Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-06-09
MIR. GAINES SAYS
sThat to Hold Out the Term
Would Not at all Accord With
His Ideas of Propriety,"

EDITOR ADVERTISER. AS Cnert
seems to be some concern as tc
what I will do in reference to my
position as Senator, I submit the
following statement:
Greenwood county goes into
operation as to its local affairs to.
day (June 4th), and though l have
not changed my residence, yet by
action of law, 1 become a citizen
of Greenwood county.
So far as the letter of law is con-
cerned, I have the right to hold
out the term of four years as Sen,
,ator from Edgefeld county, but to
do so would not at all accord with
my own ideas of propriety. The
only question I have deliberated is
as to when it will be best for me
to hand in my resignation. AS the
Office was created for the benefit OF
the people this question should be
decided solely with regard to their
interest.
In the campaign last summer
this argument was used against
me by my opponents, viz: That if
1 should be elected to the Senate
1 would have the legal right to
hold for four years, and that if
Greenwood county should be es-
tablished, and I did not resign,
Edgefeld would be represented by
an alien Senator. Or, that if |
should resign before the next regu-
lar election the people would be
put to the expense and vexation OF
holding special election to fill ny
place. So far as I now recall, l
answered these points in every
speech I made in the campaign,
stating that should I be elected,
and should Greenwood county be
established, 1 would neither hold
the term out nor throw the people
of the county into a special cleo
ton, but would resign so as to
throw the election of my successor
into the regular campaign of 1888
At that time, however, l neither
expected Greenwood county to be
put into operation as early as 1t
has been, nor did 1 expect it to
have any representation in either
branch of the General Assembly
until after the next regular elec-
ton.
When the bills to establish the
new counties came up in the Sen
ate at the last session it was de-
cided that under the terms of the
Constitution, the Legislature was
required to put new counties into
operation as early as practicable
and also decided that while there
conld be no change in representa-.
tion in the House Of Representa-,
'tiyes until the next regular elec,
ton, each new county was entitled
to Senator. At that time l fel,
sure that special election would
be necessary in Edgefeld county
aside from my position.
Under these conditions | fell
that so far as 1 was personally con-
cerned 1 should not of my OWL
motion hold the position of Sen
ator from Edgefeld county longer
In discussing the matter with
prominent. citizens of wha! yet re-
mains as Edgeficld county, I found
them to oppose my rcsignirg g be-
fore the beginning Of the mex
campaign, and the following are
among the reasons urged:
1st. That the statements l made
On the stump as to when / woulc
resign in case of the establishment
of Greenwood county, are regarded
by many of my supporters as {
pledge and compact which l shoult
not disregard by forcing the peopl'
to undergo the trouble and expens
Of a special election, and espe
cially now, as this election woul'
be held for the purpose OF tllllh!
my place alone.
End. That the people are engross
ed with their business and publi
;ntoroot moi actively directed t,
public affairs; that in a specia
election there would be no cam
paign, no public discussion of mo
mentous questions, nothing t
bring out the views of candidates
nothing 10 arouse and crystaliz
public sentiment, nothing to brin
out the vote of the people, an
hence no guarantee that the can
didate who might receive the ma
I:;4r &c fbo fouv votes cast in