The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-04-06
FROM MR.. MCGOWAN.
A Well Tempered and Able Reply 10
MIR. Graham's Letter.
Editor Press and Banner

your last weeks issue, but solely in order
that the cause which, / In part represent may
be put fairly and squurely before our people,
will answer the questions therein asked.
If you will notice. In my speech before the
meeting on March 18th, made no direct as,
sertiou rs TO The tax levy. l simply asked
this question. WAS not our delegation In.
formed officially, that the levy as proposed
for Abbeville was too low and If not increas-
cd that n deficiency would be the result"
Mr.. Graham. one of the delegation, has re-
tion. l was prepared with the proof when l
spoke, but preferred to wait and allow the
delegation, if they saw tit, 10 answer for
themselves.
lst. Was there any "deceit and deception
practiccd upon our people By Gov. Tillinnn
and legislature?
Let us see.
We all know that the levy for county pur-
poses is made by each delegatio for their le-
spective counties. We also know, that the
amount Is fixed for each county by the Board
of County Commissioners. because they alone
know the amount required. This much Mr.
Graham grants.
Had our delegation made the levy demand
ed by our County Commissioners, ! would
not have had one word To say upon the sub
jcct But the exact reverse is true.
The Board of County Comm isstoners for
a Abbeville county, elected a Tillman man, Ger.
titled to the d legation from Abbeville coun
ty, that to meet county demands then In
sight, would require Il levy Of 81 mills. A
correspondence then ensued between our
County Comm iSSiOners and the chairman OF
our delegation In Columbia, and the delega
ton were oDlciuiiy informed, thnt If the levy
was put AT 3 mills, as they desired, there
would certainly and inevitably be dehclen'
cy. Notwithstanding this demand OF the
County Commissioners our delegation saw fl
TO make The levy at 3 mills only and the re-
suit is 81, 800 deficiency. (The proof OF my
assertion Is to be found Of record IN the office
OF Lhe County Commissioners at Abbeville
and In the office Of the Comptroller General
at COlumbia.)
II might happen as it has happened, that
because Of unforeseen floods and the consc'
ms recommended by the County Commission
ers proved loo low. IN this event no one
could or would blame either the County Com
m misSUnerS or the delegation. But Such Is nOt
the case here, and cannot conceive how leg
islators can excuse themselves for deliberate
ly and advisedly putting the levy at Tess than
asked Tor by the County Commissioners o:
necessary for expenditures at that time
known.
Three things our certain:
]. That our delegation had official informa
tion.
.. That levy was deliberately put too low.
s. deficiency.
Therefore was justified in saying: "Elow-
ing the levy WAS too low, II was an unpardOn.
able and indefensble act OF deceit 10 make
that appear us true which was not true"
Gov. Tillman thus got credit Tor low taxes
to which he WAS not justly entitled and 1t
is Il strange coincidence that The same thing
happened at the same time in nearly every
county In the State.
The levy tor lS9-2. to meet this very def.
cheney, was allowed or recommended by the
County Commissioners, viz: 81 mills (see
Acls 1891. page 1913 , but be II remembered
that the collection OF these taxes would come
after the August primary for 1892, and could
then do no political harm.
.. As TO Tie primary.
1 am an advocate Of the direct primary
now. I am primary man on principle. ]
nd vocal ed and urged IT. before the cOiumi II ee
on plantform and resolutions of the recent
but being In the minority and
con nvimced, / finally ncquieSced for the follow.
Ing reasons.
!. Because it, would be unfair to the white
people of the low country. as clearly shown by
Gov. Tillman'S interview published on the
day the cOnr. nlion met.
.. Because we believed II our conyent ntion
had once conceded that the May convention
had the power to alter the Constitution Of the
par:y--nr in other words that sad convention
was AOccriyn--lha: Gov. Tillman and his tick
et would be nominated In the May c0nrcn-
ton and II primary--dircctO or indirect-would
then OF course he useless and unnecessary so
far as the elections Tor this year were con-
cerned
The ConStirution-Art. IV-says. The May
con vention "ShaH be called for the purpose OF
eleC sing delegates 10 the National Democratic
Convention, and to elect the members OF the
National Democratic Executive Committee
from this State. and such State Convention
shat crcrcise M other 9,o,rer."'
Again-Art. XIX. "This Constitution may
he amended and altered only by the State
Convention which meets in Sep
tember OF each election year"
AS the Constitution could not be "altered or
amended" excep by the September Conven-
tion, and as the May Convention is empow-
cred TO do but two things "Only," we saw 1t
was useless to make the demand-it being
clearly unconstitutional.
). Because, being Democrats and desiring
to avoid all sembancc Of being irregular or
independents. we thought It, best to tight un-
der the Constitution and Rules as they now
rules allowing and ordering that
delegates 10 the Nominating Convention In
September be chosen by pr mary election.
We contented ourselves for the sake OF har-
mony, with an "ind!rect' since 1t was Il con-
stitusional impossiDllity to obtain direct
primary.
In brief. The convention thought it best to
make no demands, but to fight Squarely I'M
der the present Constitution and rules; and
if the conservative course OF that body has
some, we cannot help 1t.
have not the honor OF Mr.. Graham'S ac-
paper controversy and certainly not upon
the low plane OF personal abuse, but am per-
iecty willing To meet Mr.. Graham or any one
else IN lairarsument, when l shall endcavor
to make no statement unWarrantcd and
which cannot rrOvp.
I know my cause iS Just, and knowing this,
| believe unbiased and unprejudlced men can
and will be convinced.
One word. Mr.. Editor, as TO the coming cam
paign. agree entirely with your editorial OF
last week. The fight is ours, but why make
IL diSagreeable ana indecent?
Because we differ policiically is no reason
why We should bc enemies. II Is essential to
pure politics that there should be difference
of opinions. We are all Democrats, friends
and ncighhors, then let us settle our diller-
cnces decently.
We are pledged to abide the result and all
ask is, that the inir-minued men Of the
hear the argument pro and con-.
Let The facts and lheargument be presented
calmly and disl,aSsionatclr, allowing toercry
man the right 10 his political 0pinicns. II
after both sides are heard, our people think
IL is best Tor the State and our own packets
that Gov. Tiliman be reelected, why then
vote for Tillman delegates and we will all
obey the will OF the ma ority. But, If nS un-
men you think il would be unwisc
To further impcril our public crcdlt-thcn
vote for sheppard and Orr.
The time is come for every man to make up
his mind for himself But, Mr.. Editor. | say
with You, spare MS the bitterness and indie
cheney of Il personal mud-slingng campaign.
Respect fully, w. z. McGUwan.
Ahbeville $ C., April ,, 1872.
Medium please copy.
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