The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-09
IT'S LONG TINE BETWEEN DRINKS.
Incidents That Led Up to the Saying
That Made Two Governors Famous.

Every man in the United States is sup
posed to know what the governor OF North
Carolina said to the governor Of South Car
olna," but possibly some do not know when
or under what circumstances the famous re.
mark was made. Nearly century ago
man prominent in political affairs in North
Carolina moved across the border and set
tied in South Carolina He had been there
only q short while when he committed some
small crime or misdemeanor, for which he
was indicted. To escape arrest he return
ed to his old home in North Carolina. In
due course of time the governor Of South
Carolina issued his requisition on the gov
ernor of North Carolina for the fugitive
criminal The fugitive had rich influential
friends in his native State and they inter-
ceded with the governor until he refused
to grant the requisition. A long othclsl
correspondence followed. Prominent men
in South Carolina told the governor that ne
had not been treated with proper othclal
courtesy by the governor OF North Carohna'
The result was that the South Carolina gov.
ernor, accompanied by large party OF
friends and advisers, journeyed by stage to
Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina for
conference with the governor about the
matter Of giving up the criminal. The gov
ernor of North Carolina, with large party
of distinguished friends, met the governor
of South Carolina several miles from town
and escorted him to the governors mansion
with all the ceremony due distinguished
visitors. Before the object of the visit was
stated the entire party sat down to an elab-
crate dinner. After dinner wine was served
and after wine came brandy-the applejack
for which the old North State is famous.
After many rounds of drinks the decanters
and glasses were removed, and the govern
or of South Carolina stated the object of his
visit. He demanded the surrender of the
fugitive criminal. The governor of North
Carolina refused Then followed long
and heated discussion in which the at
torney generals of the two States took an
active part. Finally the governor of
South Carolina grew angry and rising
to his feet said: "Sir you have refused
nv Just demand and offended the dig
nifty of my Office and my State. Unless
YOU surrender the prisoner I will return to
my capital, call out the MALTA of the State,
and returning with my army. Will take
the fugitive by force Of arms. Governor,
what do you say 2" All eyes were turned on
the governor of North Carolina, and his an
swer was awaited with breathless interest.
The governor rose slowly to his feet and
beckoned to servant who stood some dis
tance away His beckoning was firm and
dicnifed, as became his position. He was
slow about answering, and again the gov
ernor of South Carolina demanded, 'What
do you say" Il say, governor, that 1t is
long time between drinks. The reply re-
stored good humor. Decanters and glasses
were brought out again, and while the Wis
;tors remained, if anyone attempted to re-
fer to the diplomatic object of the visit he
was cut short by the remark that it was
long time between drinks. When the vls-
ting governor was ready to return home he
was escorted to the State line By the COVER
nor of North Carolina, and they parted the
best of friends. The fugitive was never
surrendered.