The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-02

nlreQ Wnat DantOn said on the way
to the guillOtine: Let France free
though my name be accurst." II
South Carolina were free, that is, free
under the constitution, I would be the
happiest man in her borders. All
that l am working for Is to bring
about. as an actual living reality, the
full enjoyment of the institution fOI
which the founders Of this republic
fought on the battlefield; and foY
which my own father fought on the
fields of the Confederacy The last
thing that occurs to me is what the
people think about me; notwithstand
ing would wish them to think we'll
of me. l am genuinely content when
my own conscience is clear, though
all the world might doubt me. Hence
/ am not interested in that part of
Your letter where you adriotly appeal
to my ambition by suggesting that
what 1 should do now In this matter
is only that which hereafter the peo-
pie will applaud. You say:
Il do not question at this time the
motive which prompts you to insist
upon the washing of the dirty linen
Of South Carolina" here in the capi-
tai of the nation. 1t has too much
OF the appearance of malignancy and
personal spite, and q desire for re-
venge on your part, and you cannot
escape that verdict throughout the
State IL you press it. But your cooper
alton with me to have the Democratic
party of South Caorlina and legisla-
ture of South Carolina reform the sit
uation in the State can be attributed
to no other motive than that of the
highest patriotism"
That might appeal to some of your
friends here who are timeserving pol :,
iticians only. But my ear is not to
the ground: / hope my eyes are fixed
on the stars. And to such an extent
am wiling to go that believe, with
tranquil voice and without a tremor,
could say with Danton, let South
Carolina be free though my name be
accurst.' do bel We that all we need
Is an honest, brOadminded application
OF our already cOnstitutiOnally guar
anteed rights. If I had a case to be
tried and thought the atmosphere of
the federal courts most suited to it's
trial, / would step over into U. S.
Judge Smiths court and claim that
jurisdictions; and would do so with
out the remOtest feeling that 1 was
rejecting upon my native state in
passing by our county court house on
the way. How much more so then
should seek relief in Congress in the
Whaley case, when there is no other
Jurisdiction?
There Is such thing as the fitness
Of things Every atom of the universe
moves ist it's proper orbit; but always
nevertheless. governed by two conflict
ing forces, the centrifugal and the
centripetal Sometimes the equiu-
brium liz preserved by one and again
by the other. It was the recognition
Of :his law that gave origin to our
government. These are times when
there istoo much Washington and we
fall back upon the states; and again,
when our states are pulling down our
ideals. we fly to the national capitol.
There Is no lack OF patriotism in
either; but simply a balanced knowl-
edge Of our constitutional system.
cannot follow you in your hair
splitting distinction between the
Blease and Whaley case. Passing by
your pretended original zeal as ex-
pressed in your letters and in your
conversations to bring Mr.. Whaley to
justice, l submit that there is not even
hair-splitting distinction between
your duty in the matter. You say:
''The answer to this is simple.
dIIl IHCIIlDcI VI luc StIldtc anu nave
right to speak from the floor Of the
senate and to command attention.
am not member of the house of rep
resentatives. mad while as a member
Of the senate am entitled to the floor
OF the house. 1 have no rights under
it's rules to address that body. This
you know as we'll as l do
l certainly do; but l just as GER.
tainly do not think that you should
take steps against Blease in the sem
ate only because accidentally you hap
pened to have the right to speak
from the floor Your rights have
nothing to do with either Blease or
Whaley's wrong -dOings. l thought
you had given up speaking from the
floor of the senate. anyhow. What Il
bad fix then, South Carolina would be
in If You decided not to raise your