The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-14

ury and the Legislature did make appro-
priations then largely lie s than in 1857,
because that surplus was used in addi-
ton to the appropriations made. There
is a difference between levy and an
appropriation, and the reason why we
collected less in 1879 than in 1857 was
because we had in the treasury a sur
plus which had been previously collect
ed"
At the close of the debate Col. Has
kell made another statement "from the
statutes q quote from the proceedings
Of the Convention in the News and
Courier "and showed that in round
numbers in 1879 the expenditures had
been S90S,00O and in 1856 "a year I had
not mentioned) they were $50, ,000," &c.
"Amid theapplause that followed Mr..
HaskelI's remarks his 'ringsters
would have applauded him if he had
said black was white, which he did in
etEecty Mr.. Tillman was heard to say i
will prove the falseness Of those figures
before the people, &C."
I Imerely desire to call attention to
the contradiction between his first and
last statement, and to the fact that the
figures he gave We're not official, and
are shown by Gen. Eerner's statement
to be totally incorrect. Further, that
Gen. Werner says that the "surplus'
was not used in 1879, as stated by Col.
Haskell, but that the UNPAID interest
was funded
"Even the good Homer sometimes
nods," and the distinguished chairman
of the ways and means, who has
bulldozed and brow-beaten so many
farmers, will mind how he accepts
another "dare' from one. / have re-
deemed by pledge, and shown that I
was right and he was wrong, and 1 now
"dare" him, or any one else, to dis
prove what l have asserted in this let
ter.
A few words on the editorial in the
Weekly News and Courier of 23d and
am done. In it, what I said in the
Convention is characterized as "dis-
creditable in both matter and manner"
and the bulk of it termed 'invectiye
and exaggeration," &c. I have never
laid any claim to oratory; and knowing
the Convention was very impatient tc
adjourn, I made no attempt at any
thing but a direct and clear statement
of my ideas on the matter without vast
ing time on the usual oratorical "bun'
combe." I never "delivered myself as
the official spokesman ofthe people" Of
made any threats" of what they
would do. My words were: II stanc
here in the interest of the common peo
pie of South Carolina and ask that you
give them their rights" and my reply
to Col. Haskell was not "unguarded.' J.
He was misstating my words just as
Capt. Dawson has done, and I said, 81
have never claimed to represent any
body but myself" which is the simple
truth. The only commission" [ hac
in Columbia was from the Edgefelc
Democratic Convention. After warn
debate, in which the identical argu
ments used by Col. Haskell, Senato
Murray and Mr.. Gary were advanced
by a friend of the ''ring," that convcn
ton bya vote of1O1 to IS passed a resolu
ton in "favor Of primary elections TO-
all offices in the gift of the Democratic
party from Governor down." an
told sneeringly that my Gown asso
ciates voted againstme They did it il
the face of the resolution, and it onl.
proves that the "yelr' I gave about tn
State Convention mot representa-;
the people of Edgefield in all things
but I feel sure on this point and / ais
feel sure that it will not be long befor
Il State primary for State officers vii
replace the Rottonborough Convention
system. The appeals to sectional pas
sion and selti$hncSs will not prevent tn
common people from learning, eveni
the negro counties, that their interest
and rights are safer in their own keel
ing than when delegated to delegate
who represent themselves and thei
own personal ambitions only, or VIII
allow themselves to be traded lik
sheep to further the aspiration of som
place-hunter.
Just as surely as Democracy mean
white supremacy, and that the nomin;
ton by the Democratic party means Il
election, just so surely will the peopl
tire of electing men in November who1
they have had no voice in nominating
and the result will be that the Demo
cratic party will fall to pieces of its ow
rottenness unless the people are allow
ed to exercise the right, dear to ever
Anglo-SaXon, of self-government. Bu
l forget. l am threatening" or doin
what the News and Courier cal
"threatening," and 1 must stop. Th
is the "volcano" to which 1 alluded
and no sane man will deny the DANCE
The editor of the News and Courie
chooses to assert that my warnings an
opinions are 'threats.' The burde
of his defamation was that the peop
demanded this, that and the other, an
if they were denied what he called TO
this, that and the other would happen.
He does me too much honor. TT
demand for a State primary come
from counties where I have never beel
1t will continue to come and grow
volume and strength, without an