Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-08-11
Reply toTreasurer Stevens.

IL = =.
q tention to theHfact that the party
a to whom I refer is Martin Ether
. idge, and therefore in looking W
!, the matter on the books he has
!, ,bsftreed the wrong coon." talked
: with Mr.. Stevens at Holley's Ferry
Z sEin Martin Etheridge's presence
, where Mr.. Stevens said that Mar,
, tins real and his personal property
, were at different places on the
books, at least as we'll as he could
remember, and we agreed there
, that if such was the case, that the
Auditor was to blame instead OF
;, himself. Ican't see how the entries
were at different places, as the lists
are all made out in alphabetical
order, and Martins property is all
together in the same township and
school district.
Now, as far as this Wesley Eth
eridge matter is concerned, I know
nothing about it, and I therefore
ask Mr.. Stevens to try it again,
and give us Martin Etheridge's
business as it appears on his dupli-
cate, and then 1 will talk more
about it.
i Mr.. Stevens also seems to en-
phasize the fact that the interested
party is a negro, as if that made
any difference so far as justice is
concerned.
Now, Mr.. Stevens mentions
something about letters which
Wesley wrote to him, and which he
did not answer, and thus tries to
explain away his silence, when I
wrote to him twice for information
about the execution against Martin.
TheBetletters wkiehsI I wrote are the
ones to which I referred in my
communication, as any child could
Iundef q D. by { r,eading it
Whydid mot Mr.. Stevens write
to Martin Etheridge about the tax
on his land not being paid as he
claims to have written to Wesley?
I have some other questions to ask
him, but I shall wait until he looks
up Martins business on his tax
record, and tells us the why's and
wherefores.
Mr.. Stevens also seems to think
that I am endeavoring to injure
him in the race for Treasurer, but
7 disclaim any such Intention, as I
can prove by the fact that I tried
every means to have the matter ex-
planned privately, but did not sue
ceed, therefore my only recourse
was to force him to an explanation
through public print. Of course,
MryStevens, when I talked with
you at Holley's Ferry, my commu-
Inication was already in the hands
of the printer, but had I received
the satisfaction I sought then, I
would have withdrawn my letter
or at least would have counter
manded its effect at once over my
own signature.
Besides, I have made, as yet, no
special charges against any Office,
but only stated that the Treasurer
issued the execution. the Sheriff
served it, and that had written
the Treasurer twice without any
reply. There are facts. At last /
said, "let us place the blame where
it belongs" Is not that as fair as
any public official could wish?
Now comes something that
strikes deeper than anything else.
Mr.. Stevens thinks that it is evil
dent to all, that am attempting
to injure him because I am hopiag
to gain an advantage for aohite
friend, politically. God forbid that
I should ever stoop SO low as to re-
sort to such vile schemes to injure
any ones reputation. No, Mr..
Stevens, my sense Of honor can
never allow me to resort to such
schemes, and I shall fight to the
bitter end any attempt to saddle
such insinuations upon my charac-
ter. 1 was simply inspired by a {
sense of justice, and now I ask
you in conclusion to look up Mar j,
tins business and find out whether I,
his property is separated, and if SO,
the Auditor shall explain why it 8
ls 30, and then try to have the mat I
ter corrected. After this is accom- {
plished then I am done, and not =
before. The amount of $6 is not
picked upin the road" these days, L
md / don't intend to have any of t
my friends imposed upon if 1 am C
able to prevent it, even though he
is as black as a coal. After we ex-
plain this matter through public t
print then l am willing for the o
public to be our Judge, and I shall o