The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-07-07
SENATOR BUFFERS POSITION.

EDGErIELD, s. c., June 23.-To the Editor
OF the Spnrtanburg Herald: Your editorial
copied in the State Of the 22d inst gives me
opportunity that L might otherwise not have
bal OF replying to criticisms made from
time to time, touching my action in regard
to the Federal appointments from this State.
You say among other thiogs: .'If Senator
Butler desires to give all his favors to Till
NANTES, be should recognize those in good
and regular Standing" Again you say
$50 far as We can see, Senator Butler does
not want the Conservatives to support him.
He seems TO be depending entirely upon his
ability to induce enough men to desert his
opponent"
Iassume, of course, that you do not want
to misrepresent me, but the above indicates
very clearly that you are not informed as to
what have done and propose to do about
the Federal appointments. Ysu will there.
fore be good enough to allow me to state my
position for myself and in my own way.
In the first place, l had but one appoint
ment to make i'll my own right, clerk of the
Interstate commerce committee, Of which
i an chairman. l gave that to Dan'l c.
Roper, of Marlboro, who had been strongly
recommended TO me, by the Hon. c. s. Nc
Call and other friends, as gentleman Of
high character and ability and fully qualified
for the duties of the position; and | am
gratifed TO be able to say he has measured
fully up 10 the endorsements given him.
Let me say in passing that since we have
been allowed secretaries or clerks, l have
selected young men who were struggling TO
complete their education and thereby afford
them the opportunity offered by the busi-
ness colleges and educational institutions in
Washington. They have opportunity to do
this, by availing themselves of iime outside
of the hours for their official duties. 1t is
q source Of much qualification to me to
know that in this way ! have been
able to aid six very deserving young men
who availed themselves of the privilege to
study in the best schools, to which they
would not have otherwise have had access.
MIR. Roper is the seventh, and he too in
tends taking course in n business college,
which will be Of much value TO him when
he has completed it, So much for that the
only appointment have at my disposal.
In regard to those appointments where
my province is only a lvising, l have sought
to know ihr-e things of applicants who have
asked Tor my endorsement: First whether
they are Democrats second, whether they
are qualified, an !, third, whether they are
persons Of good character and standing.
In the ahsence of personal knowledge
we are sometimes Disled as to these quallfi-
cations; but have not yet recommended
a man or woman not personally known to
me, who has not been strongly endorsed by
friends and neighors ut home. If, there
fore, there should be any mistake the first
endor rsers must be held responsible.
In making my recommendations l have
not stopped 10 enquire, and do not in the
future expect to stop and enquire. to what
political faction in South Carolina the appl-
cants belong. 1t is sufficient for me to
know they are Democrats arc qualified and
of good character. If you can inform me
Of any case where l have departed from
this rule, l shall be very much indebted,
and promise upon satisfactory showing to
withdraw my endorsements, but cannot do
SO upon vague and underlined insinuations.
You say do not seem to want the sup
port Of the Conservatives. | want the sup
port of every good man in bringing about
a reconciliation and better feeling among
our people, but do not want the support
of any man who cannot give it freely and
censcientiously. If il is expected Of me,
before can be reelected to the Senate, that
sh2AT.uter ints every local squabble and
fap(the flames of bitterness and pickering
WI ch have brought 80 much humiliation
supon the State, shall have to dlsappoint
those who expect it, and If the penalty is to
be defeat, shall take defeat.
/ shall go ahead and do my duty to oil
the people as sec it, and if the manner of
its performance is not acceptable to my
friends, L can only regret it and take the
consequences. Neither my life nor happi-
ness depends upon my reelection to the
Senate. In due time l shall give to the
people who sent me there an account of my
stewardship. | shall do this with frankness
and without reserve, and if it is not satis-
factory, the people can send some one to
take my place. This is not only their right
but their duty. The office does not belong
to me, but to the people, aud they can and
will make such dispositions Of it as they
please. My own conscience tells me l have
tried to discharge my duty faithfully;
don't know what other people may think oft.
Our people are unhappily divided into
something like hostile camps. Suspicion,
Misrepresentation, falsehood and self.hness
have taken the place of confidence, unity of
purpose, self-denial and State pride. My
efforts shall be cxerted TO restore good feel
ing and confidence, to effect more tolerant
and forbearing spirit. No people can ever
enjoy religious, social or polite freedom
with the spirit of intolerance so rampant as
that which prevails among us. We must
learn TO respect honest differences of opin-
ion; we must settle those differences in the
for inns of reason rather than in the spirit
Of vituperation and abuse; We must throw
OIL the thraldom of bossism, secret political
ca"as. smuggling defiance of public senti-
m, ut and public law before we can reach
at plane of enlightened progress so essen
i.i to our we'll being as q people.
This consummation is of far more impor-
truce than my reelection or the election of
o; any man to tho United States Senate.
! H. State can and will survive my defeat,
AMI 80 will 1. But she will not recover for
n :eneration from the defeat of the efforts of
good men to bring about harmony and good
e. ling and good order among our reople
some Of my friends expect me to recon-
mend for office none but Conservatives. It
does &eem to me that this would be wise
among the men Of what is known
49, m faction as good Democrats as
ountry, with qualifications and
as az " good ms the best. Many of
the men rode with me on the field of
batf1e. Gn the march was by their side
and they were by mine. In the terrible
ordeal Of reconstruction and redemption of
South Carolina, feeling of comra eship