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of Counties. During the session of 1873- 74 a memorial signed by a large number of the citizens of An? derson, petitioning and. suggesting legislation on the subject of drain? age, was sent to me to be presented to the House. In accordance therewith I offered "A Bill to con? stitute the County Commissioners of Anderson County Commissioners of Health and Drainage and to define their powers and duties." [See House Journal, page 250.] This Bill was acted upon favorably in both houses and approved by Gov? ernor Moses, March 14,1874. It is well known that this Act accom? plished some good, but in some in? stances failed to secure so favorable a result as was anticipated. This Act being imperfect and deficient in detail, from want of experience in such legislation by the General Assembly, at session of 1874-75 [see Senate Journal, page 366,] I sub? mitted a Bill to amend the original Act in various particulars, remedy? ing as far as possible any defects in it. This Bill was defeated upon its third reading in the House, but a House Bill was taken up and acted upon favorably (which was similar in its main provisions) and became a law, to which I yielded my cordial support JUSTICES OP THE PEACE?TRIAL JUS? TICES. In my endeavor to carry out the plain provisions of the Constitution of the State which provided Justices of the Peace should be elected by the people, I introduced two Bills for such election. [Senate Journals, 1874- 75,1875-76, pages 33 and 10.] Both of these Bills were defeated. After the defeat of the first, as will be seen by reference to \Senate Journal 1874-75, page 175, I offered "A Bill to regu late the Courts of Trial Justices for the County of Anderson." Among other things this Bill provided for a fixed and definite salary for each Justice,to wit: twenty-five dollars for all State or Sessions business. This Bill passed the Senate, but was defeated in the House. Not dismayed, I again, at the regular session of 1875- 76, page 368, introduced "A Bill to reduce the number of Trial Justices in Anderson County and to define their powers and duties." This Bill provided for nine Trial , Justices, one for every two townships and one for the town of Anderson, and fixed their salaries at fifty dol? lars each per annum. This Bill passed the Senate but was indefi? nitely postponed in the House. Hearing of this, I went to members . of the House and succeeded in hav? ing the measure reconsidered. On / this the Bill passed after being amend? ed in several particulars. Now it will be readily perceived that the object was not only to curtail and keep all Trial Justices within reason? able bounds in Anderson County, but, if possible, make the fines collected ' sustain and pay the expenses of their . Courts, and, by giving a salary, pre? vent any officer from encouraging litigation for the sake of fees ob . tained thereby, and - by compari? son, at least, effectually prevent and check other like officers inN different Counties from having their bills of costs paid, which, in some instances, amounted to thousands of dollars for a single Justice, which tended to swell the County expenses to an un? reasonable degree. Anderson was selected as a mere example of what could be accomplished in securing efficient officers at reasonable sala? ries to perform the official duties on the criminal side. This Act was ap? proved by Governor Chamberlain and accomplished the object for which it was intended. Afterwards I offered a general Bill, [session 1876, Senate Journal, page 96,] which, if it had been adopted, would have Becured similar reforms throughout the State. INSPECTOR OP PHOSPHATES. I presented three Bills referring to the duties of this office. The first will be found in House Journal of 1872-73, page 384; the second in Senate Journal of 1874-75, page 349, and the third in Senate Jour? nal of 1877, page 40. My object, amongst other things, was to reduce the fees of the Inspector by requir? ing a portion of it to be turned over to the State Treasury. The Inspector and his friends were too strong for me, and the Bills were defeated. REWARDS. During one or more Republican administrations the Governor had offered large rewards for the appre? hension of persons who, it was al? leged, had violated the law, and appropriations amounting in the aggregate to many thousands of dol? lars were made, and a tax thus levied upon Counties not connected with the trouble. I did not believe the peaceable, law-abiding citizens of Anderson County, or of any other County not connected with the dis? turbance complained of, should be taxed to pay for the deeds of evil disposed persons who lived else? where, and I therefore introduced "A Bill to provide for the payment of rewards offered to secure the punishment of crime." [See Senate Journal 1875-76, page 413.] It passed both houses, and was ap? proved by Gov.Cbamberlain, March 24, 1876. It provides that the Governor by proclamation can offer rewards for the apprehension of any person who commits a high crime against the peace within this State, and that such rewards shal1 be paid by the County Commissioners of the County wherein such crime was committed. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. With a view to prevent any retro? grade movement in the measures of reform commenced by the General Assembly, and to avoid the great expense and excitement consequent upon a Convention of the people be? ing called to amend the Consti? tution of the State, inasmuch as all that was necessary could be accom? plished by the General Assembly, on the 8th of December, 1875, I addressed a letter to such of the Sen? ators and Representatives as were then at the capital, stating to them ray belief that the Constitution of this State might be amended so that it should be as effective, honest ?and economical a government after the next election as that of any State in the Union, and that such needed reforms could be se? cured without the expense and ex? citement consequent upon an elec? tion for members of such a Conven? tion, by the passage of such measures by the General Assembly and sub? mitting them to the people for rati? fication. I also cited some of the changes which I thought our pecu? liar condition and recent reforms in other States particularly suggested to every thoughtful man, being sub? stantially those embraced in the platform I have recited in this ad? dress. All of these Senators and Representatives agreed in the main with the propositions set forth by me, and in favor of the Republican Legis? lature ipitiating such measures of reform as would secure the greatest good to the people; and requested that my letter and their answer be communicated to the Republican members of iho General Assembly, which I had done accordingly. On November 23, 1875,1 intro? duced in the Senate a resolution providing for the appointment of a Committee to report to the Senate, as soon as practicable, such resolu? tions for amendment to the Consti? tution of the State as, in their judg? ment, should receive attention at that session, which was immediately adopted. On February 1st, 1876, as Chair? man of the Committee, I submitted a Joint Resolution proposing certain amendments to the State Constitu? tion, which .was finally adopted by the Senate/February 10th, 1.876, and sent to the House. But, al? though the General Assembly con? tinued io session for more than sixty days thereafter, it was not acted upon by the Judiciary Committee, to whom this matter was referred, until too late to secure its passage. Unfortunately, a majority of this Committee weis engaged in the pros? ecution of Judge Moses before the Senate; and, amid the excitement and for want of time, the resolution failed. The great satisfaction I have, however, is that I made every effort to discharge my duty, and that if the resolution had been adopted much good would have resulted therefrom. ILLICIT SALE OF LIQUORS. The illicit sale of spirituous liquors by wagons and through other sources was tending to the demorali? zation of the people, particularly young men, both white and colored, and in many instances having an injurious effect upon schools and disturbing religious congregations in the country. To remedy this, I in? troduced "A Bill to prevent the sale of spirituous liquors within one mile of any church, school house or col? lege within this State." [See Senate Journal, session 1877-78, page 471.] The Bill as adopted excepts schools and churches within incorporated cities, towns and villages. At the time of its introduction the illicit sale of whisky in the various Coun? ties was injuring the interests of the farmers in many neighborhoods, and destroying the peaceful relations be? tween the United States authorities and numerous citizens of the State. One object I had in view was to pre? vent, as far as possible, such sales in the neighborhood of schools and churches and at the same time ena? ble the State authorities to assist the Uuited States government in putting down the unlawful traffic in liquor, and thereby bring about a better understanding between the citizens of the State and the officers of the revenue department. This Act re? ceived the necessary readings in both houses and was approved by Governor Hampton.March 18,1878. I also, as shown by Senate Jour? nal, page 45, session of 1875-76, of? fered the following resolution, which was adopted: "'Whereas the Intornal Revenue Department of the United States permits the issue of licenses to retail liquors at largo: and whereas the retailing of liquors at largo within this State is forbidden by law, and, if allowed, would bo productive of the greatest evils to our agri"ultural interests; and whereas such business has been largely carried on without hindrance, sustained uy the belief that the license under tho United States sufficiently protoctcd the holder from accountability to tho Stato law; therefore, bo it " lienolved by the Senate, tho House of Representatives concurring. That our Senators be instructed, and our Representatives in Congress be requested, to uso their influence for the passage of a law prohibiting tho issuo of licenses to retail liquors at large." Through this resolution the mat? ter was brought to the atten? tion of our Senators aud Repre? sentatives in Congress, and by them to the authorities at Washington, and resulted in an order forbidding the issuing of licenses by the United States authorities to retail from wagons. TRAFFIC IN SEED COTTON. In many portions of the State the improper traffic in seed cotton be? came an unmanageable source of trouble, causing great loss to the planters and engendering strife. Through this traffic and the baneful results brought about thereby gins, stores and other property were destroyed, litigation increased and vigilance committees organized. In fact, it became such a leading cause of evil that the grand juries of dif? ferent Counties called attention to it, and petitions to suppress it were I numerous. In an adjoining County the effect i of this traffic had well-nigh ruined | the agricultural prosperity in seve? ral neighborhoods. I commenced a war upon it, and from time to time offered three Bills in reference thereto, as shown by Senate Jour? nals sessions of 1874-75, 1875-76, and regular session of 1876, pages 359, 378 and 89. The first was a general Bill and referred to its sale in any portion of the State between sunset and sunrise, attaching penal? ties for any violation. This Bill was defeated. I then submitted "A Bill to regulate its sale in Anderson County," forbidding its purchase or reception for the purpose of pur? chase after night. This Bill passed the Senate, but the prejudiceagair.3t the enactment of such Acts was so great that, although the Bill did not affect the lower Counties, their Rep? resentatives voted it down. I again tried to remedy the evil, and at the regular session of 1876-77 proposed "A Bill to regulate the sale of seed cotton and to punish the unlawful traffic in the same," which was acted upon favorably, but was eventually lost or misplaced in the most mysterious manner. About this time a Bill was received from the House which was an exact copy of mine. This Bill was referred tn a Committee and misplaced in like manner, but, a certified copy being obtained, it was acted upon and be? came a law, and has in part cured the evil complained of. TELEGRAMS. Believing they should be kept as sacred .as the contents of a letter and guarded in like manner, I in? troduced "A Bill to regulate the transmission and delivery of mes? sages by telegraph companies." [Senate Journal 1875-76, page 249.] This Bill made it a penalty for any officer to fail, neglect or refuse to deliver a telegram within due time after its reception at such office; also provided heavy penalties if any officer or employee made known the contents of a dispatch. PER DIEM AND MILEAGE OP MEM? BERS OP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. The Journals will show that in? variably I voted to reduce the per diem of members. When what was known as the salary grab Bill was being considered, I voted for a re? duction of more than one-half of what was L-en allowed under the law as pay of members of the General Assembly. [See Senate Journal, special session 1877, pages 307,309, 329, 353 and 380.] By reference to Senate Journal, special session 1877, page 31, it will appear that I offered "A Bill to re? duce and fix the per diem and mile' age of the members of the General Assembly." Under the then existing law the salary was $600 and mileage per session. The Bill submitted by me provided for four dollars per day during the session, not to exceed sixty days. It was amended in the Sen? ate, and 8300 pc r session agreed on in that body. As the Senate was then constituted, that was the best compromise aud reduction that could be obtained. The House amended, fixing the per diem at five dollars per day, which amendment was final? ly agreed to by the Senate. This Act was approved by Governor Hampton, June 7,1877. Before the passage of this Act the cost of each session of the General Assembly for salary and mileage of members was 896,100; under this last Act; 826, 491; amount saved per session, $69,609. This Act of itself did not effect in full the reduction, but it materially aided therein, and the good sense and proper idea of economy evi? denced by the Democracy since get? ting the control of affairs, by return? ing to short sessions and close appli? cation and work, will soon correct whatever of apparent extravagance may seem to exist in the present per diem and mileage. COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS. I introduced the following Bill May 14,1877 [Senate Journal, page 155]: " Bill to investigate and as? certain the actual bona fide indebt? edness of the various Couuties in this State and to regulate the man? ner of paying the same." It was acted upon favorably and signed by Gov. Hampton, June 11, 1877. At the time of its passage a large ma? jority of the Counties were groaning under the burdens imposed by levies of taxes to pay past indebtedness for several years, a large proportion of such indebtedness being well known to be illegal. This Act pro? vided that upon petition of fifty tax? payers of any County, setting forth that in their belief portions of the County debt were doubted and chal? lenged, the Governor should ap? point a Commission, composed of three competent and discreet per? sons, to investigate the same, and to report' their action thereon to the next General Assembly, with power to send for persons and papers, and forbid the levying or collection of any special tax during the investi? gation. The Governor appointed Commissioners in a large number of Counties, and much good was ac? complished thereby, a large amount of unlawful claims being eliminated from the bulk of their indebtedness. LIQUOR TAX. Believing that the sale of spiritu? ous liquors added largely to the annual expense of the State and Counties by adding to the expenses of its criminal Courts, its jails and Penitentiaries, and that the State reaped no benefits therefrom, I offered "A Bill to impose a tax and prescribe a mode of col? lecting the same on the privilege of selling wine, ardent spirits and malt liquors within the limits of this State." [Senate Journal, 1876-77, page 149.] Failing to get a report upon it I submitted a resolution [page 420] which placed the entire matter in charge of a Committee of which I was a member. We made a report in favor of levying such a tax, and presented two Bills in con? nection therewith, both of which were sacrificed on the altar of politi? cal expediency. PAY OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. At session of 1876, [Senate Jour? nal, page 67,] I introduced "A Bill to reduce the pay of County Com? missioners and their clerks." It re? ceived a majority vote in both houses and was signed by Governor Hamp? ton, May 31, 1877. This Act re I duced the pay of County Commis? sioners and their clerks from three dollars per day to two dollars, and at the same time reduced the number of days'for which they should be paid from 100 to 70, and thus saving to the taxpayers of the State thou? sands of dollars annually. DIETING PRISONERS. At the time of the introduction of the "Bill to reduce and fix the price of dieting prisoners," Sheriffs received forty cents per day, which in my estimation was entirely too much. The Bill as I presented it fixed the price at twenty cents per day. It was amended on its passage by substituting thirty cents, and be? came a law, being signed by Gov? ernor Hampton, June 8,' 1877. My action in reference to the above will be found, Senate Journal 1877, page 149. This measure looked to the reduction of County expenses, and in a considerable degree accom? plished that result. PUBLIC EXECUTIONS. During my term of service in the House and Senate, feeling the de? moralizing influences and effects re? sulting from public executions, I addressed a communication to each Circuit Judge in the State iu regard to this subject. Their replies ac? corded fully with my views; and, thus supported, I introduced at va? rious times three several Bills pro? viding that all executions should be private, in jail yards, to be con? ducted in a building erected for such purpose. [See Senate Journal, ses? sions 1874-75, 1875-76, pages 41, 85 and 239.] The first two Bills failed to pass in the Senate. The third Bill, however, received the necessary three readings in that body, but was ultimately defeated in the House. Since 1876 a similar law has been enacted, and now the country is saved from such revolting and demoralizing exhibitions. FEES AND COSTS OF OFFICERS AND ATTORNEYS. By reference to Senate Journals, sessions 1875-76 and 1876, pages 555, 149 and 31, it will be seen that I introduced Bills to reduce the fees and costs of certain officers and at? torneys. These Bills in the main reduced the fees and costs, where practicable, to the fee Bill of 1839, which was just and equitable in all its bearings. I found it impossible to obtain either a favorable or un? favorable report from the Seuate Judiciary Committee, therefore they were lost. BANK DEPOSITS. The policy of creating banks of deposit was certainly intended to provide a safe and convenient place where public and private funds should be kept to be paid out to de? positors on call. The experience in this State (and it is by no means an ex? ception) has been that some of these institutions have been the medium of great loss to the people at large. In some instances charters have un? doubtedly been obtained by cunning sharpers with the intent to steal and defraud from the commencement. In more than one case the officers, knowing the insolvency of the in? stitution, have continued to receive deposits, knowing such deposits would be lost by those who made them. The State has not escaped from the rapacity of such bank offi? cers. To aid in preventing such impositions and frauds and at least to hold the terrors of the law over the officers of such institutions, at the regular session 1876 I submitted "A Bill to render officers of corporations personally responsible in certain cases." [Senate Journal, page 67.] It was acted upon favorably, ratified, and approved bv Governor Hamp? ton, May 31st, 1877. " BILL TO REDUCE THE PAY OF COM? MISSIONERS AND MANAGERS OF ELECTION AND OF THEIR CLERKS." By reference to Senate Jonrnal cp, 1876, page 102, it will be seen that I offered a Bill bearing the above named title, which provided for a reduction of the pay of Commission? ers and Managers of Elections and their clerks from three dollars per day to one dollar. Having been reported upon favorably, and whilst being considered by the Senate, Senator Meetze asked if I would favor a further reduction and so far reform this class of expenditure as to go back to the halcyon days when good men served iu this ca? pacity free of charge. I informed him that I would gladly do so. He then offered to so amend as to abol? ish all pay, which amendment I advocated and voted for. This Bill I was acted upon favorably and was ! approved by Gov. Hampton, May j 23, 1877. By its provisions the I State is saved every two years a sum approximating 815,000. STATE OFFICERS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. Of all the evils that befell South Carolina, none equaled the appoint? ment of State officers on State Boards and Commissions. For in-! I stance, the Financial Board, com? posed of Scott, Chamberlain and Parker, increased the State debt by unlawful means many millions of dollars. The Land Commission, the Sinking Fund Commission, etc., composed of the same or similar officers, all drew their deadly coils around the State, poisoning her very life blood and destroying the Re? publican party in the end. To prevent further trouble in that di? rection I introduced in the Senate, session of 1876, page 39, "A Bill to prohibit the service of State officers upon Boards and Commissions and public committees." This Bill re? ceived its necessary readings in the Senate but was defeated in the House. SCHOOL FUNDS. Having ascertained that frauds were being perpetrated by teachers filing accounts for children not in attendance, I presented the follow? ing: "Bill to require all school claims and claims for teachers to be sworn to." [Senate Journal, 1876, page 102.] This Bill was passed and approved by Gov. Hampton, May 31, 1877. I introduced "A Bill to prohibit the unauthorized absence of certain officers from duty." [Senate Jour? nal 1878, page 59.] It was duly ratified and approved by Gov. Hampton, June 7,1877. The in? terests of the State had suffered so much by the absence of officers from duty that I was constrained to offer a measure that would prevent it in the future. It prohibits State and County officers from leaving the State lor more than thirty days in one year, under penalty of losing the salaries and perquisites of their offices for the year in which such absence occurs. APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY OFFICERS. I offered, at regular session 1876 [page 67,] "A Bill to regulate the appointment of County officers," which was acted upon favorably and approved by Governor Hampton, May 30,1876. It provided that no person should be appointed to any County office unless he was an elec? tor of such County. It is so well known what the State and Counties have lost by such appointments that I need make no comments thereon. ELECTION OF 1876. Any history of ray course of ac? tion would be incomplete without a brief allusion to the exciting and important election of 1876 and the session of the General Assembly immediately succeeding.- Governor Hampton in my judgment having received a majority of the votes cast according to the returns made in the mode and manner provided under the Constitution, I could do no less than sustain him. What? ever clamor was raised over illegal votes or ballot-box stuffing or in? timidation had no effect over the veri? fied returns. The Supreme Court of the State, having been ap? pealed to to decide these grave and important questions, had decided that the Wallace House was the legally-constituted House of Repre? sentatives. J, therefore,in obedience I to law as pronounced by the Court of last resort, at once acquiesced in this decision; and on the passage of the tax levy by the Senate in con? junction with the Mackey House, with the view of presenting the same to Governor Chamberlain for approval, I submitted a protest to the Senate embodying this view. [Senate Journal, 1876, pages 122, 124.] JOINT INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE. My connection with the Joint In? vestigating Committee, to which I have already alluded, has been made the occasion of comment, particu? larly on the part of Republicans. It is proper to say that I did not move the appointment of the com? mittee, and was made a member and Chairman of it without any solicita? tion on my part. Designated to that position by the Senate, it was my plain duty to accept it and dis? charge the trust with an eye single to the public good. As a Republi? can I would have been recreant to my party if I had shirked the re? sponsibility. As a representative of the people it equally devolved upon me to meet the responsibility fairly, fearlessly and thoroughly. Charges of corruption had for years been freely circulated and had weighed with crushing force upon Republi I nans in this State as a party. To I eliminate and fasten the truth upon I the guilty was to vindicate the in noceut, whilst to expose what was false was even more effectually to I relieve the masses of the people of the odium which should attach solely to their leaders?aud if this resulted in deposing leaders who had betrayed their trusts and their party as well, the remedy, however heroic, was only proportioned to the disease and indispensable to the cure of it. If the investigation proved that leadera who had claimed to be honest men and reformers were leaders only in fraud and corrup? tion, the responsibility rests upon those who committed the wrong and not upon those whose duty it became to expose and bring them to punish? ment. In a civilized community no party can follow such leadership and live; indeed, under such leader? ship, a party ought not to live. It was because of such leadership that the Republican party met defeat; and it was only by impeaching such leaders and raising up new stand? ards that it could hope ever again to be deemed worthy of participa? tion in public affairs. If I have impartially, thoroughly aud faith fully done my duty upon this com? mittee?and for this I challenge the record?I have served thei Republi? can party no less than the State; and in all of it, having fully dis? charged my trusts, I have nothing to regret save the crimes which created the occasion and imposed upon me the trust. ROUTINE OF LEGISLATION. To one not familiar with the pro? cess of legislation it would appear to be an easy, simple and speedy thing to obtain the enactment of any ordinary law. The preparation and introduction of the Bill is only the first step. Its reference to the ap? propriate Committee follows, and then the report from thai: Commit? tee, if one can be obtained." If the report is favorable, the Bill comes up on its merits on the second read? ing; whatever discussion is had on the Bill is usually had then. If the Bill passes its second reading it is ordered engrossed, and then awaits the report of the Engrossing Com? mittee, and then the third reading. This being obtained, it is sent to the other house aud goes through the same routine there. If it passes, without amendments, then it is or? dered enrolled. If amended at all it must go back to the first house for concurrence, and, after thai:, is enroll? ed, ratified and presented to the Gov? ernor for approval. Under the most favorable circumstances it is a mat? ter requiring great care and watch? fulness in the midst of the business of the two houses; but if it invokes opposition of any character, honest or otherwise, then its passage re? quires a degree of care and watch? fulness which cau hardly be appre? ciated by any one who has not been a member of the General Assembly. There are nameless chances, from first to last, of the most meritorious Bill failing of passage through the management of unscrupulous per? sons opposed to it. My object in referring to this matter is that you may in some de? gree apprehend and appreciate the amount of labor, care and attention bestowed by me on various measures during my six years of public ser? vice. Take up, if you have the patience and curiosity, the numerous Acts and resolutions introduced by me. How many are now on the statute books as laws? Consider the condition of the State, and the character and intelligence of the Legislature; the prejudices then ex? isting; the amount of labor and perseverance actually performed by me, to say nothing of the anxiety I endured, and I am more than will? ing to abide your judgment. The Democratic members, although in a minority up to 1876, always unani? mously supported my attempts at reform, as well as many of the members of my own party. After 1876 my measures were more favor? ably cousidered by my own party, and received almost the unanimous support of the opposition; hence my success, and the laws and their ac? tual results are living witnesses for me. CONCLUSION. As I set out in this address to give a full, unvarnished aud candid ac? count of my action in the General Assembly, and nothing extenuate, I shall proceed to notice several mat? ters for which I have been criticised. That I made mistakes I do not wish to deny ; but I can safely and con? scientiously aver that iu all and whatsoever I did I acted in the sin? cere belief that good, and not evil, would result to the people of the j State. Among other things, I was I censured for insisting upon the ap? pointment of Samuel Johnson as Jury Commissioner for Anderson County. My reasons for this course were: 1. Because I believed him com? petent to fill the position. 2. Because he was the only colored man in the County asking for position at the time I asked for nis appointment. 3. Because I thought the colored voters were entitled to at least that small recognition from the Repub? lican administration. 4. Because he had supported me in more than one election, and I felt that he was entitled to this return from me. His competency was evidenced in the character of the juries drawn from his list, being intelligent citi? zens and representing all classes aud races, (and in striking contrast with some drawn since in the latter re? spect.) It is well known that no com? plaint was ever made of the juries thus drawn by him. His reappoint meut by Governor Hampton, as well as his endorsement by the Anderson delegation, should surely have re moved any censure from me. How ever, I have no apology to offer, and j would act in the same way at any i time under similar circumstances. THE VOTE FOR W. J. WHIPPER AS | CIRCUIT JUDGE occurred under peculiar circum- j stances. It was my opinion at that time his election was of no effect. | Judge Reed but a short time before the election informed me that he did j not wish his name suggested or of fered in nomination; that he would j not yield the office, claiming to hold j it for four years. Governor Cham- j berlain had expressed a similar opiu ion. The direct issue was made with me about this vote. Some of the leading colored Republican mem? bers of the General Assembly openly threatened to oppose and defeat ray J measures of reform if I did not give i this vote. It was certain I could I not succeed without the assistance and votes of Whipper's supporters. Feeling assured that the election was a nullity, and that I was only expected to cast one ballot, I did so, believing it for the best, under all the circumstances, nor could I have been consistent and have voted other? wise after the Democrats had cast their vote almost solidly for J. J. Wright as Associate Justice?a more important and higher position. And why is it that they escaped censure? for no one will question that in point of morals, intellect and character Whipper was certainly the equal of Wright. One other matter, aud then I be? lieve I will have answered every charge made against me whilst I was in the General Assembly. This was my vote in favor of furnishing Sen? ators with three or four daily papers to be laid on their desks during the session. This would seem to be a small matter, yet I prefer to give the reasons for such vote. Three of the four papers were Democratic, and, the Senate being largely Repub lican, my desire and motive was that this Republican Senate should be kept daily informed, through an opposition press, of the many griev? ances complaiued of, in order to produce a wholesome check on bad legislation, aud, on the other hand, to hold out an inducement for economic and just laws. What effect this daily information produced can only be determined by the legislation and reforms subsequent. I know that interested politici? ans ? endeavored to make the appointment of the Jury Com? missioner before referred to dis? tasteful to some citizens of the County, and were loud in their con? demnation of me; but a calm and dispassionate review of all the ap? pointments made iu Anderson Coun? ty during the Republican rule, made under my influence in a great meas? ure, must convince all that I did not act from a partisan spirit but for the general public good. In many instances I favored the ap? pointment of citizens who I knew had opposed my election, but I was well aware that such persons were competent, honest and acceptable to their neighbors: hence I ignored all personal feeling and considerations and recommended good and true men. Even in times when the Demo? cracy of Anderson were divided I did not advise or seek to take any advantage of the situation in County affairs that could be tortured into partisanship, but invariably sup? ported none but good and compe? tent persons for County officers, thus on more than one occasion hazarding my position and influence with some of the leaders of ray own party. Take, for instance, the County offi? cers elected by the votes of the Re? publicans in Anderson, and I ven? ture that their conduct of County affairs will compare favorably with any elected before or since that time. In concluding this long ad? dress, in candor I must say that there are many things running through the last twelve years that I would like to forget. But with all the ostracism and persecution which followed and was meted out to my? self* and family for a time, and per? haps with some is continued still, simply because I dared to be a Re? publican, yet I can say with truth that I have never knowingly injured the people of this State by word or act. I have stood by the County of Anderson, opposing each and every effort to injure or oppress her. On the one hand I bitterly opposed the organization and arming of the militia within her borders, the im? portation of the State Constabulary, or the quartering of troops upon us for political purposes; whilst, on the other hand, I opposed as strenu? ously any Ku-Kluxism or violence for like purpose, and in so doing I not only assisted in preventing discord, riot and bloodshed, but strengthened th^ Republican party and promoted harmony between the races. I always felt an honest pride in representing a constituency dis? tinguished since 1868 for peace, economy, just and liberal views; and at all times in life, in whatever posi? tion I may have been placed, I have endeavored to sustain and maintain your fair fame and reputation, whether on the field of battle or as a private citizen, or as County Audi? tor, or as member of the House of Representatives, or as Senator; and it is with no common or ordinary feel? ings that I attempt now to express ray lasting gratitude for former con? fidence and support. I bear no malice to any, but leave all with the best and sincerest wishes for their prosperity and happiness. To you, my colored fellow-citizens, this address would be incomplete unless I made full and frank ac? knowledgment of the confidence and support you have rendered me. I do not think it can be said that I ever willingly or knowingly deceived or misled you. That I earnestly de? sired your advancement in all that builds up a true citizensb/.p must be evidenced by my conduct and ad? vice on all occasions. Whatever measures will aid your educational, moral or material progress will al? ways receive my ardent support. I advise you to give your undivided support to the organization and maintenance of a thorough school system, free from all politics and creeds, to the end that every child shall have the opportunity of ob? taining a common English educa? tion?reading, writing and arith? metic?the basis and stepping stone, according to capacity, for the high? est standard of all learning. JOHN R. COCHRAN. Anderson, March 5,1880.