The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-06
GOV. M'SWEENEYS LETTER.
A Strong Yet Digniied Reply to Sem
ator TiIIman.

Columbia, S. c.. June 5.-Decidedly the
most sensational development in the SEN
atorial tangle in this state is a letter
which Gov. McSweeney sent to Senator
Tiilman to-day. In his communication the
Governor informed Senator Tillman that
if he "stiA wishes to resign and will send
to this Office an unconditional resignation
l will exercise the authority and power
vested in me by the people," This means
that the Governor will accept Senator
Tillman's resignation if it shall be formu-
lated on that line.
The letter follows:
"Sir: Your letter of June has been re-
ceived. l have carefully noted it's con-
tents and the most charitable view which
1 can take of it is that it was written in
the heat of passion and without due con-
sideration I note that you say that
have transcribed my authority and that
the governor cannot compel a MEM
ber Of the United States Senate
to hold his commission and exercise the
functions of that office If he chooses TO
surrender IT, And that you decline for
the present to withdraw your resigna-
tion. Had you read carefully my letter
addressed to you and TO Senator McLau-
rim, you must have seen that did not
express any desire TO compel member
of the United States Senate to hold his
commission and exercise the functions
OF that Office if he choose to surrender 1t.
My sode purpose in returning the resig-
nations was to ask you gentlemen to con-
slider calmly and thoughtfully the conse-
quences to the people of what judged
to be a hasty act, and what you admit
to have been hasty act, and must con-
fess that l am somewhat surprised al
the time of your answer to my request.
Governor Is Responsible.
81 considered the course which ] took in
this matter to be for the best interest
of the people of South Carolina and l
am responsible TO them alone for my ae-
ton and, furthermore, I stid believe that
my course has met the approval of
majority of the citizens Of the state; nor
DO / consider them unthinkihg citizens,
but men who know and recognize as FULLY
as 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 insin-
uation that ! have been Importuned' to
await the convenience OF any present or
would-be aspirants, who are not just
yet ready, for various reasons, to enter
the contest brought on so Unexpectedly,
and that for this reason my action has
taken the direction Il hasais 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 ! alone am responsible for
my reply and will give account for the
course l have taken 10 the people who
have honored me and not to anyone in
dividual In this matter have done what
l thought best calculated 20 promote the
present prosperity aud conteDtment Of the
people OF my state and shall continue 70
do so. regardless Of what anyone may say
or think OF my course. did not think
that a political campaign this summer
could do any good and acted according 70
my belief However, had the reslgnations
been unconditional and unrestricted. my
action might have been otherwise.
Parting shot.
with due respect for year opinion !
Ihlnk 1 have as high a conception OF the