The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-16
SOME HISTORY OF '76.
GEN. FARLEY REPRoDUCES SPEECH
OF GEN. GARY.

Recites the Important Part of Butler
and Gary in Nominating Hampton.
The debate on Saluda county in the
Constitutional convention has called
forth letter from General Farley to
the press, containing a warm tribute
to his friend Gen. Mart" Gary, and
the following which is printed as per-
tinent to the discussion on that occa-
sion.
GENERAL GARY IN 1876.
1t is we'll known that General Gary
Was an uncompromising "Straightout
Democrat" not in the sense in which
it is used now, but as opposed to all
compromise with the Republicans, or
fusion with the negroes, both of
which were attempted and failed in
this State prior to and just after the
success of 1876. When General Gary
returned to Edgefeld, he entered the
practice of law and declined all con-
nection with the efforts being made
on the compromise line up to 1876. He
was remarkably successful in his prac-
tice, and soon became one of the most
distinguished, as well as successful
lawyers in the State, in both civil and
criminal courts, and ere long he had
accumulated a fortune sufficient with
his practice to make him an indepen-
dent man. Early in 1876 (salesday in
january he made speech to the peo-
pie of Edgefeld, in which he took the
ground that all of the failures to re-
deem the State and break up radical
rule had been due to the fact that we
had not appealed to the white man as
a white man; that he would respond
to no other call with enthusiasm; and
that nothing but straightout white
mans ticket run on the Mississippi
plan of campaign could redeem the
State. In this he was soon joined by
General Butler, and the two worked
harmoniously together for this COM
mon end until the close of the success
full campaign and Hampton was inau-
gurated. These two, ably aided and
Seconded by Hon. George D. Tillman,
Col Wyatt Aiken, James Lipscomp,
Y. j. Pope, Cothran and others, SO
vigorously prosecuted the straightout
campaign that Chamberlain was real
ly driven from, the political field be-
fore the final decision of the State con-
vention, to nominate straight ticket
with Hampton at its head, on the 18th
day of August, 1876. If any one
doubts, at this late dav, that Gen. N =.
w. Gary conceived and inaugurated
the straightout movement of 1876, by
which the State was redeemed from
radical rule, let them read the follow
ing speech from General Gary deliv-
cred two years afterwards, on August
10, at the Love Feast" at Edgefeld
when they were celebrating the great
victory won by Gary and Butler over
Chamberlain and Mackey on the same
day in 1876. Let the general speak
for himself and remember that this is
evidence beyond dispute, as it was de-
livered in the presence of Generals
Hampton, Butler and Hagood, and
others of the State ticket, and pub
lished without exceptions from anyone
but General Hagood, to whom Gener-
al Gary readily yielded what he
considered an immaterial point, as to
the use of the word 'the," instead of
"our plans in Charleston" It settles
conclusively the claim made by his
life long friend, George D. Tillman,
that South Carolina owed more to
Mart Gary for the redemption of the
State than she did to any other (sin-
gle) man.
GARY's SPEECH.
Ladies and Fellow Citizens: I had
not anticipated speaking, since I ex-
pected the time to be consumed by our
invited guests, but large number of
them have not put in an appearance.
l came here to be looker-on and a
listener today. I had the honor to be
an ac5or on the 18th of August, 1876,
the anniversary of which day we cele-
brate. The events of that day have
Just become historical. Judge Mackey
has just told you that it was the turn
ing point in the civilization of this
State. I have listened with pleasure
to the words of wisdom that have been
uttered by our chief magistrate, Gov
ernor Hampton. 1t is with pleasure
that we welcome him again to Edge
field. I have also been charmed with
the far-reaching craftsmanship dis
played in the witty and eloquent
speech of Judge Mackey. General
Noise has just paid a high tribute to
The leaders of Edgefeld, and uttered
passionate and patriotic sentiments on
the chosen line of the Democracy of
the State, and we all have never lis
tened as we have listened today 10 our
eloquent friend and former citizen,
Attorney General Youmans. The al
lusion of General Noise that Edge6eld
owed her deliverance to the manhood
of her sons, and that this manhood
was inspiration of her fair daughters,
is true. It was our love for them that
INSPIRED her brave sons (clad intheir
red shirts, the handiwork OF our
beautiful women to strike the blow
that made us free people again.
THE KEYNOTE OF EDGEFIELD POLICY.
1T has been asserted again and
again that the success achieved by
Edgefeld has been the result OF the
shot of accident or the dart of chance.
Never was there a greater mistake.
The Straightout plan of campaign was
the result of long study, deep thought
and frequent counsels. Not single
move was made without due caution
and deliberation. AS far back as 1874
I announced in speech that I made
in the taxpayers convention that In
MY humble judgment the mistake
that our leaders were making was in