening. ard at what hour.
II cannot zee YOU you w,n I kinsly .ayr abiGs ns
whether you are in the field or no.:
Youis truly, W. c. BEnEE.
Here is his reply:
MY DEAR Mr.. BENEr:-Yonr ncte of this
date has Just been handed to me, and am
lust IN the act OF taking the road for Green-
wood to catch the night train for Augusta on
the only open way to Sumter Court.
q candidate for Congress in this District and
have the matter under considerations. II is
not In my line, nor would seek the place.
merous letters that have received at an
early day, perhaps this week, after getting to
Sumter, taking The ground that 81, without
SOLICITATION my my part should be chosen
would have been glad To have seen you be-
fore leaving home, and have hoped during
the whole Of this week (past) to have seen
friends but have not heen able TO do SO. Z
have had to make up my mind as far as It is
made up for myself, with the add Of my
homefolk only. Very truly ySars.
% May, 'S6. ]. 8. CoTHRAN.
Two days afterwards Judge Cothran wrote
son. which was published in the Anderson
Intelligence.
SUMTER COURT HOUSE. g. c., May 25, 1885.
| J. H. Iribble, Esq. Anderson 8. c.:
My DEAR SIR have your favor OF the
| 18th INST, addressed to me at Ahbevile. In
replying to sundry letters Of like import re-
ceived within the past two months, have
expressed myself as being content with the
official position which I now hold. These
communications, however, have been ad-
dressed to individuals. I now feel called up
on tn define my position clearly TO the poblic.
It is well known to my friends that have
never sought or desired political Office Of any
kind. A public office is q public trust, and
one who holds snch, to some extent ut least,
surrcnders his right TO choose. Regarding II,
further, az n thing neither To be sought nor
declined, have only TO say II the people OF
this Congressional District, after the retire.
ment of my neighbor and friend, Col Aiken
demand my services as his successor. l do not
feel at liberty to decline o serve them, always
bearing In mind the dfstrust that / have ct
my own fitness fol- the position, contenf,nent
with my present office, and knowledge e the
fact that there are others desiring the of5ce In
question who are we'll qualified for all Of Its
requirements.
Very respectfully and truly yours:
j. s. COTHRAN.
! 1wsh the Judge had been more explicit.
AS my friend, ncighbor and fellow towns
man. desired to know his posfi for from.
the first determined TO make no contest
with him. 1t Is impossible to find out In
these letters whether the Judge is going To be
candidate or not. AS for me, my position fs
simny this: If Judge Cothran does not run
for Congress, will. -.