The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-22
TILLMAN HAS HIS SAY.
Having Suffered an Absolute and Ut.
ter Defeat In His Unlawful Pro.
Act for the Galleries.

Columbia, S. C.. Feb. 16. 1898.
The News and Courier bulletin gave the
anxious people OF Columbia the first news
concerning the decision OF the United Suites
Court In the railroad cases. There was the
greatest curiosity con cerning the fate OF the
Sheritfs, and when the news was received IL
spread like wildfre. There was great yarle.
ty of opin ion concerning the decision. Some
were glad that Governor Tillman had been
given an official slap, while many others
thought that II was a great misfortune that
the Federal Courts had interfered In anything
that the State might have done.
The decision came like q thunder clap In the
State House. The Administration has met
with so much good fortune IL the Courts that.
TO use a very slangy but suggestive express
sion, the opinion ''broke 'em up" to-day. The
State officials were not angry at the verdict.
They expected 1t. but II completely demoral.
the the morning r in the atiorney Generals office
talking over the railroad cases. Attorney
General Townsend was trying to find some
law In the cases. Several Of the other state
officials dropped In TO inquire about the decis-
ion IT. was a dreary and murky day on the
outside and that was Just about the state OF
feelings on the inside Of the granite walls OF
the State House.
HOW GOVERNOR TILLMAN TOOK 1T.
The decision of the Court was first an
nounced TO Governor Tillman through the
bulletin sent the Bureau. While IT might
have been exceedingly disappointing II was
the fine was, however. surprising. The eXpec-
fancy of Governor Tillman Is, perhaps, fully
Indicated in the telegram which he sent Mr..
Ira B. Jones when he went TO his Office this
morning. 1t reads:
"Anticipatiug adverse decision and order of
i'm mprisonment or fine unless Sheriffs release
property, would say we must fight IL out on
habeas corpus and by appeal. II not jailed
and committed pro fnrma, and we can agree
TO release without weakening our case do so.
Prepare papers and let me know what lawyer
at Washington should be retained 10 assist
you. Order Sherifis and Treasurers to stand
firm, and we will see them out harmless.
"B. Il. Tillman, Governor"
In that telegram is couched the full inten-
tions of Governor Tillman. In word, he en-
poets to fight II out TO the bitter end. He does
not attach any Importance to the Circuit
Court, which has held the SheiiilS In con-
tempt. When Governor Tillman was seen he
was in Attorney General Townscnd'S office
talking over the matter, and, in reply 10 Il
question as 10 what he now expected to do, he
promptly said:
~ haven't the slightest idea of stopping 1t
will take ~ higher Court than that OF Judge
Simonlon and Judge GuT To stop me. | have
been looking tor just such an opinion Tor the
last two weeks, and, so far as the holding of
the Sherlns is concerned, II Is eXnctly what
we want. We now piopuse to tnke The case to
the United States Court at Washington. Our
whole line of fighting has been with this pur.
pose"
"What do you think OF the opinion?'
"I have already expressed my Ideas on the
either Ignorance or tyranny, even If lawful"
suppose, Governor, that the SherlHs pay
the ines and get out OF the trouble?"
81 do not think that any OF them will finch,
of them will show any weakness. but If they
do we have some Sherifls who will fight II
out"
Governor Tillman said in talking about the