Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-08-13
ANOTHER CALL TO SOUTH CAROLINA.
General Butler Is Anxious For a Full
Quota.

Quota.
General M. C. Butler has written to
Colonel Willie Jones as follows, the
letter being dated Camp Alger, Va,
August 8, 1898:
Colonel Willie Jones, Columbia, S. C.
My DEAR S1R-Replying to your
recent letter, I beg to say camp next
to the Third Virginia and First Con-
necticut is awaiting your regiment,
which will complete the brigade. I
trust it will not be occupied by another
regiment, or that other orders may not
be issued before yours reaches this
camp.
What is the matter that your regi-
ment is not recruited to its full quota?
Heretofore South Carolina has al
ways responded promptly to calls
made upon her for troops, and it is
rather mortifying to those who feel
pride in her past history to find her q
laggard when almost every other state
has come forward with such alacrity.
There must be something wrong some
where. In after years it will not sound
we'll to have this state, with such
splendid fighting record, put down
among those who failed to furnish her
share OF troops in obedience to a call
made by the properly constituted au-
thorities. Her people cannot vindi-
cate themselves by claiming that there
is no occasion for their services. Con-
gress must have had good grounds for
authorizing the enlistment and organ
ization of an army, and it is not for US
to question its wisdom or propriety.
Our duty is to supply our proportion
of men "for the common defence and
general welfare" as enjoined by the
constitution. Nor will it excuse US
by saying "the fighting is over" and
there is no longer need for our services.
None of us can forsee how many
troops will be required to garrison for
a time at least the territory acquired
by right of conquest, and indemnity
for expenditures and sacrifices made
1Or naClOnal purposes.
South Carolina's full quota may not
be needed, but she is not the judge in
this instance.
I have no greater interest in the hon.
or and character of the state, no great
er reason to cherish laudable state
pride than any other of her citizens,
but it is not pleasant to have the peo-
pie of other states offering to make up
our quota. 1t is reflection upon our
patriotism and good faith. 1t does
not comport with the pride we have
always justly felt in the pluck and
patriotism of our people to have them
fail now in the full measure Of their
duty.
trust you will yet complete your
enlistments and report with your regl-
ment at an early day, and relieve the
fair escutcheon of the state from the
stigma which is being placed upon it.
The regiment ought to be promptly
filled to the maximum if it serves but
one month.
If it should be my fortune to be or
dered to Cuba with the army of occu-
patton, it would be very gratifying to
have at least one regiment from my
own state to accompany the splendid
body of soldiers now constituting my
division from the states of Pennsylva-
mia, New York, Ohio, New Jersey,
Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut
and Virginia. 1 have been devoting
myself to their discipline, equipment
and organization, and have no fears as
to their conduct; but you can readily
understand why 1 would feel a pride
in having a body of South Carolinians
near me to share whatever may await
US.
Let me hear fully from you.
Very truly yours, etc.