The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-13

i Senator Tillman remarked that &C
ouittal was the rule and conviction the
exception.
! LIVELY TILT.
Mr.. Johnstone closed the deb ate
He went ON to say that Senator Till
man charged the courts with being
corrupt.
| Senator Tillman-Now, are you moi
going little too far. there3
Mr.. Johnstone-No, sir; wait mo-
ment and I'll try and bring this thing
right before you. Don't you remem,
ber the case of James in Darlington.
He was man wrapped in wealth. He
was convicted at his own home be-
cause of strong sentiment and you
pardoned him. There is the man OF
wealth and influence convicted in his
own county. -.
Senator Tillman--Yes, and he of,
fered the reward himself and the par.
don was asked for by three-fourths of
the citizens, and the facts showed that
he was not guilty.
Mr.. Johnstone--Yes, and I will be
Just to you, though you are not always
Just to others and the judiciary. Jones
Should have been pardoned and you
did right to pardon him.
Senator Tillman--The pardon, in
my opinion, was proper one.
Mr.. Johnstone--It was right The
man was improperly convicted and
about to be hanged. I only wished he
had pardoned others that he should
have pardoned, and had not pardoned
some that he did pardon.
Senator Tillman-Thank you, sir.
| Naughter)
Mr.. Johnstone--But the getleman
from Edgefeld denies that he assailed
the supreme court. The other day,
when discussing the homestead, did
he not in direct terms charge the court
with a perversion of the law2 Does
he not remember that when the SUI.
preme court decided the dispensary
law unconstitutional that he poured
forth the vials of his wrath on their
heads. Oh, am glad to see that the
gentleman from Edgefeld is sometimes
staggered in his calmer moments by
his mere violent utterances.
Senator Tillman--I read that home
stead decision the other day.
Mr.. Johnstene-Oh, 7 agree with
you that the court made mistake in
that decision.
Senator Tillman-What, once you
agree with me?
Mr.. Johnstone--Yes, twice if you
oro r;obt Vor, would pet more to
agree with your opinions, let me say,
Iif you were not so violent IN some of
your utterances.
Senator Tillman-It may be that
the leopard will cange his spots or
that the lion will trim his claws.
MIR. Johnstone-Then, thank God if
you do. Gaughter.) I've seen you
so often make errors of Judgment that
| if were to brand you as I am inclined
to do, for every error OF judgment,
you, in my opinion, would be the
most astounding of criminals. Qaugh:
ter.) But why charge every error OF
JUDI gment as dishonest2
Senator Tillman-We are not talk
ing about dishonesty and nobody has
chaged dishonesty. Now, Mr.. John
stone, do you pretend to say you know
what. ARE the rights of married women
| in this State under that decision?
Mr.. Johnstone--Although / am a
modest man, I must plead that do
know. If the legislature did not
change the laws so mnch the courts
could be more consistent.
Senator Tillman-Then do you think
that the courts decision validating
certain township bonds were right?
Mr.. Johnstone-I do not remember
the details.
Senator Tillman-I am glad I have
found somethin that you do not claim
to know all about.
MIR. Talbert- think the gentlemen
are out of order, as none of this has
anything to do with the matter under
discussion. :,
Mr.. Johnstone-Now, Talbert, sit
down and don't operate that automa-
tic mouth of yours. Great laughter. }
Mr.. Johnstone-The gentleman from
Edgefeld has so often claimed to be a
statesman and not a politician and so
infallible in his judgment as to what
he knows, that ought to be willing
to sit at the feet of Gamaliel and re-
ceive instruction.
Senator Tillman-The court declared
certain bonds invalid and the legisla-
ture by some hocus pocus and round
about way validated the bonds.
Mr.. Johnstone There he goes again
in another onslaught on the legislature
and I would like to know where on
earth he expects to find a man ex
cept himself thatis ever right.
Senator Tillman-What l want to
know is whether you think the legis-
lature can validate all unconstitution-
al debt?
Mf. Johnstone-I haven't looked
into it.
Senator Tillman-Why the propos-
ton is as big and broad and as plain
as that monument out there.
This entire colloquy was conducted
| in the best of humor by both Messrs.
Johnstone and Tillman, and it afford
ed no end of amusement to the mem
bers of the convention. Mr.. Johnstone
was at his best.
Mr.. BELLINaER CLOSES.
Mr.. Bellinger closed the argument
on his side. There was quite a lively
debate between him, Mr.. Johnston,
Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. G. D. Tillman. He
took up the suggestion that the dispen-
sary law was at the bottom OF this dis
cussion.
He gave his word that this matter
was not put there with any special re.
ference to the dispensary law. He had