The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-25

lQe lOlloWluE iutei''e" Wv"
Hugh Farley is taken from the Green
vile Mountaineer;
General, it seems that some of the
newspapers are trying to make it ap-
pear that there was antagonism between
Yourself and Governor Gilman, with
reference to the conduct Of affairs at
Darlington and Florence during the
recent troubles. Would you object to
giving the true %inwardness of the whole
matter 2"
"Oo the contrary. am anxious that
the matter shall be put perfectly right,
out of justice to both Governor Tillman
and myself. Let US at least attempt to
be fair to Governor Tillmau, because
there is SO nuch partnership aud mis-
representation at this time that every
occurrence is made use of for some o
or other political purpose. From the
beginning of this trouble there was an
attempt made to make me say things
that | did not say. For instance, that
l had said and telegraphed to Governor
Tillman from Darlington 5000 after my
arrival that there was 10 instruction,
no need for martial law and no use for
troops, which / did not say at all.
am too old aud experienced an officer
to be guilty of the presumption of
volunteering my opinions to M superior
unless asked for them. Any one read
ing my report will see that Governor
Tillman simply Instructed me to keep
him advised as to the true situation,
aud it will also be seen that these
instructions we're strictly complied With.
Knowing my duty | kept my mouth
closed and awaited orders. giving no
information to any one. If Governor
Tillnan had asked my advice in regard
to such matters I would have given it
frankly and cordially, bat l was only
told to remain at Darlington and take
command of ANY troops. that might be
ordered to that point. When / received
the information that troops we're on
their way, | communicated that fact to
the mayor and citizens of Darlington, as
l was instructed to do by the Governors
telegram. and then took steps to secure
a proper aud orderly reception Of
General Richbourg's command. have
never intended to give public express
sion to my opinion as to the necessity Of
sending troops to Darlington, because it
is not consistent with my position as
Adjutant General to c%ritcise the actions
of my superior officer. the chief execu-
tive Of the State. / deemed it quite
sufficient to keep him posted as to the
situation SO that he coald exercise his
own discretion, because the RESPONSE
bility rested upon him. Since it has
been made 10 appear, however, that l
did these things, and since I am re-
lieved from the official obligation Of
keeping silent, Dat Of justice to both
Governor Till@an and myself, l do not
hesitate to say what would have been
my advice if be had sought it.
when the riot occurred in Darling
ton, the information received by the
Governor was necessarily meagre, and
during the riot there was of course a
total suspension of all law. If the
troops in Colambia had been allowed
to obey orders, 1 am satisfied that the
power of the civil Law would been
restored within twenty-four or thirty
hours. While L found peace and quiet
10 the town Of Darlington, it was the
calm after the storm. l do not hesitate
to say that some military force, in
addition to the local militia, was
necessary for the restoration of the
status existing prior to the outbreak.
Governor Tillman may have beeo mis-
taken as to the exact measures or
amount ci force necessary to restore the
~statps, but I do not think that any
Impartial observer would blame him for
taking ample steps to bring the COM
munity back to its normal condition.
Indeed, after we had been thwarted in
our first efforts to secure troops, be
could not reliuquish bis purpose of
restoring order without sacrificing the
dignity of the State and apparently
surreoderiog the prerogatives of his
Office. Any other course would have
made it appear to the outside world that
his hands we're tied aud his official
power was paralyzed, and the moral
effect would have been ir%remediable.
The fact that Constable McLendon had
to be taken from the Jail and carried to
a place of safety in order to escape
Iynchiug, (much to the relief Of the
good citizens of Darlington. as / happen
to know is conclusive evidence that
the civil law was not deemed sufficient
to control the situation. Without
sufficient force the Investigations that