The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-17

had been submitted. Suppose ever.
white man in the county who voted hat
voted mo license" but enough negroe
had voted for 'liccnse'' to carry tn
question that way. Would it not hav,
been an outrage to put the town Of Du'
West in such position against thu
wishes other citizons that her authori-
ties would have been compelled to gran
license to an applicant on his complying
with the law? And yet, according tc
my construction Of the bill that would
have been its effect. 1t was two-edged
sword. 1t cut both ways. 1t was to au-
thorize vote upon the question of ''li
cense' or "no license" not in any one
or any number Of the towns. but in the
incorporated towns of the county.
think the towns that do not want liquor
sold ought to have their wishes respect
ed. The bill was in my opinion uncon-
stitutional, inasmuch as it intcrferes With
those vested rights,or the towns confcrr-
ed by their charters.
5. The morals and religion cf people
cannot be controlled by Legislation.
Every attempt to do it has failed. This
is purely moral question, and if i. can
not be settled by the Christian church
and the moral sentiment Of the county,
legislation is powerless to remedy the
evil.
6. The perfection Of temperance leg
islation in my opinion is local option and
high license. believe that any further
legislation on the subject will result in
a reaction which will do the cause of
temperance infinite harm. In this opin-
ion am sustained by prominent Meth
odist minister Of this State who is tee
totaler in theory and in practice, and
who has devoted and is still deyoting. a
large part Of his useful life to the cause
of.temperance.
l1have given you my views thus at
length on the temperance question be-
cause you asked for them and because +.
do not wish to be liable to misrepresenta-
ton. Nothing can be said about the
evils Of intcmperance too strong Tor me
to indorse heartily. All honor TO the
noble mon and women, Of the, -count,y y
who arc working in the cause. 1 ac-
knowled and respect the purity of the
motives Of those who are earnestly and
without any selfish end in view o,king
to get prohibition legislation enacted.
But on'all public question which come
before the Legislature, and upon which
fhavc not be instructed by my ~consti-
tuents. | must claim the right to exer-
else my own judgment and vote in ac-
cordance with what conceive to be the
best interests of the people of my State
and County. 1t is sometimes easier to
stand out of the way and let the whirl-
wind pass, bus that is not my idea of a
representatives duty.
l think the question Of prohibition
was directly and necessarily involved
in the consideration of the Abbcvillo
Bill.
These we're my views after delibcr.
ate and careful consideration of the !
whole matter. after earnestly and honest
ly striving to reach n conclusion which |
would most likely promote the interests
Of the County. ! have not seen any rea-
son to change them or t. doubt that INV
position is. correct.
In conclusion, let me say I have
served the people Of Abbeville County
for two years in the Legislature, earnest
and faithfully, to the best Of my ability.
WhetherI have done it efficiently ornot
some one else must say. No one ever
shall say that l am afraid to do in that
body what my judgment tells me is
right. No one ever shall say that I am
seeking reelection by taking all sides
of every question that is before the
people. / thank you for the space to
reiterate my views on this question.
ELLIS G.. GRAYDoN.
The Whisleey egg.