Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-06-05
TILLMAN STANDS PAT.
The Senior Senator Declines to Withdraw His
Resignation at Present

suV ooltVS ooHdlVT UeC'inoS " WWUutaW MS
Resignation at Present.
Senator Tillman wants to fight IL out
with Senator McLaurin and jumps on
Governor McSweeLey for not accepting
the designations at once. His letter
speaks for itself and reads as follows:i,
Trenton, s. c., June l., 1901,
His Excellenoy, Miles b. McSweeney,
Columbia, s. C.--Sir: have your letter
of May 81, addressed to Senator MoLau-
rim and myself Jointly, in which you say:
II respectfully return your designations
that you may have more timo for serious
consideration of the effects upon the peo-
pie of the State of this action on your
part" and further on, 81 respectfully
decline to accept your designations and
beg to return them herewith."
Your Excellenoy, of course, has the
right, and it is entirely proper, to return
my resignation and advise more serious
consideration. In declining to accept, I
am sure you have transoended your
authority. 1t will take very little inves
tigation and reflection to convinco you
of this. You cannot compel member
of tho United States Senate to hold his
commission and exercise the functions
of that Office II he chooses to surrender
it. My action in rendering my resigna-
tion, while hasty, was not ill-advised,
anu am firmly convinced of tho wisdom
of my course upon reflection. Personally,
| had nothing to gain and everything to
lose, and did not feel the need of fur
ther instructions Of vindication because
had just been reelected by the people
with practical unanimity. offered to
resign in order to bring about the resig-
nation of my colleague and thus put us
on level, with equal rights to go before
the people and ask an endorsement Of
our respective courses.
While would not appear to pass strio-
lures upon the reasoning set forth in
your Excellency's letter, itseems strange
that the Governor of South Carolina,
just returned from unveiling monu-
ment erected by the State in memory of
the "heroio soldiers who lost their livos
in defence of principle" should be OBJ
livious to the principle involved in tho
contest precipitated by our designations.
1t is also somewhat remarkable that you
should ask the Senators who have re-
signed to take time to consider, when
you yourself are reported to be ready to
appoint two Senators in "two minutes
and half" after receiving an immediate
resignation. Your conception of the
Office of Senator and its powers can be
best understood by tho ease with which
you think you could fiji it. 1t was not
my fault that an immediate resignation
was not sent you.
"You declare that the "people arc en-
titled to one year of peace and Freedom
from political battles and bitterness."
am ready to acknowledge that this is
very desirable, but our race has ever
thought war preferable to dshonor, and
unless am very much deceived largo
majority of tho people of South Carolina
would be glad of an opportunity to pun
ish treachery and have those principles
and policies which they support Loyalty
represented in the Congress of the United
States. What you "cohsider calamity"
would be hailed by thousands as an op-
portunity to get rid of traitor who now
in their opinion disgraces the common.
wealth.
am aware that thero is strong oppo-
sition in certain quarters to campaign
in this "off year" to fill two vacancies in
the Senate. Many unthinking citizens
do not know its Importance. Many would
be aspirants are not just yet ready for
various reasons to enter tho contest
brought on so unexpectedly. 1t is not
convenient or suitable, and, therefore,
they have, no doubt, importuned your
Excollency to await their convenience,
claiming that it is for tho public welfare
On tho other hand, it might be re.
marked that the session of Congress be-
ginning next Dccoihber marks an era in
tho history of our republic, and the pa
triots who will then and there inaugu-
rate struggle for tho restoration of the
old landmarks and tho preservation of
our free institutions, will need every
voice and every vote that can be had.
The fact that the Republicans have a
good majority does not alter tho case in
the least. The recent decision of tho
Supreme Court, promulgating tho dam
nable doctrine that this republic, VIII $50
bedrock principle is "the consent of the
governed" can acquire by conquest or
purchase territories and peoples, to be
controlled and taxed without representa-
ton through congressional absout-
ISM" must bo mot and exposed and
plans must be laid for battle to tho
death by the lovers of Democracy and
liberty against this heresy. An appeal
against imperialism, which is no longer
concealed or denied, must be mado to
tho people, as IL was made against the
Dred Scott decision.
And yet, with such crisis at hand. n
Governor of this grand old State appears
willing to have the State misrepresented
and it's voico slonced, because it's two
Senators stand on opposite sides of the
question. One must be right and tho
other wrong. Which is itp The people
alone can answer. l claim to represent
the people and to voice their wishes,
Tho result of tho Gaffney meeting had
brought Senator McLaurin within reach
of his constituents, and it was to O btain
this answer at once that prompted nv
conduct at Gaffney. They could not get
at him to administor merited rebuke
and punishment except in the way which
was offered by our designations. Your
Excolloncy's action gives him lOop-hoo
of escape, and tho consure or blame must
rest whore it belongs.
| Thcrc il nothing personal In my atti-
tude towards Senator McLaurin, though