The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-10
GOVERNOR SUEpPAIED'S RE
GREYS.
"Greatcst UisappoinlmVm az My Life
That MY Visit to Sumter Was Pre-
vented"

| vented"
The following letter from Hon. John
| e. Sheppard in reply TO Il telegram
requesting the manuscript of the ad 70
dress he had prepared for the 4th
! oi July celebration IN Sumter, for
publication in The Daily Item will be
read with interest by all Sumter peo-
PIE. and their regret that GOV. Sho p
pard was proyidentialIy prevented
from being with us on the Fourth will
be augmented BY fuller realization
of the treat that they missed in not
hearing his address.
MIR. ii. g. Ostccn, Sumter. $. &.
Dear AIR. Oaiecn: ! have just re
! coivcd your toieisam Of this date, re
pucsting me to send YOU for pubiica-
uon the address which you properly
assumed that had carefully prepared
Tor Your celebration OF the 9TH of JuIy
-y$tcrday, and ann very grateful
{" YOU for this manifestation of in
terest, and 1 ann correspondingly re
Sretlul that | cannot comply with
Your request
In 1905 (according to my recollec-
tom Senator Tillman and myself
were chosen by the committee in
yb1roa- ia 6nli,-or .,, do. . A.,
deraon, at meeting that was called
Tor the purpose Of organizing a II
union of the Red Shirts patriots. of
| -. 1 remember wei, that COY.
riliman came to me to confer in re
lation to the matter He said that il
was not his rule to write speeches.
nd that he knew that such was M
practice; but he suggested that the
occasion would he historical and
lt"tcd that it was his purpose to
write in eXtenso the speech that he
would make; and | told him that I
would follow his example. We both
prepared our speeches. and they were
delivered respectively. as prepared
From that day until this, have
never had time to write any OF the
numerous peeches-upon various
rccasions-which it has been my duty
o make. In connection with my con-
tomplatod address at sumter, | had
- 4 t.,l- -,
Connection with any address which ]
have made since the address at An
dersOn; and it was The greatest dis
appointment of my life that my visit
O sumter was prcventcd--so that
Guild not deliver the address which
had SO carefully prepared. While
nad not written the address. / had
prepared it with all the care that it
Importance demanded; and for its un-
'olding | intended to depend upon
Providence and the inspiration of my
audience"
The only portions OF the address
hat were written, were i'm support OF
ny assertion, that The Southern peo-
lie furnished the tongue, The pen
ma the sword OF The Revolutions"
th"reupon wrote that portion OF
he address of Patrick Henry whicn
'r"d the souls of the American peo-
'le to ENGAGE in the Revolution.
Wrot" ihc "pcclaration of Indc-
pendence" as it WAS written bv til,
zen OF Thomas jefferson: ana wrote
What | desired to say in reference to
he sword OF George WASHINGTON.
nXpected to justify the assertion
hat it was the tongue OF Patrick Hen
Y, the pen of Thomas jefferson
he sword of George Washington.
hat' brought on the Revolution. ana
'arried it on until the independence
# the American people was establish
d.
I regret very much that ! dismiss
ii the matter from my mind; but al
his time it is impossible for me t.
'omply with your nattering request.
feel under great obligatiOns to the
pcople Of Sumter and in spite Of H.
Tor', that ii involved. was CRATE
III for an opportunity TO achnoWl-
'dgr my obligation, ana ann corre
'pondingly regretful that my Visi
vas prevented
Yours very respectfully,
j. G. Sheppard.
Edgefeld, July 3, 1913.