The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-04
M'LAURIN WILLING
HE READILY wITHDRAws HIS RES
IGNATION.
HIS LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR.
DOESN'T PROPOSED To RE BossED
or BULLDOzED.

Willing to Hold on to His Commits
sion for the Sake of the Peace,
Prosperity and Happiness of the
People-Insists at Length That He
Is Only the Servant of the People
and That the Latter Arc Entitled
to Hear Fuu and Free Discussion
of the Issues Involved.
Columbia, S. c., June S.-Senator Nc
Laurin, under date of Bennettsville, S. c.,
has written Gov. McSweeney. the follow
ing letter acceding to the Governors re-
quest that he withdraw his resignation:
My Dear Sir-Your letter of the 31st
of May, in which you decline to accept my
resignation as United States senator, is
received.
THE grounds upon which your declina-
tion is predicated are that the people are
entitled TO one year of peace and freedom
from political battles and bitterness, and
that campaign this year would be a ca
lamity to the state, to be torn asunder
by heated canvass in the off year in pol
itics without any possible good to come of
it.
LAS an additional reason you suggest
that any disturbance of the harmony of
the people in their work for the achieve
ment of the material prosperity of the
state might result in retarding this pro-
gress. 1 appreciate fully the force of the
reasons given by you and the effects upon
the people of the state of heated and
Vt tfa 90. T-nit
senator this year. For the sake of the
peace, prosperity and happiness of the
people of this state 1 am willing to hold
on to my commission of United States SEN
ator and to continue to serve the state as
1 have done in the past. TO the best Of my
ability
Must Not Be Handicapped.
But, in retaining my seat in the SEN
ate, l viii not consent to be handicapped
or 'bossed' by anyone claiming right to
judge my motives and actions. 1 propose
to exercise my judgment on all
national questions under the in
fluence OF a high sense of re-
sponsibility to the people and to work
for the upbuilding of the political and
material interest of my state. recogniza
fully my accountability to the sovereign
strict account of my official acts to them.
Your suggestion that it is not the pur-
pose of your official action TO prevent the
fullest and freest discussion of all public
Questions and the education of the people
along all political lines is in accord with
your patriotic course in reference to the
designations.
''The people are entitled to hear both
sides of these questions and to form judg
ment. Personalities and bitterness in a
joint debate would interfere with a fair
and full suggestion of them, and, instead
of educating. would mislead and deceive
them All that l have claimed is this
right of the people and my right to en-
called upon.
TiIIman's Interference.
"In my efforts to do this l was inter
fered with by the senior senator who
affirmed that my doctrines were political
heresies and hurtful to the people. My
wish is that all public questions may be
freely and fully discussed before the peo-
pie, and l will be content to abide by
their decision upon them. In consenting
to hold on to my commission, l wish 1t
understood that 1t is in response TO your
patriotic appeal that 1t is for the good
of the state and not because 1 feared
to go before the people and discuss with
the senior senator or others the national
issues of the day l am a public servant
of the people and it is my duty and
pleasure always to promote their inter-
in every waV I ran.