The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-11

Columbia. s. c., June decidedly
the most sensational DEVELOPMENT in
the senatorial tangle in this state is a
letter which Governor insolvency sent
TO Senator Tillman that if he still
wishes to resign and will send to this
office an unconditional resignation /
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 formulated on that line. The letter
follows:
"Sir:-Your letter Of June 1st has
been received. l have carefully noted
its contents and the most charitable
view which 1 can take of it is thu il
was written in the heat of passion and
without due consideration. 1 note that
you say hat / have transcribed my
authority and that the governor can
not compel a member OF the United
states senate to hold his commission
and exercise the functions of hat Of
nee II he chooses to surrender it and
that you decline for the present TO
your resignation.
Had o read carefully my letter
addressed to you and to Senator Nc
Laurin you u have seen that l did
not express any desire to compel a
member of h United States senate to
hold his commission and exercise the
functions of that office if he chose to
surrender it. My sole purpose in re-
turning the designations was to ask
you gentlemen to consider calmly and
t~houghtfully the consequences to the
people Of what 1 judged to be a hasty
act and What you admit to have been
a no CIV nnf nn1 r rNrrct annFncc fIn+ 7
am somewhat surprised at the tone OF
your answer to my request.
Il considered the course which
took in this matter to be for the best
interest of the people of South Carolina
and 1 { am responsible to them alone fol-
my action and, Furthermore, 1 still be-
lieve that my course has met the ID
prevail Of a majority of the citizens OF
h state: nor do 1 consider the un-
thinking citizens. u men who know
and recognize as fully as any people on
earth the rights and duties and respon-
sibilities of citizenship and who do
not need the services of any one to tell
them their duty.
Your insinuation that I 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 CT
so Unexpectedly and that for this rea-
son 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 Car
DINA and deserve no notice in this on
nectiOn. However. I may say for your
benefit that / alone am responsible for
my reply and will give accoun for the
course | have taken to the people who
have hOnored me and not to any one
Individual.
In this matter 1 nave lone what ]
thought best calculated to promote the
present prosperity and contentment OF
h people of my state and shall con-
tinue to do so. regardless of what any
one may say or think of my course. ]
did not think that a political campaign
this summer could do any good and
acted according to my belief. How
ever had the designations been uncon-
ditiOnal and unrestricted, my action
might have been otherwise.
With due respect for your opinion,
[ think 1 have as high conception OF
the office of senator and it's powers as
you or any other citizen of this state,
and you must have known that the
brief interview to which you refer
meant hat / would simply meet the
responsibility and perform my duty un-
der the conditions.
IF you still wish to resign our com
unconditional resignation, I will eXer-
else the authority and power vested
in me by the people.
Respectfully ETC.,
M. D. M'SWEENEY,
~ "a