The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-11-09
A REMARK.

Every man in the United States is
supposed to know what the Governor
Of North Carolina said to the governor
of South Carolina, but perhaps some
do not know when and under what cir
cumstances the famous remark was
made
Nearly a century ago a man promi
nent in political affairs in North Caro-
lima moved across the border and set
tied in South Carolina. He had been
there only q short time when he COM
mitted some small crime, for which he
was Indicted. To escape arrest he re-
turned to his old home in North Caro-
lima. In due course of time the gov
ernor OF South Carolina issued his re
QUESTION on the governor of North
Carolina for the fugitive criminal.
The fugitive had rich and Influential
friends in his native state, and they
interceded with the governor until he
refused to grant the requisition. A
long official correspondence followed.
Prominent men in South Carolina told
the governor that he had not been
treated with proper official courtesy
by the governor of North Carolina.
The result was that~the South Carolina
governor, accompanied by a large
party of friends and advisers, jour
neyed by stage to Raleigh for a confer
ence about the matter of giving up the
criminal. The governor of North Car
DINA, with q large party Of distin
guished friends, met the governor of
South Carolina and his party several
miles from town and escorted them to
the governors mansion with all the
ceremony due such distinguished visi-
tors. Before the object of his visit was
stated the entire assemblsge sat down
to an elaborate dinner. After dinner
wine was served, and after wine came
brandy-the applejack for which the
old North state is famous.
After many rounds of drinks the
decanters and glasses were removed
and the governor Of South Carolina
stated the object of his visit. He de
manded the surrender of the fugitive
criminal. The governor of North Car
DINA refused. Then followed a long
and heated discussion, in which the
encouragement of the two states
took an active part. Finally the gov
ernor Of South Carolina grew angry,
and rising to his feet, said:
'Sir, you have refused my just de-
mand and offended the dignity of my
Office and my state. Unless you at
once surrender the prisoner, I will re
turn to my capital, call out the militia
Of the state, and returning with my
army I will take the fugitive by force
Of arms. Governor, what do you say Z"
All eyes we're turned on the governor
of North Carolina, and his nswer was
awaited with breathless interest. The
governor rose slowly to his feet and
beckoned to a servant who stood some
distance away. Hia sbeckoning was
firm and digni1ed as became his posit-
ion. He was slow about answering,
and. again the governor of South Caro-
lima demanded: "What do you says"
"Isay, governor, that lisa long time
between drinks"
The reply restored good humor.
Decanters and glasses we're brought
out again, and while the visitors re
manned il any one attempted to refer
to the di plomatic object of the visit,
he was cut short by the remark that it
was a long time between drinks. When
the visiting governor was ready to re-
turn home he was escorted to the
state line by the governor of North
Carolina, and they parted the best Of
friends.
The fugitive was never surrendered.
Florida Times Union.