The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-06-12
McSweeney's Reply TO TiIIman's Caustic
Letter.

COLUMBIA, s. c., June 5, 1001.-Gov.
McSweeney has entered the field as u
writer in the Tillman- McLaurin cor
raGPOn dence bureau. His letter is q
reply to that of Senator Tillman and q
In asking the withdrawal of the resig-
nations.
1t reads as follows:
June 5, 1901.
Hon. B. r. Tillman, Trenton, s. C.
Sir: Your letter of juno has been
received. have carefully noted it's
contents, and the most charitable view
which can take of it is that it was
written in the heat of passion and
without due consideration.
l note thatyOu say that have "tran-
sceDded" my authority and that the
Governor ''cannOt compel member of
the United States Senate to hold his
commission and exercise the functions
OF that office it mo chooses to surrender
it," and that You decline for the pres
ent to withdraw" your resignation.
Had you read carefully my letter nd
dressed to you and to Senator McLau-
rim. you must have seen that did not
express any desire to compel mem
Der OF the United States Senate to hold
his commission and exercise the func-
tiOns of that office" if he chose to sur
render it. My sole purpose in return
Ing tho designations was to ask you
gentlemen to consider calmly and
thoughtfully the ,nsequences to the
peopleof what judged to be- II hasty net,
and what you admit to have been hasty
net, and must confess that nm some
what surprised ut the tone of your an
swer to my request.
consider the course which / took in
this matter to be for the best interests
of the people of South Carolina and |
am responsible to them alone for my
action. And, furthermore, l still be-
liove that my course has met tho ap-
the State, nor do consider them "un-
thinking citi2ens,n but men who know
and recognize rs fully as any people op
earth the rights and duties and resDOn-
sl6llities of citizenship, and who do
not need the services of anyone to tell
them their duty.
Your insinuntion that | have been
.'importiincd'' to ''await tho conven-
lcncc' OF any present or would be
various reasons. TO enter the contest
brought on so unexpectedly" and that
for this reason my action has taken
tho direction 1t has, is unworthy of Il
man holding the high commission
which has been given you by the ppO-
pie III South Carolina and deserves no
notice in this connection. However, l
may say for your benefit that l alone
am responsible for my reply and will
give account for the course / have
taken to the people yyiio nave hOnorcd
mo and not to any one individual
In this matter | have done what
thought best calculated to promote the
present prosperity and contentment of
the people of my State, and shall con-
tinue to do 80 regardless of what any
one man may cay or think of my course.
l did not think that political CAM
paign this Summer could do any good,
and acted according to my belief.
However, had the designations been
unconditional and unrestricted my ac-
tiOn might have been otherwise.
With due respect for your opinion, I
think have as high conception of the
Office of Senator and ire nn@ers" as y;;;;
or ANY other citizen of this State, and
yOn must have known that the brief
interview TO which you refer meant
shat l would simply meet the RESPONSE
bility and pei form my duty under the
conditions.
you still wish to resign yonr COM
mission aud will send to this Office an
unconditional resignation will exer-
cise the authority and power vested i'm
me by the people.
Respectfully,
NJ. B. MCSwEENEY, Governor.