New-York tribune., 1901-06-06
WHAT GOVERNOR WROTE TO TILLMA>
HE SAID HE WOULD ACCEPT AN UNCON-
DITTONAL RESIGNATION.

Columbia, S. c., June 5-Decidedly the most sem
sational development in the Senatorial tangle in
this State is a letter which Governor McSweeney
sent to Senator Tillman to-day In his communi-
cation the Governor informed Senator Tillman that
II he still wishes to resign and will send In an un-
conditional resignation he will exercise the author
ity and vested in him by the people which is
taken to mean that the Governor will accept Sem
ator Timan's resignation If it shall be formulated
on that line.
The letter follows:
Sir: Your letter of June / has been received.
have carefully noted its contents and the
charitable Wow which can take of it is that It
due consideration. / that you say that have
ernor cannot compel ,mber of the United States
Senate to hold his commission and exercise the
It,. and that you decline for the present TO with
draw" your resignation.
you and TO Senator McI-aurin you must have seen
member Of the the Gned states senate to hold his
commission and exercise the functions OF that
in returning the designations to ask you
gentlemen to consider calmly and thoughtfully the
consequences to the people of what judged to be
hasty act and what you admit to have been a
surprised at the tone OF your answer 10 my re-
quest.
ter to be for the best interests Of the people of
South Carolina, and am responsible to them alone lone
my my has @ met f the % co5sder
unthinking citizens. but men who know and recog-
nize fully any people on earth the rights and
duties and responsibilities of citizenship. and who
do not need the services of any one to tell them
their duty.
Your insinuation that I have been ''mportuned
to await the convenience OF any present or would
be asprants who ARE not just yet ready, for vari-
reasons. to enter the contest brought on so uu
expectedly and that for this reason my action has
taken the direction it has is unworthy OF a man
holding the high commission which has been given
you by the people of South Carolina and deserves
no notice In this connection. However, may say
for your benefit that l alone am responsive ioT
my reply, and will give account for the course
have taken to the people who have honored me, ana
not 10 any one Individual.
In this matter have done what thought best
calculated promote the present prosperity ana
contentment of the people of my State. and shau
continue TO do so. regardless of what any one man
may say think of my course did not think
that political campaign this summer could do
any good, and acted according my belief. How
ever. had the designations been unconditional ana
unrestricted my action might have been otherwise
With due respect for your opinion think | have
as high conception the Office Of Senator and its
powerS as YOU or any other citizen Of this state.
and YOU must have known that the brief interview
10 which YOU refer meant that would simply meet
the responsibility and perform my duty under the
conditions. -
u you still wish to resign your commission and
will send 10 this Office unconditional reslGna-
ton ! will the authority and power vested
in me by the people. Respectfully. etc.
NJ. n M'SWEENEN, Governor.