The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-07-02
!. A GOOD MAN FOR THE POSITION,

1 =
US Col. William Elliott. His career
began with the war, and he was never
/ abaont but once from his post, and
! ;aea aeoause incapacitated from duty.
In 1884 he was chosen as the Demo
crgtic eandid-se for congress in the
Black District" to redeem the lower
section OF the State from negro rule,
and after l8 years Of constant fighting
ne has redeemed it. During his SER
vice In congress he has fought persis-
tently to get for his district and State
fair share Of public appropriations,
and the money he has brought to his
district from the national treasury
amounts to many millions of dollars;
and all of it for purposes most benefi.
cial to the people.
the war on Gov. Pickens' staff, and
worked on the Notifications on the
coasc, took part in the attack on Fort
Sumter, and entered With the Iron
Glad battery the night Of the capture.
Joined Kershaw's regiment, VIII the
Brooks guards, as lieutenant, and
took part in the First Battle Of Ma
nassas, the campaign on the peninsu-
lar, Seven Days Fight, Second Ma
nassas, and Sharpsburg, and was made
captain and sent as assistant adjutant
general to Gen. Stephen d. Lee of
South Carolina; wns in Vicksburg dur
ing the siege, in the battle Of Bakers
Greek, and was promoted major for
gallantry; was assistant adjutant gem
eral of the department of Alabama.
Mississippi and East Louisiana; was
in the battles of Harrisburg, 28th
july, and Jonesboro around Atlanta.
Went with Hood into Tennessee, and
was in the fight at Florence, Ala, and
the battle Of Franklin aud Nashville.
Was transferred to North Carolina
and was in the battles of Kinston and
Bentonville. He was also in numer-
GUS other fights and skirmishes. This
is record which speaks for itself.
FIGHTING THE NEGRO.
From 1876 to 1884 Col. Elliott was
ceunsy chairman Of Beaufort county.
In 1884 it became necessary to make
q fight in the Seventh congressional
district against the negroes. The
Democratic candidate had to be pop
ular, fearless and constant fighter.
William Elliott was chosen, made q
mostfaggressive campaign, but was de-
feated. In 1886 he was again opposed
in the election to Robert Smalls, and
Col. Elliott was elected. Rioting oc-
CURED constantly in the elections and
the precinct managers at Hilton Head
and st. Helena were mobbed by the
negroes. who had become most inso.
lent. Smalls contested the election.
This meant that testimony as to the
fairness of the election had to be
taken during three months in every
county of the district at the same time.
Then printed arguments, compiled
from the 1000 or more printed pages
of testimony, had to be fled with the
committee Of elections. then argued
before them, and finally fought out on
the floor Of the house. Colonel. Ell
lott won the contest. r
From then to the present time he
has had the following fights with negro
candidates. in each instance a contest
ed election following the election:
In 1888 and 1890 with Tom Miller, III
the latter case Miller was seated by
Reeds congress-; in 1894, 1896 and
1893 with George w: Murray, in the
first of which contests, Murray was
seated, and Col. Elliott unseated. and
in 1900 with Be ckett, negro preacher.
Thus. after eighteen years Of relent-
less, laborious and expensive fight
ing, Colonel Elliott reclaimed the dis
.rict composed of the coast counties
from negro rule, and now has an un-
contested seat in Congress for the
first time.
Col. Elliott is today poorer man
than he vas in 1884.
t. HIS WORK IN CONGRESS-.
1t is an axiom in congress that
man with contest can accomplish
little for his district. Yet, despite Is
years of contested elections, what
Colonel Elliott has accomplished for
his district and State equals the work
OF any member of congress in the
United States.
mention but some of his larger
works Of a material kind: "He had
passed the amendment to the direct
tax refunding act, appropriating $780,
OOO to- reimburse the people Of Beau
fort for part of their losses under.
the direct tax act of congress passed
during the war. In order that the
money should not be wasted in exor-
bitant fees he volunteered to do, and
did, all the legal work necessary to
secure the same from the treasury,
taking all the testimony thereby saw
ing his people thousands of dollars in
expenses.
he procured an appropriation of
$500, 600 to build. dry dock at Port
Royal, and. has assisted in procuring
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars in
improving the place.
He obtaine appropriations Of about
s., 800, 600 to deepen the bar Of Win
yah Bay, thereby affordingan outlet to
the ocean to the following rivers:
Waccamaw. Lumber, Great Pee Dee,
Little Poe Dee, CLARK, Lynch, Miugo,
Black, Wctcree, Conga:oe, Santee