The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-03
4 CARD FROM MR.. SLIGH.

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get my c0nsent to say that | would
enter the race for that position. There
have been difficulties in the way that
but few knew anything about but my
self; and moreover, to be candid, | did
not feel sure that l could be elected
even if ! should desire such 4 thing,
and / never have felt very anxious to
be defeated But if earnest and nu-
merous solicitations to become Il cIndi-
date, and assurances Of success mean
ANYTHING in All election, then | am all
right. After most carefully weighing
the considerations connected with this
matter, | have finally concluded to
enter the race, feeling as do that it is
, my duty to do so, and that to refuse,
under the circumstances, would have
the appearance of ingratitudc Oh my
part.
And now since I have come to this
conclusion, | 90 into the race to erin;
and, in order that there may be no
doubt about 1t, I ask my friends in
every part Of the county, and all others
who may believe that will make them
safe representative, to give ME their
united support.
My record in both branches of the
General Assembly is before the people.
| have discharged the duties imposed
upon me to the best of my ability, and
that always with view to better the
condition Of the people. Agriculture
being the leading and chief pur suit Of
the people Of this State, and that upon
which every other business rests and
depends for success, l have endeavored
with all my ability to advance its in
terests, knowing that when this was
done the people Of every occupation
would be benefited. Though 4 farmer
myself and closely identified with the
farming interest, l have always tried
to place myself in the position of those
who are not farmers that | might not
do an injustice to any.
Farmers, merchants, mechanics and
all others go to make up the grand
whole of the citizenship of the State,
and the legislator should be broad
enough in his views and far-reaching
enough in his patriotism to do the very
best thing that can be done to bring
the greatest prosperity to all the people.
This I have tried to be and to do.
My position or the Agricultural Col
lege question has already been defined;
but let me add one word here. When
this proposed institution WAS in great
want Of friends and support, when it
really was unpopular for man to rise
from his seat in the Senate and advo-
cate it, / then stood byit, and fought for
it, and now since the child has grown
in stature and increased in strength,
and is about to be placed upon her feet
by the munificent gift of the late Mr..
Clemson, and since many admiring
friends will doubtless gather about her,
it seems to me that I ought to be per-
mitted to abide with her and assist in
protecting her, if necessary, from her
enemies and the mistakes that might
be made by her over-zealous and newly
converted friends.
In the discharge of my duties as a
member of the General Assembly, |
have never once stopped to ask myself:
Will the course / am about to pursue
be popular with the people and make
me name and thereby probably lead
to higher position? But what have
asked is this: Is it rights it just, is it
best for this measure to pass? After thus
weighing such matters, | have al
ways tried to follow where duty led. 1t
is useless, perhaps, for me to say, here,
that if returned to the Senate, | will
continue in this same line; and if an
experience of eight years in the busi-
ness is worth anything, [this l leave to
be passed upon by all thinking people, ]
then l mi ght say that hope to be more
useful in the future than | have been
in the past. I am sure that there is
one thing that such an experience has
done for met has made NE broader
and more liberal in views towards my
| fellow citizens.
There is another promise which /
with the greatest sincerity make to the
people Of the County if returned to the
Senate: If during my term, at any
time, should be so exceedingly unfor-
| tunate as to lose the courage OF my con-
, victions and become a tool for other
men to use in carrying out their plans
and purposes, / promise that | will at
once resign the position, that the people
of the County may have the opportu-
nifty to elect q man to represent them
in the Senate. Of all the disgusting
scenes that I have beheld, the one per-
haps the most disgusting is to see a man
| {so-called) who has been honored by
the people Of a County with seat in
the General Assembly, and sent there
to look after their interests and that of
the whole State, thoroughly in the
hands of schenlers and politicians, doing
their bidding. From such comes a great
deal of unjust legislation, and for such
reasons I most Solemnly make the
above promise.
Having made these promises, now
have a request to make of the voters of
the county. 1t is we'll known that CALI
didates land there must be candidates,
and they ought to come from among the
very best mcn) are much abused, and
greatly belicd and slandered. If you
should hear reports dad ones of what |
have done, said, thought or dreamed,
or about what am going to do, say,
think or dream, please don't pass j:ldg-
ment on me before you give me an OPP
portunity to speak for myself. | will
gladly answer any letters or inquiries
seeking information; and if don't give
truthful and candid statement, |
promise to quit the race. have not
entered, and shall not enter, into a
combination with any other candidate;
and no man who is now . candidate, or
may hereafter become one, is nty can
didate, as have not brought out any
man, and shall not. | respect candi-
dates and have kind fellow-feeling for
them, and hope, as it is possible that
they will all rote .fOr me, and promise
to vote for as many Of them as I can
under the rules. But will make no
other bargains with any of them, for in
this business l have heretofore found
that it was just about as much as I
could do to guard, protect, defend and
help on my own candidacy. Please lay
this on your mind and learn to know
that there are persons in the world, and
they are pretty equally scattered
around, who possess lively imagna-
tionS and fearfuly suspicious natures
and rather than lie defeated in their
plans, wishes and purposes will nlanu-
fucturc and circulate reports that have
but little or no foundation of truth.
Please also lay this on YOUR minds and