Year: 1879

i$E g sS&HFs''H
respondcnt-Governor in view of
the fixed political complexion in South
Carolina, which may as we'll bo accopted
as political fact, and in view of the pos
sible influence arising herewith, it has be-
come important to know the policies and
political preferences finding acceptance
with your people. l have, therefore, called
to know your Excellency's views touching
certain questions of interest to the public.


Governor-I am quite willing that YOU
should know my individual views touching
matters Of public policy, and though not
elected to office with particular reference to
my opinions touching such matters, think
the views l entertain and hold are in COM
mon with my fellow-citizens generally in
the South.


Cor-Who do you prefer for President.
and ought he to como from the East or tho
West?


Cow prefer Senator Bayard for Pres
idcnt over any man in the United States.
He is pure in character-which is the first
and most important qualiacation-exalted
in intellect and sound in politics. 1 think
he has the best conception of the true tbco.
ry OF our system of government of any of
our public men, and his integrity of char
acter would not allow him to deviate from
that theory for any purpose whatever. IT'S
strange that people of the United States
don't sec this, aud breaking through party
trammels, don't put him at the head of tho
government. Next to Bayard 1 would
prefer Hendricks or Thurman. Not be-
cause they arc from the Wcst-I don't
think that the question of locality should
have anything to do with this matter
That idea implies that large number of
electors could be induced to vote for a
man simply on account of his locality, with
out regard to his political views or charac-
ter. l have higher opinion of the masses
than this, and don't think we should pan
der to this idea. If there seemed to be.
any chance for Hancock 1 would prefer
him next to Bayard. 1 don't know any
man in the East suitable for the place.


Cor.-What are your views about hard
money?


Gov.-As citizen am hard monov
man, but in the election of President, I
think every question of mere legislation
ought to be subordnatod to the higher
question of con6nng the general govern.
uept to its constitutional orbit That is
the vital question of the day with us-in
fact, the very existenc of the government
Of our fathers depends on it-and where q
man is sound on that, this covers a multi
tude OF faults on matters of mere legislation
We had better decide the question whcth-
or We shall have the right to legslatc be-
fore we fall out about what measures we
shall adopt.


Cor.-What do you say as to the solid
South


Gov.-As to the solid South e? That
matter is perverted. The South is not
solid as section against the North as a
section. The people of the several South
ern States are solid in the belief that we in
the South have been most unjustly dealt
with by the Republican party, since tho
war, in ovcrthrowing our governments, and.
putting us under the heel of ignorance.
corruption and incapacity. They are solid
in the belief that the only rescue from this
state OF things is the restoration in each
State OF integrity with competency, and as
these qualities were found alone in tho
Democratic party Of these States, that that
party should be placed in power and mas
much as the danger to this came from the
genera! government transconding its con.
stitutional powers and interfering with the
internal affairs of the State, they are solid,
too, in the belief that that government
ought to be confined to its constitutional
boundary and they are surprised that the
people of the Northern States are not solid
on the same line, because this is no sec
tional question, but it is a question which
lies among the foundation stones of the
Government.


Cor.-Do you think that the Democratic
party South ought to demand place on
the national ticket in 1880?


Cow don't think the Southern Dem
ocrats ought to demand a place on the ma
tional ticket as sine que non-certainLy
not on the ground of locality No; what
VIC want is good government; and what
mean by good government is, as already
stated, constitutional government We don't
care anything about Office. No doubt the
Suoth could furnish men cminently quail
fled, but office is small matter to us com.
pared to the great question Of getting the
national government back to its old moor
ings. Bayard and Hendricks would start
this government right for the second CEN