The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
REDISTRTCTlNG GOES.
AFTER HARD FIGHT THE BILL PASS
ES THE HOUSE.

ES IHE HOUSe'
rbs opponents of tie Redistrictirg Bill
Fishs HARD, but q Large Majority OF
the House Favor it-Lenythy Speech
Making AID Ssv. ia, Inctd ents.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec 20-When the
red,strlc,ing bill was called, the ques
tion being on the motion OF Mr. Brea'
zeale to reconsider th bill, there was a
GREAT deal of confusion A half drzH1
members of each SIDE were on TIT tl''or
all at once, discussing noW the ma yer
should be considered. They made all
sorts of proposil,ons 70 ca other as
to the conduct of debate, some sort OF
agreement being finally arrived At TO
the Effect that the debate continue for
three hours.
Mr.. Bacot, Of Charleston, opened the
deb te. He made a ringing speech IN
behalf of Charleston He said hat the
Republicans had taken up the crs thai
the city of Charleston Will have to t't
repre- scented fairly by a Il pnh-
hcan and unfairly by a u m
ocrat. God forbid that We
shall ever have to use fraud at the
ballot box. My heart Is in this matter.
I believe that the good of this Stat9
calls for the representative OF this dis
trict by a white man, having the utter
est of the State at heart, The City OF
Charleston stands TO-DAY as your only
metropolis. Will you see her suffer for
political endsp The people Of our city
have time and again been cast down
but thank God we have never been des-
troyed. We can sud Will, with heart
for anything, learn to labor AID TO
wait
MIR. Kirkland, of kershaw said that
he has been content to vote. lie did
not think he could say anything new.
he for one would not raise the black
lag over Charleston as an emhlem Of
factional victory. take 1t that 1t has
been distinctly called an act of retalla-
ton. 1 am unwilling to guerrymander
the State against my own people. do
not believe Charleston can manage
such q district. I have pride in the
city of Charleston, my ancestors came
from there. 1 would not put her into
this mud hole.
Mr.. Sturkle, of Ocangeburg, favored
the measure and held that Charleston
could carry the district. He had been
told that Msj. Brawley had said that
he could carry the Seventh district.
You are aware how the Democrats of
Charleston and Richland have opposed
the platform Of the party in control of
this State. It seems to me that Char
lesion Is not only content to send her
man to Congress, but she wants to put
her hands on the rural districts and say
You shall have no voice in Congress.
In our present condition we have 90
voice in the national counsel. This
change would give Charleston her man
but suppose 1t did not, but which IS
the most important q man to look after
the port of Charleston or a man to look
alter the Democratic platform adopted
by us in May, 1892. Under present con-
ditions We have no representative IN
Congress. All we want IS the same
chance that Charleston has. If were
in the position of Charleston ani Rich
land I would not ask for the defeat of
this bill; you all know the Orangeburg
representative in Congress stands with
us. will ask you to stand by us and
ask will you stand by Charleston and
slap us in the face. Will you keep US
ina position where we can never Sc
cure representative in Congress.
MI. Thomas. of Richland, wanted to
know whether the members can recon.
Gle 1t to their duties to reconsider this
matter. What change has come over
US to change our votes. Are the MEM
bers mere puppets to be pulled by a
string as desired. I believe the people
of Carolina are free men yet. Some of
the appeal have been utterly unworthy
Of the men. Come Of the men deliber-
ately say 1t is to humlliate the proud
old city. Because they differ and ex
ercise their judgment is no reason to
make them suffer.
say that the arguments in favor of
the bill are: 1st. The old city needs
punishment, and has not acted right.
and End, that Charleston could. contin-
ue to get her representative, even if
put In the Black district. The policy
of the majority in that district are car
ried out by its present members. They
are exercising their rights. Has the
minority no right to representation.
The Democratic principles We sustain
ed are far better sustained by the Con-
gressmen from Charleston than the
one from Anderson. Are the minority
to have no rights at all? The voice OF
10000 or 1000 ought to be heard. Why
should we come bere and try and give
no effect to the votes of Charlesi on
We simply ask for justice to Charles.
ton. Her interests are ours.
Mr. Watson, OF Anderson, made a set
speech IN favor Of the bill. He said
that he did Bot hear refectious about
men changing their votes. The other
ports of the State have as much right
as Charleston. While you have always
been true to platforms, this is no time
to 90 back. We have made platform
and 1t is for all of the people of the
State. I maintain here that the pro.
duce of the farmers bring ali the mon.
ey into this State.
Col. Haskell-They own only one
third of the property in the State and
do not bring all the money in the
State.
MIR. Watson-There is no question
that Maj. VIM. A. Brawley is debating
most all the Office holders. He hap
pens to be in elbow touch with the ad-
ministration. Is it not fair that VIM.
81. Brawley Should not consult the
other Congressman of South Carolina.
He did not carry the electoral vote of
South Carolina for Cleveland nor did
Charleston do so. It was the work of
the true Democrats of South Carolina.
Mr.. Skinner, of 'BarDwell, was oppos.
ed to the present bill, but he favored
bill to regulate harleston by white
county votes, Put her in a district