The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-03
SDcech of MIR. McGOWan.

Mr.. McGowan had no written speech and
the following Is but u synopsis OF what he
said:
should express themselves on all the issues of
the day. That he was q candidate for the Leg
islature for the FIRST I me. That he was the
candidate of no caucus or clique That no
man or set Of men had brought him out, but
that he had announced himself. and If the
people Of Abbeville county would honor him
with their suffrage that he would be proud TO
serve his native county To the best OF his ubll-
ity. If elected he would represent the whole
people-regardleSs Of faction or party feeling.
He opposed the S3 poll tax. Said 1t was un-
fair and unjust to the poor man. The theory
OF taxation is the f:irest In the world, VIZ: he
that has much must pay much, ana he that
has little must pay little. The s. poll TAX
made the poor man pay as much as the rich.
1t makes the poor pay for the education oil
the rich. If the schools aie Kept open all the
wear, the poor man requires The help OF his
children In gathering his crop--the rich man
can afford to send his children ull the year.
The negroes would evade the poll tax
many evadc the 81 taX-m0re would cVhde Tie
would have it to pay. Many negroes would
90 10 Iail rather than pay II, anu the taX-pay-
cr must pay his board while In jail, besides
the Cost OF tax executions, &C.
He opposCd the property or cducatiOnFl
qualification 10 suffrage. he SAID The reason
given VIZ: that II would better control the
negro vote WAS but poor consolation 10 the
Door man who had his vote taken away from
him The moor man who was SO fortunate as
moi 10 own property WAS to have lhlS sacred
rIrht taken from him, and the only reason
given NASHVILLE we do take your Nole away
from you ut the same time we lahe itaway
from ten negroes. w =, o.,
lie Opposcd the abolition OF the lien law.
He said the law had sometimes been opprcs-
Slyc bul in The present condition ol our cOuii-
fry we could not afford to repeal II. IL Is The
hr Nvhirh
,nrrs r,t advances, and IL would be Two hard
lD cut them suddenly oil. II would force
many to hire Tor wages.
lie opDus,u II Constitutional Convention.
He said he was opposed To II at all times and
csnccinlIy in the present excited condition OF
the country. lie said there was u safe Way 10
change the Constitution II IT was WrurS, VIZ +,
hy amendment. There were three safe
rrouuus in changing by amendment. Q) The
LEGISLATURE by II two-lhIrdS vote had To SUBJ
mi the amendment. (2J qhe people then
vote Oh the amendment. C"l II Tie people
vote for the amendment. then II comes before
the next Legislature, who must rhtlly by Il
iwo.lhlrtls vote. This is the safest Way. Our
Constitution Is the fundamental law Of The
land and II is unwisr and inpruurnL tD INK
cr with IL. Hrsidcs, the Constitution Is Il very
rood one We have lived under II for lwcn-
ty-Iivp years and il Is not rcIy different rom
our old Constitution. II there should bc Il
constitutional convention and the policy OF
This administration should control II, then
ihr hu;ncslrad and the TWO mill tax Tor pub
lie SclIuDiS WILL in all likelihood, he aDOllSl-
cd 1t is the part Of prudence and wisdom To
let good enough alone, and therefore he uiu
not favor the calling Ol constitutional IoI-
vrnliOn. .,.
lie said il was not the policy of this admin
istIntiun To submit the work OF ColSiitu
iiunHl Convention To the people, us iie ilst
Senate (largcly tor Gov. Tllltnanl had passed
"A resolution calling for Il Convention ana
voted down Il prOvlSO that the WORK oil the
Convention he ratified by the people.
He did moi favor the county government
bill Which was an administration measure IN
The last Legislature. He said itdiSclinihated II
in favor of the rich and against the poor, ana
put too much power IN the hands ol one man
In authorizing the Governor TO appoint one
supervisor in every township III the State
and three Commissioners of the loor III every
county of the State. I'm Abbcvillc. instead of
having the county governed by Three cuiu-