The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-29


that would an.agonize or coudict With
the Uoited States government. Besides
the people are my friends, who put NE
10 the first Office | ever held. who are
the friends of the Democratic party
and who are always fouod voting to
sustain good government. are the poorer
class of people ln this State; they are
poorer now than ever before. In many
! instances see farmers who we're we'll
to do, since rs have lost their land and
their personal property. and are uow
working for part Of the crop, with their
wives and children aboriug side by side
with them 10 the field. These people
will never be advised or led into any
anita eonism or trouble with the United
States Court, because they cannot
afford it, and l cannot do anything to
bring it about. The best and safest
way iu emergencies and trials like this
is the peaceable one, if possible There
must however, be 20 backing, no funk
ing. no dodging. We must win this
election honestly and peaceably. and |
believe we will do it,
"Well, Senator. bow do you propose
to accomplish this 20
Il think that for the dignity of the
State the Attorney General ought to
prosecute his appeal with the greatest
possible dispatch. he can get case
By one supervisor ignoring Judge Co.'s
order, and take him to the United States
Court under writ Of habsas corpus. But
this alone could not safely be relied
upon. for we ought to take all the
chances, in case they decide against US,
aud know what to do at once. | think
that it IS highly probable that if this
case is taken to the United States Su-
preme Court that it may not be decided
| 10 time for Us to know what the decree
will be till time to hold the election or
convention arrives; so time is a great
factor in this whole matter. It we can
strengthen the line Of policy in any
way. ii is our duty to do it The com-
mittee discussed at length, aud while
there was DO expression upon it BY vote
yet have every reason 20 believe hat
majority Of the members favor the
suggestion that l made. which is: that
the committee, as the representative and
guardian of the whole Democracy, in-
GLIDING every faction, should respect
fully ask the Governor for the good.
safety aud the peace and dignity of the
State 70 call an extra session of the
Legislature at once. To use common
expression, 'tie it ou. 10 the woods for
quick use,' should the decisioo be
against US, or fail to come iu time. Real
izing the seriousness aud gravity of the
situation, I was unwilling to frost my
knowledge of the law and called around
me able lawyers, to discuss and advise
as to the legal aspects Of the case: The
Attorney General, Col Aldrich Of Barn
well, Senator May6eld aud Speaker Ira
B. Jones. I also asked the opinion of
another gentleman. whose name shall
not mention, aud they all agreed that
the Legislature. il it saw fit, could wipe
out our present election law. do away
with the good, bad and Indifferent. aud
give US law copied from some North
ern State to be used as q poo:ooa
bridge to cross the stream, with TOE
hope Of building an iron cue later.
know j. is ciaime;i by some that re
have cot to stauG OF fall Oh what Ike
last Legislature cii3, AID than au extra
session caa DOT uado what il did in
these election matters last Dscein DER.
This was ;ae poiat that was eiabc'ately
discussed By the geatlemeD "ho-e
names haze t:een iiiautioned, and decided
unanimously ia favor Of the rgh; Of
The Legislature to make aew law
think it due myself personally, rs
we'll as chairman Of the party. to sag
that some newspaper correspondents
have intimated that some political ad-
vantage might be at the cotton Oh tais
suggestion that | made in reference TO
the caliog al extra session of the Leg
i>lature / realize thas the executive
committee have been charged By the
party With the taking care Of the Coz
stitutional convention. to see that dele
gates are legally elected, so that the
product of that convention will stand
the blows of its enemies in the Federal
Courts. If we think it is best for the
people of the State to have the Leg1sla-
ture to meet aud remove this cloud
that threatens tae title and very life Of
the Constitution to be made
.hen we should be derelict if
We failed to esd the Governor to call
the Legislature together. OF course,
it is in his province to do it or
not as he sees fit. This executive
committee is the oue that made the
campaign that elec'ed the present ad-
minissration and called the Copstltu-
.ol ~ lo,ol Doo,o