The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-12-13
lteCNoLE GEORGES" FAREWELL
The Aged Statesman Makes the Last
Speech Of the Session.

Below is given the farewell speech
of "Uncle" George Tillman, delivered
TO the constitutional convention, when
he was 30 enthusiastically called for at
the close of the conventions proceed
ings on the final night. 1t was the
last speech made in the convention.
1T was listened to with the closest at
tention. 1t deals with the Federal
outlook in an interesting manner.
Here is the speech in full:
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the
conventions 1 had no expectation of
being invited to address the convention
on-nothing in particular and every
thing in general. But since 1 have
been called on in such complimen-
tary manner, would either be more
or less than man if did not thank
che convention for such compliment.
Mr. President, we can all hope
great deal from the Constitution we
have adopted. 1t is not such an in
strument as we would have made if we
had been free people. We are not IL
free people. We have not been fnce
the war. l fear it will be some time
before we can call ourselves free. |
have had that fact very painfully i'm
pressed upon me for several years. If
we we're free, instead of having negro
suffrage. we would have negro slavery.
Instead of having the United States
government we would have the Con
federate States government. Instead
Of paying SO, 100000 pension tribute,
we would be receiving it. Instead of
having many things that we have, we
would have other and better things.
But to the extent that we are permitted
to govern ourselves and pay pension
tribute to our conquerors, we have
framed as good an organic law, take it
hs whole, as the wisdom and patriot
ism of the State could have desired.
Perhaps, sir, if I were to speak APP
propriately on such an occasion as this.
L ought to speak from national point
of viow-about our Federal relations
and about our future as forecastcd by
our present surroundings. But it is
GOO vast IL subject to be taken offhand.
The convention, though is tired out.
Many Of them are making preparations
to go home, and L shall therefore not
attempt it.
will casually allude to few mat
ters in national politics which gave mo
hope OF better future for us. One is
the fact that am satisfied that the
Republican party has adopted new
departure towards the negro. The
silver question has 20 great extent
superseded the negro question. 1t
was the silver question that saved us
from not only more reconstruction
hell in 1890, but that saved the govern
mcnt of the United States from being
rcvolntionized from top to bottom.
The Lodge force bill under Reeds
manipulation, passed the house of re :
"-"snntatives and came within one
.dId we come to naiilIEl" Jul ''f:., i.:..,
form OF governmcr-> yerthrown, aud
yet South Carolin J were wranglinc
over local mntte.s here, simply
scrambling for Office without any prin-
ciplc mt stake and didn't seem to
realize how near we were to having n
political volcano exploded under our
feet. Free silver saved us The free
silver senators said: eve are more
interested in free silver than we are in
She rights or wrongs of the negro
Aud MS the south is almost unanimous
for free silver, we would be II parcel
OF fools to help the eastern States OBJ
press the south on the negro question:"
Free silver then saved us in 1890, and
l believe gentlemen, free silver will
save us in the presence of the over
whelming Republican sentiment that
now dominates the north. Not ONLY
dominates the north, but NIL the bor-
der slave States. Remember Della
ware. Maryland. West Virginia, Nor...
Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri all
went Republican Mt the last election
on account of the Federal election laws
being repealed.
The free silver question will not die
soon. 1t Is n living question. 1t has
an much vitality IL the negro question
ever had. OF course, Dsracli was
right when he said n race issue in pol
rtics was the most vital that ever
could be started But financial
question like free silver is almost as
strong. 1t will be years perhaps be-
fore the silver question is finally set
tied, and until it is the negro question
Will bc reicgated to the rear The Re
publlcans realize that the negro uues-
ton IL n secondary question now, and
hence it was they consented to the
repeal Of the Federal election laws.
which gave them back the southern
border states, and those border States
have gone to the Republican party to
stay. lhey hnve gone where they
naturally belong. Hence there is no
more solid Democratic south. We are
TO find other alliances and economic
issues are to take the place of the once
great issue. Besides, the Republicans,
when they chose to exercise it. with
out passing any law, can exercise
great power over the south-admittinr
or excluding her representatives. or
senators They will hc put to the