Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-02-05
Card from Mr.. j. c. Sheppard.

EDaAF1ELD, S. c., Feb, 3, 1902.
Mr. E.litor-I am indebted to a
friend fol copy of the last issue
of the Johnston Monitor; but for
the thoughtful kindness of this
friend, 1 might never have seen
the article to which he referred,
and thereupon great injustice
would have been done mo without
my knowledge. 1 was astounded
beyond expression to notice in the
column headed "Ffom the County
Seat d & DIS column fol-
lowing statement
And now we bear the sad news
that the senate, Oh the petition of
% voters of Wise and Pickens
townships representing near 500
voters, have already passed an Act
authorizing the County Commits
sioners Of our county to issue
bonds aga:net Wise and Pickens
townships amounting when paid
to one hundred and fifty. (150,000)
thousand dollars etc., etc.
Nothing has passed the senate
which remotely justifes that state
ment. have been in the senate
chamber each and every day since
the first day of the session, and 1
represent that no such bill has
passed by the senate, that no such
bill has been introduced in the
senate, and that no such bill is
in contemplation. Any person in
this county who read that state
ment will at once conclude that it
was passed by instrumentality, for
it is we'll known that it is the hab-
it of the senate, If a local bill is
introduced to leave it tothe judge
ment of the senator who represents
the particular locality involved /;
and therefore l do not doubt that
the impression was intended to
convey that 1 caused the passage
of SUCH 8 bill.
After thus making the impression
that the bill so mentioned was passed,
by my advocacy, the writer proceeds
with much emphasis OF verbIage to
characterize it as A robber scheme
to plunder and impoverish and pau
perize the people of the two said town
Ships" The writer further calls upon
our representatives in the lower house
to protect our people, and not let said
"infamous Act be passed" and not to
let the "robber band rob Us" These
are very vigorous terms, and we have
not been IN the habit of seeing such
terms applied to legislation in on
State since the days before 1875.
Of course,I was deeply griered-dls-
tressed beyond eXpresslon-tos scc such
terms applied to legislation that was
attributed to my advocacy. have liv-
ed among the people of these two town
ships the greater portinu of my life,
and have faithfully endeavored to dis
charge all the duties of a good citizen,
and Of course it grieved me for the In
timaton to be made that / would do
any thing that would result in the
mpoverishment of the people of any
portion of my county-to whom | am
indebted fOT numerous acts of kind
ness and contiieuce-to whom | am
bound by numerous ties-and whom |
love for many reasons.
Therefore,, 1 know for all that the
term implies, that all of the people OF
the county will readily justify me in
availing myself of the first issue of our
county papers to assure them that
nothing has been done that in the
slightest degree justlfies the accusa-
tion that is contained in that article
I believe that my record of faith
fulness and efficient service in ev.
cry public position ] have held ir
the past, would b. abundant refu.
tation of any charge of wrong do.
ing that could be made against
me, but I would not be satisfied il
did uot state in the most direct
and specific terms, that nothing
has been done, and nothing shall
be done, whilst I am a member oI
the general assembly, which will
have the tendency "to plunder anc
impoverish and pauperize" any
portion of the people of Edgefelc
county. Very respectfully,
J. C. SHEPPARD