The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-22
Card from Capt. Parks.
, MAJ friends In Abbeuile COUNTY

To nly Jrte7ldS In A0oetttte county:
election in canvassing the County, and found
at each place that one Of my competitors had
just preceded me. was met with the charge
of talking against that gentleman. Unfor.
tunately for him he spent much OF his time
at each place talking against me.
To-day was oredibly informed that this
same candidate had written letter to u gen
or or myself, With circulating falsehoods on him
In so far as that candidate may have referred
to me pronounce 1t base falsehood. and
believe that the other candidates are incapa-
BILE Of doing him any wrong.
In defending myself from the unjust and
wanton effort to defeat my election / shal;
sacrediy protect the private character OF that
Individual and shall not invade the privacy
possible some of the striking characteristics
OF his official record and have generous
public to decide who of us Is most entitled TO
"ha the In saS
county government, including the finances.
My first acquaintance with this gentleman
was when he was County Treasurer under ap.
pointment OF Gov. Scott. 1t was generally
that OF General jackson. There was II front
entrance and back one. There was funds
on hand for some parties and none foi
others. Consequently, many innocent pnr'
ties suffered much in their claims by heuvy
discounts.
The next time saw him was as School
Commissioner In 1874. The gentleman may
explain how he obtained that office. New
on the Republican side with his name on
them, and they were deposited in the ballot
boxes In sufficient numbers TO elect this gen.
tleman before the Republicans found out the
trick. The Hon. Guffin and my competitor
alone carry In their bosorns the knowledge OF
how the election was carried.
In 1876, when the mighty throes OF revolu.
tion were shaking society from centre to cir
4 ,foro hnnnrah1n
calm and serene In the School Commissioners
Office. When every true patriot and lover OF
his country was making every sacrifice to de.
liver our State from the "robber band" who
had been preying upon the vitals of our
mother State for eight long years, when every
boy had donned his red shirt, and when even
| the women were ready to buckle on the sword
and shoulder their muskets to drive the
hungry horde of thieves from our borders, my
friend displayed no red shirt, his voice was rs
silent as the tomb, his arm was too weak to
write bis name upon the Democratic roll al
home until on the eve Of the election.
| Not long since he published card stating
that he had been Sheriff for ten years. He
seems to have forgotten six years OF his official
them; but they are like Banquo's ghost-will
not down at his bidding. 1t therefore becomes
my duty to refeesh my friends memory ol
these years he had forgotten. The last
been spent at the public crib, and the records
will show that he has received more than
| forty thousand dollars out Of the pockets ol
the people. Last year he received twenty.
eight hundred and thirty dollars for dieting
! the Jail prisoners, together with general and
lunacy account, besides his civil business
amounting to hundreds OF dollars. Having
already been Treasurer, School Commissioner
Trial Justice and Sheriff, he demands to be
County Commissioner,
In conclusion, I have only to say that the
Office Of County Commissioner. pays abou,
| three hundred dollars. and to gain the office
| is not q consideration when my character Is
assaied In self-defense have had to speak
| in q manner which is as repugnant to my
| feelings as any man in the county. desire
| to love my neighbor as myself, and act upon
the highest plane OF honor and Christian for
bearance.
| know not why this competitor pursues me
except 1t be for the purpose OF diverting pub
| lie attention from the very serious charges
which the grand jury preferred against him
at the last term Of court, in which 1t was
shown that he lad charged and drawn from
the county treasury large sums OF money to
which he was not entitled
In becoming q candidate for County Com.
missioner desire, II elected, to benef1t the
county by improving her financial condition
to relieve her of debt and to reduce the county
taxes / shall, II elected accept the office as 0
| sacred trust, to be used for the benefit Of the
| people, and shall bring TO the discharge OF Its
duties all the integrity, fidelity and ability
with which am endowed.
| Respectfully, ~