Year: 1878

mighty God. One false step would have
ruined all, and, people Of Anderson, if
have made mistakes, bear this in mind ,
that was working for the good Of South
Carolina. I called TO my aid the other
State officers. and if | made mistakes
they made them too. We have always
been united in our opinion. There was
never shadow Of difference between US,
and all shared the mistakes if any were
made. We all make them. If any
man does not believe it. let him try it.
at is human to err. and divine to for
give" And l know the people. real
alzing the circumstances at that time,
will forget the mistakes for the good Of
South Carolina.


There is one point to which desire
to refer, because Of mutterings in this
State and throughout the United States
concerning bargains and compromises.
Men of Anderson. tell you there was
not the shadow Of bargain or compro-
mise with MIR. Hayes or any one who
represented him looking to the seating
of the Governor Of South Carolina. l
went to Washington because | was in
vited there, and through respect to the
President. l asked no recognition at
his hands, except thar he remove the
troops from the State House. and that
if my government could not stand let it
fall. l will do Mr. Hayes the justice
to say that he had too much respect Tor
his own position and for the people of
South Carolina to make any bargain.
There was no compromise with the Uni
ted States authorities, and there was
none with our predecessors. 1 have
never spoken to Chamberlain but once
in my life, and never intend to speak to
him again.


If the Investigating Committee can
find sufficient evidence against Cham
berlain. he shall be sent for. All those
leaders of that party shall answer before
the courts for their crimes, though they
be pardoned the next moment. While
| ,hink the leaders should be tried and
punished for their crimes, l believe that
those who were corrupted by them
should be overlooked and forgiven. l
think The wisest craftsmanship is am
nesty. | want the cases in the United
States Courts against our people dismis-
sed-thc Ku Klux. Hamburg and FL
lenton cases. If We give general am
nesty for our own people, want the
absent ones of our State to come back,
and the et-baggers to stay where
they are.


While on that subject do not think
it improper to touch upon National
questions. | do not think it exactly
manly to denounce Mr.. Hayes as
rraui. lie did not propose the
Electoral Commission, and is not res
ponsrblc for its result. The Democratic
party is responsible for the Electoral
Commission. l told him before the
Immense Groves We met on my return
trip from the West that | voted against
him, and was the FIRST one in South
Carolina who raised voice against the
Electoral Commission. The Commits
sion gave Mr.. Hayes the Office, aud the
Democrats were party to it, and in
accepting it he did as any American
citizen would have done, AMI it is well
for US that lie did accept the Office, for
if he had declined it, Mr.. Wheeler
would have been the next man. and if he
had refused Mr.. Ferry would have been
put in, either one of whom would have
been worse than the first. SO far he
has observed the Constitution, and so
long as he continues to do so he shall
have my hearty support, for he is the
first President sirce the war who has
observed it.


While was in darlington last win
ter | was present at au entertainment at
which many distinguished men were also
present, both Democrats ana Rcpubll-
cans Secretary Evarts was making
considerable sport at the expense OF the
Democrats about the way they whipped
us OIL, of the Presidency. | told MIR.
Evarts that the Electoral Commission
reminded me Of an anecdote that oc-
Cured on n steamboat on the Misslssip-
pi River some years ago. On board the
steamboat was barrel of whiskey, the
brand Of which was the seven spot of
clubs. \ gentleman observed that it
was very dangerous brand Why"
asked the owner Because" says he,
somebody might come along with the
eight spot and take it,"


That is just the way the Electoral
Commission turned out. The Demo-
Gratis went into the Commission with the
seven spot, but the Republicans held
the eight, and won the prize,


We have nothing to do at the present
with National politics. live hoe our
own row VIC will do well. We can af-
ford to differ on local affairs such as
the fence law-but we cannot afford to
be divided on State matters. Some say
that passed the icncc law, but | had
nothing to do with it. Your county
was the first to adopt the system of pri-
mary elections, be governed by its re-
suit, and allow no independents to run.
Independents may sometimes be good
mcn, but now they are our worst enc
mics. BE united in this grand move