The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-08-14
TOWNSHIP
GOVERNMENT.
"UNCLE GEORGE" TILLMAN's
SPEECH AT RED BANK
On the Occasion OF the Laying OF the
Corner Stone of the States
Baby County.


speech on Township Government,
which was delivered at Red Bank, on
the occasion of the laying ofthe corner.
stone of the States baby county-Sa-
luda:
Mr.. Choannon ana ErUow. Citizens OF
.S0tudd.
You have met today what ought to
have been one hundred years ago-to
lay the corner stone of n temple Of JUS
ticc, to administer the law among the
neighboring people. Not only ought
this court house to have been erected
century ago but it would nave been
erected Mt least 75 years only for tho
selishncss and arrogance OF Charleston.
South Carolina WAS first settled on tho
sec coast by Englshmen and French
Huguenots, who not only organized
every department of the State govern
mcnt but practically kept control Of
that government down to 1865, when
the civil war ended.
The low country never would admit
the up country to its fair share of po-
litical power and even Mt the cessation
of that sectional tyranny in 1865, the
seven low country or parish counties
which had dominated the State up to
that hme possessed less than II third of
either the urea, population or wealth Of
the State.
It would do no good on this occasion
to go into details to show how and why
and by what means Charleston oppress-
ed the up country generally and this
Salnda community IN particular, by
denying it the right of local seif-gov-
crument-to have count house of its
own to administer the laws and coun-
~ representation of it's own in both
branches Of til" State Legislature to
hcl y make the laws. That would be an
Inplcasant, useless and tedious task.
Let It suffice to say Charleston rs the
leader Of the low country did do it and
ihnt Charleston Is answering for it now
has been answering FOR it some time
"nt may continue having to answer u
good while Yet, ns men ordinarily have
%ood memories whu suffer under gricv-
GUS political wrongs such ns the up
country endured from the low country
:or nearly 200 years. However two
wrongs never made right and the up
country should now forgive It's ancient
"ppressor M forgiven, IS Is a much bet
tr spirit to critlvntc than revenge.
Had the co"rt honse are now
hhidlng been erected eQ 4y 80 or
10 years ngo. You "uuld 1 have a
town here Of two or three more thou
snni Intelligent inhuhitants, with good
schools, prosperous churches. flourish
ing stores. thriving newspapers and
two or threo rallroads-n town that
would d!ilusc knowledge, refinement
and higher civiiznt on far and wide on
every side Of 1t; II town with beautiful
Villas and nice cottages perched on
every hilltop, and all the land for
miles nt"nnl cultivated like garden
md selling for $40 to $40 an acre.
When you reflect that YOU have not
these things now and that You ought to
hnve had them, aud would have had
teen generation or more ago, but for
Chnri"At"r, no doubt it makes vour
devil rise; but when vuu further reflect
tina: all these good things mentioned
IRE still in store for you Mt an early
day yon should not forget that
Tim" ~ :;.-t sets all th,ug.- "v"n"
Wy %" ret Only G"n"rou, hat TnIlnanMOHS
'"'auSr
''''p 81 natir' anl good ,."n-" must join.
!" "rr - human. - forgive ,iiyln"."
Ihl- town and its vicinity will soon
i"-In To h!us"um rs the rose, indeed
>"ur Whole country viii shortly feel II
-N"nG inrH.ac of Improvement ~ yol
hhv" M! the material conditions and
'."intn:S here 20 cOmmurl success