The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-31
CONGRESSMAN SHELL REPLIES,
He Answers Straits Card Completely and
in Good Temper.

He Answers Straits Card Completely and
in Good Temper.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2lst, 1894.
Editor Register: The following COM
muuication from the Hon. T. J. Strait
has been brought to my attention:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. II.
Editor Register: will state that l
ar not willing for the impression to
prevail in South Carolina that 1 will
endorse any man who had violated a
pledge to me. Congressman G. w.
Shell promised me that he would not
make any endorsement in my district
without having first consulted me or
with my previous endorsement. To my
surprise I found that he had endorsed
Haskellite for postmaster in my dis
trict in connection with ex-Congress-
men J. J. Hemphiil, George Johnstone
and Senator NJ. &. Butler.
am friend 10 Senator 1rby and 1
do not propose to move in this matter
so long as he is chairman of the State
executive committee. I do not propose
to follow the lead of any man whom
consider untrue and self-constituted.
Congressman TAlbert, Latimer and
endorse the letter written by Sena-
tor Irby and published in The Register
to-day. T. J. STRAIT, NJ. q.
I must confess to some surprise at
the position of Mr.. Strait, after what
has transpired between him and my
self in regard to the matter he refers
to.
presume the postmaster be alludes
TO is the Hon. J. B. Kershaw, who was
appointed to the Camden postoffice, and
I deny in the most emphatic terms
that in endorsing this distinguished
citizen of South Carolina that I "vio-
lated any pledgen to Mr.. Strait. On
the contrary, be must admit that
addressed him letter after making my
endorsement, in which I explained to
him my reasons for said endorsement,
and disclaimed any intention of there
by showing discourtesy. l would have
expected him to have done the same
thing i q the district have the honor
to represent under like circumstances,
and cannot, therefore, understand how
he now can claim that have "violated
any pledge" to him, or in any other
manner been guilty of discourtesy.
Let me say in this connection have
no apologies to make for having en'
dorsed General Kershaw. He was my
commander and comrade during our
civil war, and if the South produced a
soldier with a more faithful, brilliant
military record have never heard OF
him. If the bench of South Carolina
has ever been adorned by more ac-
com mplished judge or the State can boast
ofa citizen more true and devoted to
the best interests I have never heard
Of him.
That Judge Kershaw and I may have
differed in our political duties is more
than probable, but cannot permit this
to Interfere with my high admiration
for his character or appreciation of his
life long and distinguished services to
bis country.
1t appears I am not alone in this
estimate of him by persons of MY own
political faction, for the Governor IN
his last annual message thus bears wit
ness to his high qualities:
"rhe Adjutant and Inspector Cen
eral reports that the Confederate rolls,
the completion of which was provided
for at your last session, will soon be as
full and satisfactory as we eau hope to
have them. He suggests that provision
be made for their publication, 80 that
the names of those who yielded their
lives or barred their breasts to the bull
lets of our then enemies, in defense OF
home and native land, may ba placed
on file in enduring and accessible form.
But there is something lacking, and
that is brief history of the different
brigades, regiments and batteries, to
show the date of enlistment, battles in
which they were engaged and the part
thew took in the war generally. This
need not be lengthy, but it will be very
valuable and dear to our children; and
while the State has been appropriating
money of late to copy the records in
the British Museum barring upon our
colonial history Ia work which having
been begun hope you will completely,
it is meet and proper and very much
to be desired that nothing be omitted
in preparing data for the future histor-
ian who shall tell the story of the Lost
Cause and the part Carolinians bore in
it. This work could best be done, in
fact could only be done, by some one
of the noble veterans who participated
in that second revolution which only
lacked success to have given it place
in history alongside of that of the War
of Independence. 1 therefore suggest
an appropriation ofS-for this pur-
| pose, and,with your permission, will
| nominate for this trust and duty man
whose name is inseparably connected
with the ANNALS of the struggle, the
! knightly soldier, Joseph B. Kershaw."
The main object of this communica-
ton, however, is to disclaim any pur-
pose or intention of doing injustice to
Mr.. Strait or Of violating my pledge
made to him.
Nv understanding was that the en-
tire delegation in Congress approved OF
r., II IIorct,,u,;S oppOiDtnpOt eft her