Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-07-06
MIR. SHEPPARD ANNOUNCES
His Intention to Stand for the
state Senate and, Incidentally,
Touches Upon Other Matters
Pertinent.

Touches Upon Other Matters
Pertinent.
Mr.. EDITOR: I have been lmpor'
tuned by a number of citizens of Edge
field county to become candidate fol
the State Senate to fill the vacancy
that was occasioned by the resignation
of Senator Gaines. Ihave hesitated tc
respond to this urgent request, for the
reason that my professional and busi-
ness engagements are abundantly suf-
ficient to interest my attention and
consume my time. have postponed a
final decision upon the matter, until ]
received communication signed by a
number OF gentlemen, in which they
say:
"We, the undersigned citizens OF
Edgefeld county, knowingthe valua-
BILE services of the Hon. John G. Shep-
pard in the service of our county and
State in the past, do hereby most re-
spectfully and urgently request him to
allow his name to so before the voters
of Edgefleld county in the coming pri-
mary election to serve said county in
the State Senate, and we hereby pledge
him our support in said primary.
Remembering with gratitude the
partiality which the people of Edge
field have manifested towards me in
the past, and the generosity with
which they combined to promote my
aspirations and advance my political
and other interests, do not conceive
that have the right to hesitate any
longer, but must yield my personal in
cllnations to this call to duty.
You are, therefore, authorized to an
nounce that I am candidate for the
State Senate, subject to the action OF
the primary election.
1t will be a great pleasure to me to
appear at tine meetings to be appointed
by the executive committee and dis
cuss the issues now existing, or that
NAV arise, in connection with the pres
ent campaign.
Before closing, 1 desire to make a
specific and definite statement in refer
ence to matter of Importance, and of
recent occurrence, in which the people
of Pickens and Wise Townships are
interested.
The people of these townships voted
for bonds in aid of the Augusta. Edge
field and Newberryr Railroad; these
bonds were authorized upon the con-
dition that they were not to be payable
until the road should be completed
through the townships, respectively.
The road has not only not been COM
pleted, but on the contrary has been
abandoned. Therefore, it will be mani
fest injustice if the people shall be
required to pay these bonds. Unfortu-
nately, the condition was not written
upon the face of the bonds,so as to carry
notice to the holders thereof, that they
will not constitute valid claims against
the townships unless the road should
be completed.
The failure to write the condition
upon the face of:the bonds will. in my
apprehension, make it difficult, if not
impossible, to resist their payment
successfully in the United, States
Courts. Hence 1 expressed the ,opin-
ion. IN meeting of the citizens of
P1ckens Township, that it would be
better to compromise the debt upon
the basis. of fifty cents il the dollar'
rather than run the risk of being forced
to pay the whole amount, together
with the expense that will be incident
to the litigation. But the people Of
Pickens Township, at special elec-
tion ordered for that purpose, voted,
by large majority, to resist the pay
ment of these bonds to the last ex-
tremity of the law. 1t will be my duty,
and my pleasure, to do everything in
my power to promote the accomplish
ment of the purpose of the people to-
defeat the payment of these bonds.
I, therefore, distinctly declare that
INV olaot;on to the State Senate will he
without comfort to the holders of these
bonds, and without prejudice to the.
effort that will be made to have them
pronounced invalid.
Very respectfully, :.
j. C. SHEPPARD.