The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-01-29

State Alliance, to Explain that Mixed
Caucus-Tho Former Charges keitcrat-
ed and Some Further Facts Given.
[From the Ncwberry Observer
Editor Observer: | haYo read in tho
News and Courier the reply Of Senator
Stokes to my lettor first published in
the Observer and reproduced in the
News and Courier. ! will not allow
him to cloud and obscure the matters
In issue by an effort to mako the pub
lie believe I was moved in what l have
said by personal feeling.
When ] say l was not a candidate for
the United States Senatorship at any
time before the General Assembly,
am sustained by the record. My name
was not presented in either house.
Two votes were cast for me on the first
ballot; not vote was cast for me after
that, although they balloted for three
days. Congressman Hemphill and Till
man and others got scattering votes on
several ballots. They were not candi-
dates. Hampton, Donaldson and lrby
were the only ones whose names were
presented to both houses, and they
were the only candidates. l have no
personal desire to 60 to Washington.
doubt it I could live long in that eli
mate.
went to Columbia a loyal Alliance
man-loyal to its principles, demands
and measures. All am is at the ser
vice Of the Order; for its principles are
intimately interviewer into my being.
Rfs.ny services had been demanded by
Tie Order, and after full and free
canvass If the Order decided to make
me their nominee, l would have ac-
cepted. II the Order decided on anoth-
or than myself, would have fo"sht
all the same for his election
requested my friends not to let my
name be used in the caucus Of Non
Alliance men as soon as learned Sen
Ator Stokes had called In the Alliance
meeting and had determined to go INTO
u caucus with Non a lliance men. That
caucus determined to present to the
General Assembly the three highest
names. My name was one Of tho three; ;
but l declined to accept, and my name
was not presented.
WHAT IS AN OFFICE SEEKER?
Senator Stokes would have the coun-
try believe am an ofiice-seeker. What
Is my record? l am near 60 years old.
Before the war resided in Richland
County, and was often urged TO be-
come q candidate and always refused.
was captain of the Emmett Guards IN
Columbia, sons of Ireland, the home Of
heroes and statesmen. This was the
first company rendered to the Govern
ment. The writer heard the first and
last gun in the war, and no man can
point to single instance that he failed
in his duty in any position to which he
was called. In May after the cloSa of
the war he came TO his plantation in
NeWberry County, and was elected to
the Legislature in October. The Jour-
nal of the House will show he was no
idle member. During the eight years
Of misrule, fraud and crime he was in
tho front rank with pen and tongue
fighting to get control OF the State
Government. In 1877, after we got
control, he retired from practical poll
tics, as far as Office holding goes. In
the convention of his comfy he was
nominated three times and uged to go
to tho Legislature. He rosc and said
to the convention: "Our people now
have the Government. 1t is in safe
hands. l cannot go, and will not if
you elect me-" That ended it. He has
often been urged to be a candidate
ed. He gave his time and powers,
gratis, In the North during three
Presidential campaigns for the Demo-
cratic party. In 1854 he spent eight
weeks advocating the election Of Mr..
Cleveland. On his way home he was
urged to apply for the colloctorship at
Charleston by friends who desired
to hold offices under him. by one man
who stands high in the State, who ask
ed for the second place. When gentle
men in Charleston got to fever heat
over the Office the records will show
that he wrote to Mr.. Cleveland and
withdrew his application several weeks
before the appointment was made. He
Is frank to say gentleman better fitted
for the place than himself was aD-
pointed-one trained to the business.
Is this the record of man who seeks
Officer Is 1t not the record of one
always ready to do his duty when cali
ed uponp l work for my living, and
am not ashamed to own it. All have
except what got by inheritance,
made farning-the vocation Of my
life. 1t is more cOngenial to me to re-
main in the quiet of my home than to
enter The hustle and storms Of political
strife. Ii the Alliance, however, had
called upon me at any stage of the
election and had put me up az their
nominee, l would have stood as such
q. and, II elected, as | went into the late
war, would have gone to Washing
ton, and, drawing my blade and after
Whetting it, | would have made it hot
Tor all foes while life lasted, as 4 mat
ter OF duty, asking no favorS and Civ
ing no quarters.
A MATTER OF HISTORY.
That any one may say / am moved
In this matter by personal feeling is of
no concern to me only as a matter Of
history. am proud Of my State. Her
history Is made up of the history of
heroes and statesmen. willtake care
Of mine. No ones personality counts
for anything when great princi pies, de-
mandS and measures and the hOEyY of
the State are in peril. That the News
and Courier is hostile to mo is not
strange. 1t is deadly hostile to the
Alliance, and the more loyal the mem
ber the more hostile to him. In my
efforts the past summer to solvo ma.
tional questions OF the greatest magni-
tude, when it was not misleading in
Its headlines to my letters it was un
just. l said nothing publicly about it..
. did not allow it to divert my atten-
tion In the least from the solution Of
the great questions then before mo.