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



seems to be some concern as to
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, I become 8. 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 ii
| should be elected to the Senate
L would have the legal right to
hold for four years, and that ii
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 a special election to fill my
place. So far as l now recall,
answered these points in every
speech I made in the campaign
stating that should I be elected
and should Greenwood county be
established, I would neither holo
the term out nor throw the people
of the county into a special elec'
ton, but would resign so as te
throw the election of my successor
into the regular campaign OF 1898
At that time, however, l neither
expected Greenwood county to bf
put into operation as early as i
has been, nor did 1 expect it tt
have any representation in either
branch of the General Assembly
until after the next regular elec
ton.
When the bills to establish th'
new counties came up in the Sen
ate at the last session it was de
cided that under the terms of tn
| Constitution, the Legislature wa
required to put new counties int
operation as early as practicable
and also decided, that while ther
conld be no change in representa-
ton in the House of Representa-
ltives until the next regular cleo
ton, each new county was entltle'
TO g Senator. At that time l tel
sure that a special election woul'
be necessary in EdgeGeld count
aside from my position.
Under these conditions | fel
that so far as was personally con
cerned 1 should not of my ow
motion hold the position of Sen
ator from Edgefield county longe1
In discussing the matter wit
prominent citizens of what yet re
mains as Edgefield county, toun
them to oppose my rcsignirg g be
fore the beginning of the mex
campaign, and the following al
among the reasons urged;
1st. That the statements l mao
On the stump as to when I woul
resign in case of the establishmel
of Greenwood county, are regard0
by many of my supporters as
pledge and compact which l shoul
not disregard by forcing the peop
to undergo the trouble and expen'
Of a special election and esp
! cially now, as thia election wou
be held for the purpose OF tllll
my place alone.
End. That the people are engros
, ed with their business and publ
, interest not actively directed
public affairs; that in a specl
election there would be no car
e paign, no public discussion of m
t mentous questions, nothing
: bring out the views of candidate
y nothing 10 arouse and crystal
E public sentiment, nothing to bril-
:. out the vote of the people, al
S hence no guarantee that the ca
e didate who might receive the m
,. iority of the few votes cast in
special election would be either t
IL oone of tho pnOnlp