The Anderson intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, April 08, 1880, Supplement, Image 8
of Counties. < During tho s&tloo of
1873-74 & memorial signed by a
large number of the citizens of An
derson, petitioning and suggesting
legislation on tho subject of drain?
ago, was sent to me to be presented
to tho House. In accordance
therewith I offered "A Bill to con
stitute the County Commissioners bf
Anderson County Commisoioners of
Health md Drainage and to define
their powers and duties." [8ee
House Journal, page 250.] This
Bill was acted upon favorably in
both houses and approved by Gov
ernor Moses, March 14,187 4. It is
well known ?ha? this Act accom
plished some good, but io some in
stances failed to secure KO favorable
a result as w?j anticipated. Thia
Act being imperfect and deficient in
detail, from want of experience in
such legislation by the General
Assembly, at session cf 1874-75 [eeo
Senate Journal, page 306,] I sub
mitted a Bill to amend the original
Act ia 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 ia its main provisions) and
became a law, to which I yielded
. my cordial support.
JUSTICES OF THB PJ?AOE-Till AL JUS
TICES.
In my endeavor to carry out the
plain provisions - f the Constitution
of the State whlo* provided Justices
. of the Peace shu aid be elected by
the people, I introduced two Bills
for stich election. [Senate Journals,
1874- 76,1875-76, pages 33 and 10.]
Both of these Bills were defeated.
After the defeat of the firr.t,
as will. bo seen hy reference to
ySenatb Journal 1874-75, page
175, I offered "A Bill to regu
late the Courts of Trial Justices for
the County nf .'i ..derson." Among
other things this Bill provided fora
fixed and definite salary for each
Justice, to wit : twenty-five dollars |
for ali 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 ia Anderson County and te
define their powers and duties."
This Bill provided for nine Trial
, Justices, ono for every two townships
and one for the town of Anderson,
and fixed their salaries at fifty dol
lars each per ans?m. This Bill
passed, tho. Senate but was indefi
nitely postponed ia the House.
71 earing of this, I went to members
of tho Houso 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 ouly to curtail aud
keep all Trial Justices within reason
able bounds in Anderson County, but,
if possible, make the fines collected
' sustain and pay tho expenses of their
Courts, and, by giving a salary, pre
vent any officer from encouraging
litigation for the sake of fees ob
raised thereby, ?au i by cowpari
Kon, at least, effectually prevent and
check other like officers in different
Counties from having their bills of
coats paid, which, in some instances,
amounted to thousands of dollars for
a single Justice, which tended to
sweli tho County oxpenses to an un
reasonable degree. Anderson was
selected as a mere example of what
could be accomplished ?n securing
efficient officers ai reasonable sala
ries to perform the official dutiee on
tho criminal side. This Act wes ap
proved by Governor Chamberlain
and accomplished the object for
which it was intended. Afterwards
I offered a general Bill, [session
1876, Scm*le Journal, page 06,1
which, if it had been adopted, would
haye secured similar reforms
. throughout the State.
IN?PECTOB OF PHOSPHATES.
I presented three Bills referring
to the duties of this ?frico. Tho
first will bo found in TTOMOIJ Journal
of 1572-73, page flo-*; the secoud
ls Seuata Journal of 1874-75, page
340, ?nd the third iu Senate Jour
nal of 1477, page 40. My object,
amongst other things, was to reduc?
thc fee* of tho Inspector by requir
ing a portion of it to be turned over
to the State Treasury. Tho Inspector
bud his friends were too strong for
me, abd tho Bills were defeated,
nEWAKDS.
Daring ono or more Republican
administrations the Governor had
offered large rewards for the appre
hension of persons, who, lt was ol
leged, had violated tho law, and
appropriations amounting in the
aggregate to many thousands of dol
lars- vero made, and a tax thus
levied upon Counties xi?i .jo?u?cted
with the trouble. I did .not-believo
tho peaceable, law-abiding citizens
of Andorsou County, or of any other
County not connected with tho dis
turbance complained of, should bo
taxed to pay for tho deeds of evil
disposed parsons w!*o lived cha
where, and I theroforo introduced
"A Bill to provide for tho payment
of rewards offered io .secura thc
Sariwment or crime." [8eo Senate
ounml 1875-78, page 413j It
passed both houses, and was ap?
proved by Qov.Chamberlain, March
.24, 1876. It provides that the
Governor by proclamation can offer
rewards for the apprehension of any
pereon who commits a high crime
against tho peace within this State,
abd that such rewards shall be paid
bv tho County Commissioners ot the j
Comely wherein such crime;-wa*]
SimTUZlOWA?, A??ENBMK?TTB<
Ith a j?iew to prevent ?ny retro
reform commence?* by tho General
Assembly, and io avoid tho great
expense and oxciteraent consequent
upon a Convention of tho people be
ing called to amend the Consti
tution of the State, inasmuch as all
that was necessary could be a ceo in-,
plfched by the General Assembly,
on the 8th of December, 1875, I
addressed a letter to such bf the Sen
ators and Representatives os were
then at the capital, stating to them
ray belief that tho Constitution of
this State might be amended so that
it should .> . 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 Aesembly and aub
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 itt
other States puticularly suggested
to every thoughtful man, being sub
stantially those embraced in the
platform I have recited in this ad
dress. AU of these Senators and
Representatives agreed in the main
with the prop*- -/itions set forth by me,
and in favorof the Republican Legis
lature initiating suoh measures of
reform as would secure the greatest
good to tho people ; and requested
that my letter and their answer be
communicated to the Republican
members of the General Assembly,
which I bad dons accordingly.
On November 23,1875,1 intro
duced in tho Senate a resolution
Providing for the appointment of a
bmmittee to report to tho Senate,
: as soon as practicable, such r?solu
1 tiona for amendment to the Cousti
j tution of the State as, in their judg
ment, should receive attention at
that sessiou, which was immediately
adopted.
On February 1st, 1878, as Chair
man of tho Committee, I submitted
a Joint Resolution pi ^posing certain
amendments to the State Constitu
tion, which .was finally adopted by
the Senate/February 10th, 1876, and
sent to the House. Rut, al
though the General Assembly con
tinued in 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 tub
Committee was engaged in the pros
ecution of Judge Moses before the
Senate; and, amid tho excitement and
for want of time, the resolution
failed. The great satisfaction. I
have, however, is th'.t I made every
effort to discharge my duty, and
that if tho resolution had been
adopte-1 much good would have
resulted therefrom.
ILLICIT SALB 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 whi?e end 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 ov jol
lege within this State." [Seo tanate
Journal,session 1377-78, pago 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 varioun 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 citizen- of tho Stato.
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 tho
United States government in putting
down the Unlawful imirfo in iiquor,
and thereby bring about a better
understanding between the citizens
of tho State and tho officers of the
revenue deportment- This Act re
ceived the necessary readings in
both houses and was approved by
Governor Hampton.March 18,1878,
I also, as shown b> late Jour
nal, page 45, session bf 187?-76, of
fered tho following resolution, which
was adopted:
"'Whereas tho Inter dal Ro??naol)epartmt'nt
oftao United Ste-tcs permit* tho Issue- of
licences to retail liquors nt largos ?ad whettbui
tho retailing- of liquors at large within thU
State ir. forbidden by lav. and. If allowed,
would bo prodoetivoof tho greatest erils lp
ear agriculturil Intercuts t and whereas ?nen
basin??* baa been largely carried on without
hindrance.- sustained by the belief that tho
lleensa nndav lae United States ..?utr.clsnUy
protected tho holder from oocountohlll?.* to
tho Rtate law ; therefore, bo lt
" ii Mo ?oerf hy ~~ Sonata, th* H*?H?S -!
Uepresontalivcaconcorrlng. That ?ur Senators
he Instructed, and out Hei?tM*ntaUv*? In
Congress be requested, to oso, their influence
fer tho pasHogc nf a law prtblbjUa* tho tssuo
of license? to retail liquors at largo."
Through this resolution the mat
ter waa brought to ',rW atten
tion of our Senators and Repre
sentatives io Congress, sud br them
io ino authorities-at Washington,
and resulted In an order forbidding
tho issuing of licenses by tho Uuited
Sattes authorities to retail from
wagons, .
TRAFFIC TN 3KEB COTTON.
In many portions of tho State the
improper traffic in seed cotton be
camo 'lnrbauttgeablo source of
tirer* >? causing great lees'to tho
5Ian tera and engendering1 strife,
'brough Ulis trafiiu and the baneful
results brought about thereby- gins,
flores and other property were
destroyed, litigation increased, and
vigilance eomraitloes organized. In
fact, ft became suoh a leading cause
of evil that tho grand juries of dif
ferent Counties called attention to it,
and pc ii tiona to suppress it were
numerous.
In an adjoining County the effect
of thia trame had well-nigh ruined
th? agricultural prosperity iu seve
ral neighborhoods. I commenced a
war opon it, and from time to time
offered thro J Bills in reference
therete, as shown by Senate Jour
nals sessions of 1874-75,1875-7G,
asd regular session of 1876, pages
553, 378 and 89, The tint was a
general Bill and referred to its sale
m any portion of the State between
sunset and sunrise, attaching pena!
ties for any violation. This Bill was
defeated. I thea 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 prejudice against
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
trafile in the same," which was
acted upon favorably, but was
eventually lost or misplaced in the
most mysterious manner. About
this time a Bili was received from
the House which was an exact copy
of mino. This Bill wa* referred tr
a Committee and misplaced in lik(
manner, but, a certified copy being
obtained, it was actec J pou and be
came a law, and has in part curec
the evil complained of.
TELEGRAMS.
Believing they should be kept a
sacred os the contents of a lette
aud guarded in like manner, I in
traduced *'A iSili to regulate tb
transmission and delivery of mes
sages by telegraph companies.1
[Senate Journal 1875-76, page 249.
This Bill made it a penalty for an;
\ officer to fail, neglect or refuse ti
deliver a telegram within due tim
after its reception at such office
also provided heavy penalties if an;
officer or employee made known th
contents of a dispatch.
FEB DIEM AND MILEAGE OF MEM
BEBB OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The Journals will shew that it
variably I voted to reduce the pe
: diem of members. When what we
known as the salary grab Bill wi
being considered, I voted for n r<
duetton of more than one-half <
what was then allowed under the l?
as pay of members of tho Gener:
Assembly. [See Senate Journa
special session 1877, pages 397,80!
329, 353 and 380.]
By reference to Senate Journa
special session 1877, page 31, it wi
appear that I offered "A Bill to r
duce and fix the per diem and mil
age of the members of the Geber
Assembly." Under the then or.istir
law the salary was 0600 and mileaj
per session. .The Bill submitted ?
me provided for four dollars per dc
during the session, not to exceed six)
days. It was amended in tho Se
ate, and 1300 per session agreed c
in that body- As the Senate wi
then constituted, that was the be
compromise aud reduction that cou!
be obtained. The House amende
fixing the per diem at five dolla
per day, which amendment was fins
ly agreed to by the Senate. Th
Act was approved by Govern
Hampton, June 7,1877. Before tl
passage of thia Act the cost of ea<
session of the General Assembly f
Salary and mileage of members w
896,100; under this lost Act, $21
491; amount saved per ses?o
669,609.
This Act of itself did not effect
full the reduction, but it material
aided therein, and the good son
and proper idea of economy ei
deuced by the Dempcrao? since g<
ting the control of affairs^ by retur
ing to short sessions and . loso app
cation and work, will soon corre
whatever of apparent extravagan
may seem to exist in the present J
diem and mileage.
COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.
I Introduced tho following B
May 14,1877 [Senate Journal, na
166] : ** Bill to investigate anti i
certain the actual bona fide iude'i
cd ness of the .various Counties
this State and to regulate tho mt
ner of paying the same," i*t v
acted Upon favorably and signed
Gov, Hampton, June ll, 1877. .
tho time of its. passage a large ii
jorlty of the Counties Were groan i
under the burdens imposed by lev
of taxes tb pay past indebtedn
for several years, a large propbrti
of such indebtedness being w
k?own to bo illegal. This Act p
vided that Upon petition of fifty ti
payers of any County, setting fo:
that in their belief portions of i
County debt were doubted und cl
le?geu, the Governor should
point a Commission, composed
three competent and discreet j
sons, to investigate the Bame, and
report* their action thereon to
next General Asartnbly, with po^
Vj se?d t?r p?rs?biarid papery, ?
forbid tho levying or collection
any special tax during tho i nyc
gStrOi?. TRO' Governor1 nppoin
Commissioners in a largo mirabel
Counties, and much tjood was
cb.mplished thereby, alargo amoi
of unlawful elaitsB being elimina
from tho bulk of their indebtedn
LIQ?OR TAX.
Believing that the ?ale of spir
ODS , liquor* added largely to
annual expense of the State i
Counties by adding to the expel
of its criminal Courts, its jails ?
Penitentiaries, and that the St
reaped na benefits therefrom
offered "A Bili to rmpoRe
tax: and prescribe a mode of
of selling wine, ardent spirits and.
melt liquors within the limits cf thia
State." [Senate Journal, 1876-77,
page 140.] 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 io 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.
FAY OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
At session of 1876, [Senate Jour
nal, page 67,] I introduced " A Bill
to reduce the pay of County Com
missioners aud their clerks." It re?
oeived a majority vote in both houses
and was signed by Governor Hamp
ton, May 31, 1877. This Act re
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 saviug
to the taxpayers of tho 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
I received forty cents per day, which
in my estimation was entirely too
much. ' The Bill as I presented it
fixed thc price at twenty cents pei
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. Mj
action in reference to the above wit
be found, Senate Journal 1877, pug?
149. This measure looked to thc
reduction of County expenses, enc
in a considerable degree ?ceorn
plished that result.
PUBLIC EXECUTIONS.
During my term of service in tin
House and Senate, feeling the de
moralizing influences and effects re
salting from publie executions, !
addressed a communication to encl
Circuit Judge in the State in regan
to this subject. Thuir replies ac
corded fully with my views; and
thus .supported, I introduced at va
rious times, three several Billa prc
vidiug that all executions shoubl b
private, in jail yards, to be con
ducted in a building erected for sud
purpose. [Seo Senate Journal, set
sions 1874--75, 1875-76, pages 41
85 and 239.] The first two Bill
failed to pass in the Senate. Th
third Bill, however, received th
necessary three readings in tlu
body, but was uHimateTy defeate
ia tne House. Since 1876 a simile
law has been enacted, and now tb
couatry is saved from such revoltic
and demoralizing" exhibitions.
FEES AND COSTS OF OFFICERS AN
ATTORNEYS.
By reference to Senate Journal
sessions 1875-76 and 1876, pagi
555, la*) aud 31, it will be seen tnt
I introduced Bills to reduce the fei
and costs of certain officers and a
torneys. These Bills iu the mai
! reduced the fees and costs, wbei
practicable, to the fee Bill of 183
I which was just and equitable in a
? ita bearings. I found it impossib
1 to obtain either a favorable or ui
favorable report from the Sena
Judiciary Committee, therefore tht
were lost. ,
BANK DEPOSITS.
?pvTho poliey of creating banks <
deposit waa certainly in tended :
provide a safe and convenient pla<
where*' publie and private fun;
should be kept to be paid out to d
positon on call. The experience :
this State (and it ia by no means an e
ception) has beea that soma of the
institutions have been the mediu
of great loss to the people at larg
In some instances charters bave u
doab ted ly been obtained by cunnii
sharpers with thc; Intent.to steal a:
defraud from the conimencemei
In moro than one case the officei
knowing the insolvency of the i
Blitulion, have continued to-recel
deposits, kuowing such depos!
would be lest by those wno rna
them. The State hos not es cap
from the rapacity of suoh bank ol
cers. To aid in preventing -sa*
impositions and frauds and at le:
to hold the terrors of the ILW ov
the officers of such institutions.att
regular session 1876 I submitted *
Bul to render officers of eorporatic
personally responsible in certs
casea." [Senate Journal, page 6'
It was acted upon favorably, rntifh
?nd approved bv Governor Han
toa, May 3lot, 1877.
" BILL TO REDUCE THE PAY OF CO
MISSIONERS AND MANAGERS
ELECriON AND OF THEIR CLERKE
By reference to Senate Jonrnal
1878, page 102, it will bc sccs ?
I offered a Bill boariug the abo
aamed title, which provided foe
reduction of the pay of Commissi?
era and Managers of Elec&tos a
their clerks from three ' dollars ?
day to one dollar. Having be
reported upon favorably, and tyhi
being considered by the Stone
Senator Mwtse' s?kc? If I vtoi
favor a further reduction -rad so :
reform thu eiaas of expenditure
tb .go. back, lo .tho baloy im di
when good men served in thia
paoity free of oharge. I iaforh:
him that I would gladly du so. !
then offered to so amend as to al
ish all pay, which amendment
advocated and voted for. This ?
waa acted , upon favorably and x
approved by Gov. Hampton, ?5
28, 1877. By ita provisions t
State is saved every two years a si
approximating 815,000.
STATS OFFICERS ON BOARDS A
COMMISSIONS. *
Of all the evils that befell Soi
Carolina; none equalvui tho appoi
meat of Stete officer* on Si
v?ii, ap, a u?,w"w i III 'mila \,tm&r*?****m*i*^'t**q*qm*w*w
slaocw, the Financial Board, coto
ppsed of Scott, Chamberlain aod
Parker, increased the State debt by
unlawful means many milita* t of
dollars. The Land Commission,
the Sinking Fund Commission, etc,
composed of the ?ame or similar
officers, ali drew their deadly coils
around the State, poisoning her very
lifo blood and destroying, the Re
publican party ia the cud. To
prevent further trouble in that di
rection I introduced in the Senate,
session of 1876, page 38, *'A Bill to
prohibit the service of State officers
upon Boards and Commissions and
public committees." This Bill re
ceived its necessary readings ia tbe
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 IO2.3 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 1876, page 69.] lt was duly
ratified and approved by Gov.
Hampton, Jute 7,1877. The in
I teresta 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
thu fu?ire. It prohibits State and
County officers from leaving ^5
State for more than thirty days in
one year, under penalty of losing
tho salaries and perquisites of their
offices for the yea" in which such
absence occurs.
APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY
OFFICERS.
I offered, at regular session 187<
[pago 67,] "A Bill to regulate th<
appointment of County officers,'
which was acted upon favorably am
approved by Governor Hampton
May 30,1876. It provided that m
person should be appointed to an;
County office unless he was an elec
tor of such County. It is so wei
known what the State and Countic
have lost by ?uch appointments tba
I need make no comments thereon
ELECTION OF 1876.
Any history of my course of ac
tion wouli? be incomplete without
brief allusion to the exciting an
important election of 1876 and th
session of the General Assembi
immediately succeeding. - Govcrno
Hampton in my judgment bavin
received a majority or the votes cai
according to the returns made i
the mode and - manner provide
under tho Constitution, J could d
no less than sustain him. Wha
ever clamor was raised over illegi
votes or ballot-box stuffing or u
timidation had no effect over the ver
fled returns. The Supreme Com
of the State, having been aj
pealed to to decide these grave a.n
important questions, bad decide
that .Ins Wallace House was tl
legai.y-constituted HOUBO of Repr
sentatives. 1, therefore,in obedient
to law as pronounced by the Cou:
of last resort, at once acquiesced i
this decision ; and on the passage <
the tax levy by the Senate in coi
junction with the Mackey Hous
with the view of presenting tl
same to Governor Chamberlum fi
approval, I submitted a protest i
tbe Senate embodying this viei
[Senate Journal, 1876, pages 12
124.]
JOINT INVESTIGATING COMMETTE
My connection with the Joint I
vestigating Committee, to which
have already alluded, has been mat
the occasion of comment, partie
larly on the part of Republican
It is proper to say that I did n
move the appointment cf the coi
mitten, and was made a member ai
Chairman or it wU?b?fc any eeiicii
tion on my part. Designated
.?i?* pvoitiG? . i?y ino ?je?aie, lt w
my plain duty to accept it and d
charge the truBt with au eye sing
to tba public good. As a RepUb
can I would have been recreant
my party if I had shirked tho J
sponslbihty. ' As a representativo^
th? people it equally devolved upi
ms to meet the responsibility fair)
fearlessly and thoroughly. Char^
of corruption had for years be
freely circulated and had weigh
with crushing force upon Repub
cans in this State as a party. '
eliminate and fasten the truth up
tho guilty was to vindicate the i
s?cett, whilst to expose what w
falso was even moro effectually
r?iic?to ibo ruasses of the people
tho odium which should atta
solely to their leaders-and if tl
resulted in deposing leaders w'
had betrayed their trusts and th:
farly as well, the remedy, howe?
croie, was only proportioned to t
uwaaso n'nd indispensable ts ibo cc
of lt. If tho investigation prov
that leaders who had claimed to
hnnmt mon asid 'jv>fiirf>m?ji. .??
leaders only in fraud and eor-,i;
tioui tho responsibility rtsts up
those who committed the wrong a
not upon those whose duty hi bocai
to expose and bring them to punh
meint. In a civilised community
party can follow such loaders!
and live ; indeed, under such lead
ship, ? party ought not to live,
was because of such leadership tl
tho Republican party met dftfei
acd it was only by impeaching su
leadla and raising up new stat
ardtr ~ oat it could hope ever a^t
to be deemed worthy of partitaj
tion ia p?bilo affairs. liv I ba
impartially, thoroughly ar
fully done nay duty upen this oom
mittee^hd for thia I challenge the
record-? haye served fae Republi
can party np lesa than the etat?;
and w all, cf it, having fully dis
charged my trusts, I have nothing
to. regret save the crimes which
created the occasion and imposed1
upon nie ?he trust.
BO UTI NE OF LEGISLATION.
To one not familiar with the pro- !
ceas of legislation it would' appear
to be an easy, simple and speedy
thiog to obtain the enactment of any
ordinary law. The preparation and
introduction of tho Bill is only the
first step. Ita r?f?rence to the ap
propriate Committee follows, and
then the report from that Commit
tee, if one can be obtained; If the
report ia favorable, the Bili comes
up on its merits on the second read
ing; whatever discussion is had on
tho Bill is usually had theu. If tho
Bill panes 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 tho
same routine there. If it passes,
without amendments, then it is or
dered enrolled. If amended at all
it must ?o back So the first house for
concurrence, and, after that, ia eu roll
ed, ratified and presented to tho Gov?
ernor for approval. Under tbe most
favorable circumstances it ia a mat
ter requiring great care and watch?
fulness in the midst of the business
of Ike two houses; but if it invoke*
opposition of aiy character, hones!
or otherwise, then its passage re
?julrea ? degree of care and watch
illness which can hardly bo appro
ciated by any one who has not beer
a member of the General Assembly
There are nameless chances, fran
first io last, of the most meritorious
Bil* /ailing of passage through th?
management of unscrupulous per
sons opposed to it.
My object in referring to thi
1 matter ia that you may ia some de
gree apprehend and appreciate tin
? amount of labor, care and attentioi
bestowed by me on various measure
during my six years of public sei
vice. Take up, if you have th
patience and curiosity, the JU meroo
Acta and resolutions introduced b;
me. How many are now on th
statute books as laws? Conside
the condition of the State, and th
character and intelligence of th
Legislature ; the prejudices then es
isling; the amount of labor an?
pers?v?rance actually performed b
me, to say nothing'of the anxiety
endured, and I am more than will
ing to abide your judgment. Th
Demooratio members, although in
minority up to 1876, always unan
mously supported my attempts s
reform, aa well aa many of th
members of my own party. Afte
1876 my measures were more favo
ably considered by my own Bart]
ana received almost the unanimot
[support of the opposition; hence rn
I success, and the iawa and their a
tuai results are living witnesses fe
(me.
CONCLUSION.
'.: i set out in thi? address to gn
a T-'I, unvarnished and candid a
cr ? 't of my actiou.In tho Gener
Assembly, and nothing extenuate,
shall proceed to notice several ma
tera for which I have been criticise
That I made mistakes I do not mt
to deny ; but I can safely and co:
scientiously aver that in all at
whatsoever I did I acted in the si
cere belief that good, and not evi
would result to the people of tl
State. Among other things, I wi
censured for insisting upon the a
pointaient of Samuel johnson i
Jury Commissioner for ?nderst
County. My reasons for this cour
were:
1. Because I believed him co?
potent Va fill the position.
2. Because^ he was the on
colored man in the .Conntv Askii
for position at the time ! asked ?
his a
?, i?Ccnuss i tncUglii tut; odor;
voters were entitled to at knsfc th
small recognition from the Repu
lican administration.
4. Because ho had supported t
in more than one election, aud I fi
that he was entitled to this reta
fromme.
Eis competency was evidenced
the character of tho juries drav
from his list, being intelligent ci
zens end repress agni I classesai
races, (and in striking contrast wi
some drawn einco in the latter i
spec!.) It ia well known that no co?
plaint was ever made of the jura
tnw'dr?wri by bira. His reappoir
ment by Governor Hampton, aa wc
as his endorsement by the Anders*
delegation, should surely have ?
moved any censure from me. Ho
over, I have no apology to offer, at
would act in the same way at m
time under similar circumstances.
THE VO*2 inyu. 77. -? ?lrrE? .
CinC?IT JUDGE
occurred under peculiar circu?
*??"CCC. It ~S5 ITIJT vp??i???i RC tn
time his election waa of no affe<
Judge Reed but a short time befo
the e?cc'?cn ?nfori?fid i?i? that ned
not wish his name suggested or <
fered in nomination ; that ho woo
not yield the office/olaiming to ho
it for four years. Governor Cbai
berlain had expressed a similar opi
ion. The direct Issue waa mai
with me about this vote. Some of tl
leading colored Republican mei
bera of tho Generai Assembly open
threatened to oppose And defeat n
measure? of refornrif I did not gi
this vote. It was certain I ccu
not succeed Without the alistan
asd votes cf WbippcfV mippon?i
Feeling ??sured thai the election,
was a nullity, and thai X waa only
expected to cast ons ballot, I did so,
believing il for tho best, nader all
the circumstances, nor could X bave
been eousiiteut ead have voted other
wise after the Dem?crata had. cast,
their vote alm^? solidly for J. J. .'.
Wright as Associate justicc-r? more
important and higher poeitioa. And
why is it that they escaped censure?
for no one will cuesti?n that in point
of moral?, intellect and character -
Whipper was certainly tho equal of
Wright.
One other matter, and then I ben
lievo I will have answered every
charge rando against roe whilst X 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
i session. This would seem to bo &
I small matter, yet I prefer to give
the reasons for such vote. Three of
the four papers were Democratic,
apd, 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 complained of, in order to
{?roduce a wholesome check on bad
egislation, and, on the other Land, 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 moko tho
appointment of tho Jury Com
missioner before referred to dis
tasteful to some citizens of the
County, and nero loud in their con
demnation of me ; but a calm and
dispassionate review of ali the ap
pointments made i u Anderson Coun
ty during the Republican rule, made
under my influence ia a great meas
ure, must convince all that I did
not act from a partisan spirit but
for the general publie good. In
many instances I favored tho ap
pointment of citizens who I knew
had opposed my election, but X 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 tru6
men.
liven in times when the Demo*
eracy of Anderson were divided I
did not advise or seek to take any
advantage of the situation in County ',
affairs that could bs tortured into
partisanship, but invariably sup
ported none but good and compe
tent persons for Count;- officers, thus
on more than one occasion hazarding
my position and influence with eomo
of the leaders of my own jparty.
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, ia candor I rr,nat usy that
there aro many things running
through tlie last twelve yeera that I
would like to forget. Rut with ail
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 Kc?
purni.'?'*.*-, yet I can Bay with truth
that I have never knowingly iujuied
the people of this . State by word or
act. I have stood by tho County of
Anderson, opposing each and every
effort to injure or oppress her. On
the ono baud I bitterly opposed the
Organization and arming of tho
militia within her borders,,the im
portation of the State Constabulary,
or the quartering of troops u??n us
for .political purposes ; : whilst, on
the other baud, I opposed aa strenu
ously any Ku-Klux?sin or violence
for like purpose, and in so doing ?
not only assisted in preventing
discord, riot and^bloodsbed, but'
_1 ;_
J T?Vvv^. -3- atnvkva lost. " l?*?Li*?H?. "r?C?C"
iii repr?sentas s a ssns?t???vn<vi7 dis
tinguished since 1868 fur peace,
economy, just and liberal views; and
at ell time3 in life, in whatever posi-;vi
tion I may havo been placed, I havo
endeavored to sustain and maintain
your fair fame and reputation,
whether on the field of hattie or ; as
a private citizen, or as County Audi
tor, or as member of, the House of
^Representfttives,or os 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, bot leave all with the
beat aa? ?incerest wishes, for their
prosperity and happiness.
To,you, my colored iellew-citizens,
this address would bo,incomplete
unless X made full and fronk ac
knowledgment of the confidence and.
, support you have rendered me. I do
not think it can be said that I ever
v;illingly or knowingly deceived or.
misled you. That I " earuostly de
sired your .advancement in all that
builds up a truo citizenship must bo
--- "j j uvuuuun aim na?
vice oh all occasions. Whatever
mocsures will aid your educational,
morai cr baterial- progress wiii al
ways receive my ardent support. ?
ad.iseyouto givo your undivided
support to the organization cud
maintenance of a thorough schcol ,
system, free from all politics aud
creeds, to the end that every child
shall have the opportunity of ob
taining a common English educa
uon-~readhig,; writing and ?rith-.
mct40~-tho bawls and stepping stony,
according to capaci ty, for the bigh
<^ standard of all learning. ". '
J?HH R, C?CH
Anderson, Marok ?, 1881