The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, September 24, 1895, Image 1
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONTENTION.
FROM SALUDA TO BUTLER.
TUB ENTERING WROGE OF THE
TllOUBLE.
George 1>. TUIman's Onslaught Upon
His Brother?The Fight Over the
Printing.
The last day of tho week was a uo
table one In the prococdingB of tho
constitutional convention as it marked
the real beginning of ita work. Tho
rest of the week hau boon spent in
necessary preliminary luatlei-o, whiuh
having been finally go .tea into shape, I
the convention sottled down to active
business.
The features of to-day's proceedIuks
were the formation 01 Butler (Jouuty
out of a portion of Edgefield and the
speech of U. D. Tillman on the ques
tion of naming the new county, hi d
the settlement of the priming mutter
by awarding the contract to Mr. U. A.
Calvo, the State Printer. Over each
of these three matters a hot tight was
waged-and the di?cussion of them took
up the whole day iroin 10 u'clook u? i
nearly 3.
Alter the ordinary preliminaries
the committee un rule.-* made a report
amending rule 27 in reference to print*
) ing resolutions presented in accordauou
with the will of the convention. The
only ohange of importance permits a
moaaure to be amended on the third
reading by a majority vote instead of
by a two-thirds as originally provided.
Senator Tillman moved to change
tho calendar by which the county
government resolution of Mr. Prince
was placed ahead of the Butler (Jounty
report. Ho said that it would bo dl?
tinotly remembored that the resolution
ol Mr. I Vinco was the last thing con
sidered yesterday, and that provision
was made that baluua County be first
taken up. It seemed as if nothing
could keep off tho Butler County mut
ter, and that tho convention was in for
the preliminary skirmish.
The committee having under consid
eration the Saluda County revolution
had two reports, a majority report
signed by six members and a minori
ty report signcu by ?Ivo. There was a
squabble auioutf committee men as to
whether the minority bad not takeu
advantage of the majority and put in
a report without proper authority, and
upon this ditTtrence tnere ensued a de
bate characterized by considerable
warmth at times and covert insinua
I tiotts about bad faith. The--jjixi,j*lty
' repor^vecummwnded the formation of
the county under the name of Butler.
A long debate ensued, in which Geo.
D. Tillman, Frank B. Gary, R. K,
Uemphill, Geo. Johnstone, R. B. Wat
son and others participated, the main
effort of those who were opposed to
the majority roport being directed to
a recommittal of tho roport, which
was proposed by Gen. Hoinphill. No
one opposed the formation of Salwia
or Butler County, but there was a fight
against making it an exception.
Mr. B. R. Tillman asked to be allow
ed to make a few remarks before the
matter was disposed of. This conven
tion had met to make a new constitu
tion, not to form now counties, but
Saluda was an exception. There was
absolutely no opposition to its forma
tion, and ho could not see why it should
not be formed. He moved the provious
question. Mr. Parrott asked him to
withdraw it and not shut off debate.
Other people suggested the same
thing, whereupon Senator Tillman
said : "All right; I don't want to shut
my friend off,'but I would rather hear
him vote no than to hear him talk."
(Laughter.)
The vote was then taken as t >
whether the general resolution provid
ing that no new county should be
established should be taken up instead
of Saluda and It was agreed to, but
the discussion continued, nevertheless,
as to the merits and demerits of
Saluda.
Senator Tillman offered as a sub
stitute to the resolution that no new
counties should be created, unless de
legates from all the counties affected
were unanimous, but on a viva voce
vote this was lost.
Mr. Derham offered an amendment
to the resolution by adding " provided
this does not apply to tbo proposed
Saluda County."
Mr. Hemphlll moved to lay the
amendment on the table.
The roll was called and the motion
to lay on the table was lost by a vote of
82 to 67.
Mr. Wilmm suggested that the pre
vious question be oalled. The house
had enough and as there seemed to be
a disposition to load the Derham re
solutions down the matter was pressed 1
and Mr. Prince's resolution that no
new counties be created by the conven
tion was finally adopted with the
amendment excepting Saluda County,
as the convention seemed to think that
Saluda County was greased and ready
to be rushed through, and so it was
given a fine chance to go through,
especially as all other new county
schemes were cut off.
Then came up the roport of the com
mittee to change tho name to Butlor
County, as unanimously reported.
Mr. R. B. Watson moved to strike
out the word "Butlor" and insert
"Saluda." While yielding to no man,
he said, in admiration for the services
of the Butler family, yet he thought
the name of the county ought to be
Saluda. It was what the people of
that Bectlon wanted. It was a name
that section bad borne for many years
and was a distinctive one.
It was at thin juncture that Ex-Con
gressman George D. Till man made by
odds the strongest and most forcible,
> vigorous aud eloquent spoeoh of the
session. He said tUat he had not un
dertaken to not without authority, as
he had consulted about fifteen men
from that section, who had tho mat
ter in charge, and they had all agreed
that the new county should be called
" Butler." It was only very, very re
cently, he said, that this prejudice
. had arisen against the name {sutler,
and he did not understand it. It would
bo very manly and generous to oall the
new county after its distinguished sons,
the Butlers.
It was about ono hundred and fifty
years since Col. Wm. Butler, with his
wife riding on his horse behind him,
. came from Virginia to live in Caro
lina. He fought for his adopted State
In tho Revolutionary war and did roble
service. Col. Wm. Butler and his
family have not only illustrated the
manhood and ability of their county,
but, he might add, of Carolina. They
represented muoh of the genius of the
State.
Dr. Butler was tho father of Gen.
Calbralth Butler and who was himself
a member of Congress, and the daugh
ter married Gen. Waddy Thompson,
who was himself a distinguished Con
gressman and minister to Mexico.
. There were others, many others, of the
kp^?iutler family and their relatives who
took prominent and leading' places in
the history of their State and country.
The Butlers have not only been the
equals of any of the families of Caro
lina, but they are unrivalled by any
in their devotion. In their work and
in their service they have done their
State.
He referred with much foeling to
I the Butlor burial ground, which is
I located in the new county near the
future Court House, and whloh has
I been so carefully kept and sacredly
I regarded by the family, as the resting
I place of any family of such worth "on Id
be by those who venerated their dead.
! ThU burial ground would be in two or
three miles of the county seat, and he
knew that many a pilgrim would stop
to see the resting place of this illustri
ous family, and he predicted that the
epitaphs upon the stately monuments
of these dead would be read with prldo
by the Carolinians who went there.
Saluda, he said, was the mere Indian
name for a dirty little river?a name
whloh has already been fixed to some
thing, and then with a maunificont
burst of eloquence he said, "My God,
are illustrious names so plentiful that
they should be overlooked for some
Ktty Indian name V We can afford to
to none of them."
If Gen. Butler has ever done any
thing to the dlsoredit of himself or to
his State he nevor knew of it. If any
body objeoted to Calbraith Butler losing
his log In the Confederacy he never
I eard of it. If anybody objeoted to Cal
braith Butler risking his life at tha
head of the militia at Hamburg he
nover heard of it, and if anyone object
ed to hit; risking his life in helping to
redeem Carolina he had never heard
of it, and yet on account of uomo petty
Enjudioe it is proposed to do him and
is family this grave lnjustioo. He
referrod to the terrors of distributing
public offices and how diffloult It was
to have sufficient to go around among
the officeseekers, and oreated muoh
amusoment by saying that they were
like a hundred hounds after a fat
rabbit, and that was the oause of most
of the yelping after Gen. Butler at this
time.
He spoke of his long career in Con
gress and how he had always watched
the career and course of Senator Butler
and if there was ever anything oulpa
ble, wrong, or unjust about him or his
movements he never hoard of it or
saw it and he flattered himself that Be
was. a pretty clever observer of men.
If he did not do for you. all that he
could, If he was not a conscientious
and honest Senator, then I was not a
faithful member of Congress for my
people, and I pray that South Carolina
will always have men in the United
States Senate his equal, In honesty,
ubllity and eloquence, but he said that
he had great fears that It would he a
long time before his equal In ability,
eloquence and influence -vould find a
place In the United States Senate from
South Carolina.
He appealed to the sontiment and
right of justice of the members that
this distinguished name should be per
petuated In the name of the county
where the family had lived. The
family had for three generations given
the State and country generals, able
Judges. Senators and Congressmen and
other distinguished citizens, and he
knew of no family in any State that
had done more to deserve the perpetua
tion of the family name. With another
burst of eloquence he said, if you will,
lea /o Calbralth Butler out of the mat
ter entirely. Do not count him at all.
There aro others, and many of them,
who have done their full share for the
State that deserve to have the county
called Butler.
Ho then said that ho would take the
liberty of speaking of his dead friend,
Gen. Mart Gary, and he felt that he
could call him a friend, for ho had
none who were dearer or closer to him.
He was nearer and more intimate with
Gen. Gary than he had ever been with
Gen. Butler, and he and Gen. Gary
had always been the most intimate of
friends, and yet when Gen. Gary died
thero were suspicions and mutterlngs
?beut hin Independentism, or leanings
in that way. Yet I can say that thero
was never a truer or nobler man than
Mart Gary or a man who did more for
his State than he did.
He said that long ugo the tempta
tion was offered him to have the pro
Kosod county called Tillman County,
ut that he said he would not have It
for it would be like robbing the But
lers of their just rights. He would
as soon do suob a thing as to rob them
and ho would Booner. he said with
muoh emotion, put a pistol to his head
and blow a bullet through his brains
than rob the family of its rights. Gen.
Gary was under a muoh greater cloud
at the time of his death than Gen.
Butler, and when be died he and others
wanted to do the proper oredit to the
memory of Gen. Gary, and held a meet
ing at Edgefiold, at whioh he made a
speech advocating that a handsome
monument be erected to the memory
of Gen. Gary.
A society was organized to raise
money with whioh to build the monu
ment, and books and pictures were to
be sold to raise the monev or help, but
It was found that it had to be aban
doned on account of this shadow. Gary
bad written a letter to Col. Cash and
for this and other reasons the same
people did Gen. Gary the injustioe to
bo suspicious) of him and to underesti
mate his great services to the State for
a time. He for one never questioned
the work, the honesty or faithfulness
of Gen. Gary, but he could hardly help
feeling that ho had some right to
smart under certain things that were
done. He wanted to perpetuate the
name of tho "Bald Eagle of Edgefleld,"
and would advocate that the naming of
the new county, but he wanted to see
the names of Butler and Gary linked
together. Gary was born inside of the
proposed new county of Greenwood
and the Butlers have been born in the
now county that if to bo given that
dame.
Col. K. B. Watson, of KJgefleld, said
that he had no feeling in the rnattor,
that his ancestors and those of Gen.
Butler had been killed side by side in
the Revolutionary war, but the people
of the new county wanted it called Salu
da, and that was why ho favored the
name. He said he had no symnathy
with newspaper articles that defamed
men's names and characters, and he for
one was not ashamed of the record
that Calbraith Butler had made;
neither was he ashamed of the name
he had made in the Senate, in '76 or on
tbo battlefield.
The convention was ready for a vote,
and the aye and nay vote was culled
on the subjeot of tabling the report to
ohange the name from Saluda to But
ler, and the convention did the justice
of oallingthe new county Butler, by the
following vote : Yeas, for Saluda, 04;
nays, forButler, 70
The report adopting the ohango of
name was then adopted and tho But
ler County ordinance was given the
third reading without further debate.
The convention seemed to appreoiate
the fact that the sooner it was gotten
out of the way the better it would be for
all concerned, and, with tho gates be
ing shut to all others, thero seem si to
be no objection to the old Saluda Coun
ty plan going through, especially as
the entire territory came from Edge
field County,
THB PK1NTINO OF THE CONVENTION.
The next matter for discussion was
that of the printing for the convention.
The committee's report on the cost of
a stenographic report was read and
disposed of, being received simply as
information.
The other report of the same com
mittee was In reference to the award
of the contract. The majority report
recommended that Mr. Calvo bo elect
ed under the scale of prices allowed by
the statute. The minority report re
commended nothing except that the
majority report do not pass.
Mr. Otts moved that the minority
report be laid on the table, but with
drew it in order to give Mr. Behro of
the minority chance to explain his po
sition. He said tho minority had act
ed as they did in order to do justice to
all. He didn't know whether any
other printing ofiict in Columbia, ex
cept Mr. Calvo's, could do the work or
not, but he thought that It should be
seen whether there was or not and
whether the work could not be done
cheaper. Tho committee had found
out nothing about prices. He believed
in speoial privileges to none?to no
faction or the newspaper of any fac
tion.
Mr. Talbert said that The Register
was better prepared to do tho work
than any other offloe. Mr. Calvo had
been elected State Printer und the
natural consequence was that ho
should have this printing. So far us
he know no other office was prepared
to do the work, and we know that Mr.
Calvo oan for wo have evidence of it
before us.
Mr. K. K. Hemphill argued in a
clear and conclusive manner for his
report. He said Mr. Calvo was the
only printer in the city able to do tho
work and that the State was under
moral, if not legal, obligations to give
it to him. That tho convention and
all oth -r printing for the State was
covered by the Act passed by tho Leg
islature in 1803 and the work should
be given Mr. Calvo who was prepared
to do it.
Mr. Timmerman moved to lay the
minority roport on tho table, and the
ayes and noes being demanded tho
result was in favor of laying on tho
table by a vote of 70 to 53.
Mr. Stanyarne Wilson had tho ma
jority report so amended that Mr.
Calvo was declared printer for the
convention. With a few unimportant
motions and the introduction of a few
resolutions the convention adjourned
until Monday.
Tho committee on municipal cor
porations will not roport favorably on
woman suffrage generally in city
elections, but tho recommendation is
to be that women holding property
should, through their agents, be
allowed to vote in olections affecting
the bonds or indebtedness of tho cor
poration only.
The committee on executive depart
ment will recommend an advisory
board of pardons to recommend and
consider applications for pardons.
The right of the Governor to veto a
fiortion of a general apptopriation bill
s to be recommended. The question
of making the Governor ex-ollicio
chairman of mostiof the boards is being
seriously considered. The Idea ap
pears to be to give him tho right to
call for reports from all boards, but
not put him on them. Tho Governor
Is to have the right to suspend officers
for malfeasance. In ollice ponding in
vestigation.
Congressman Wilson favors a labor
commission and offered the following
for the purpose of accomplishing that
object:
" Whereas, by the nature of their
avocation tho great oody of wage
earners are at a great disadvantage in
the protection of their rights of person
and property, and tho supervision
and friendly hand of the Government
Is needful in order that tho conditions
of labor may be known, evils didclosed
and the cause of their existence dis
covered and the proper remedies for
their removal applied, a healthy
system of labor secured and the in
terests of the laboring classes ad
vanced :
"Be it resolved, That tho General
Assembly, at Its first session alter the
adoption of this constitution, shall
create and provide for the establish
ment and maintenance of a bureau of
labor State statistics, which shall be
under the charge of the commissioner
of labor statistics, who shall be ap
pointed by the Governor by and with
the advice and consent of tho Senate,
and it shall also prescribo his term of
ollice, powers, duties and compensa
tion ; and succeeding General Assem
blies shall provide for tho continued
maintenance thereof, with powers of
amending such original Act and
amendments thereof."
Mr. Smoak offered the following
resolution for the protection of morals :
"In the trial of grossly immoral
oases, such as rape, adultery, fornica
tion and sodomy the court shall ex
clude all boys and young men from the
court room, and may at its discretion
exclude all persons such as are un
necessary in the conduct of the trial,
and the publication or transmission
of the immoral facts and details in the
trial of the above mentioned cases or
any others not designated above shall
be deemed a felony.
"It shall be the duty of tho Legisla
ture to enact laws for tho enforcement
of this section."
Mr. Derham ? proposes to mako each
race pay for its own schools, but wants
those schools to be good ones. He of
fered the following:
That the General Asbombly shall
lovy at each regular session after the
adoption of this Constitution an unnual
tax of not less than three mills on the
taxable property throughout the State
and there shall bi assessed on alt
taxable polls in the State an annual
tux of one dollar for each poll, for tho
support of the public schools of this
State. Tboro shall bo two funds In
oach county?the one for tho support
of the public schools for tho whites to
be known as Fund A. and tho one for
the support of the schools for tho ne
groes to be known as Fund 13. At tho
time of making the return oach tax
Eayer may designate to which fund
is school and po 1 tax shall be applied,
and the auditor shall so apply it. In
oaso the taxpayer fails to designate
the fund the auditor shall apply the
poll and school taxes of tho whites to
Fund A. and poll and school tax of the
negroes to Fund B. The Fund A shall
be distributed according to the num
ber of white ohildren of sohool ago in
each county and Fund B shall be dis
tributed according to the number of
negro ohildren of school ago in oach
county. No part of this fund shall bo
used for any purpose than to pay sal
aries of teachers actually ongagud in
teaching the public schools of tho dif
ferent counties of the State and n >
part thereof shall be expended for
tho collection or disbursement, pro
vided :
That the GeneVal Assembly shall In
appropriating money for the support
of the State educational institutions
shall not appropriate a sum to exceed
one-sixth 01 the Constitution and poll
tax actually paid to teachers for teach
ing the public or common sohoils In
the various counties.
BEN TILLMAN'S PHILIPPIC.
FUHIOU8 AS8AUI/T ON UUTIiEIt.
A Huperb Description of Notable
Incidents In the Hampton Cam
palicn?Masterly Tribute to the
bald Bagle of KdKefleld.
Mr. President: As my colleague on
my left has asked that a reason bo
given as to why four members of the
Ed go field delogation desiro to amend
the resolution I will oheerfully givo it
to him aud to this convention. It so
happens that on Saturday I was absent
when the speeches on this subject were
made aud tho vote taken. 1 have a
daughter who went to (ioorgia on a
visit to rolatlvoB about five weeks ago.
Shortly after that sho was taken sick
and was dangerously 111. Sho had suf
ficiently rocovorod, so I was informed,
to expect to be homo on Saturday
evening, und my only purpose In asking
leave of absence was tho natural desire
of a fathor to see his ohild. It is per
haps fortunate that I was not here be
cause from reports in tho papers as to
what was said und what 1 huve boon
told It may not have been possible for
mo to diseuss tho question in cold
blood. I hope, however, that I have
self-possession enough to treat the
matter calmly and dispassionately.
There are personal reasons of a two
fold nature why I would prefer and
could pray God that tho necessity
should not bo forced on me to discuss
this issue, but I have nover shirked a
duty or been drivon from a stand,
which I have taken from principle.
Sontlmont rules tho world and whilo
material intorests and selfishness
govern moo, no passion oun rise abovo
sentiment, and when tbe feelings are
aroused or wounded, men will do that
to which nothing else will drive them.
Therefore, I riso to do justice to tho
living und ulso to do justice to tho
dead.
The people of this proposed uew
county want the name of Saluda. They
petitioned for it as Saluda ; they drew
the ordinance as Saluda and they still
want It to bo Saluda. Therefore justice
demands that they shall have it named
Saluda. I wish to say hero that in
discussing this question I shall attempt
not to display prejudice. I hope I am
capable of rising abjve prejudice. Tho
question is uecessarily personal in
large measure, because the man after
whom It is sought t:> name tho county
has been considered somowhatas being
supplanted in the United Statos Senate
by mo 'and somu perhaps think '1
oppose it because of his name, it is
truo, but not from prejudice. I am
not lighting an individual. 1 am
simply attempting to prevent this con
vention from stultifying itself and send
ing the news abroad that the Kuform
constitutional convention of South
Curolimi has rebuked tbe Legislature
which retired Butler from the United
States Senate. You can't divorce tho
name of Butler from M. C. You must
remombor that ho is the only living
representative oft his name of any pro
minence. Butler of Revolutionary
fame, i'ierce Butler, tho hero of tho
Mexican War, who was killed at
Cherubusco, and A. P, Butler, the
jurist, judge and statesman, who was
the uncle of Gen. M. C. Butlor, have
all passed out of recollection and the
record of their deeds is ancient history
with which the people of outside States
are not familiar, and very few inside
tho State remombor them. That
action of the convention would herald
it abroad tha' the convention had re
versed tho action of tho Legislature as
far us possible and named the county
for M. C. Butlor. Re is tho only one
of his name and some years ago he was
tho highest representative of that
name. Thoro are other names Illus
trious in our history that wo could
givo to this territory. There is Cal
houn, McDutlie, Huyne, Hammond,
Moultrie?scores ol them, who have
not yet thus been honored by the State.
I say hero and measure my words,
that this last representative has dis
graced tho name of Butler and mado
It a stench in tbe nostrils of every
white man in South Carolina who
loves his race and would preserve its
civilization. After ho had made bis
light before tho people of South Caro
lina and boon fairly beaten In the can
vass last summer he continued his
efforts to defeat tho will of tho people.
We are told that it was tbe disgruntled
ollice seekors who barked at his heels
liko hounds and who retired him. You
know whether it is truo or not. We
have also been told that it is doubtful
If his equal will over bo seen iu tho
United States Senate from this State.
I ctin meet tho stab coming from
whence it docs without a word. I
don't set up myself as being his equal
or superior. 1 have never Mowed my
own horn. I have met all my op
ponents fairly and bravely in the forum
of debate and tho people have passed
on my record as a man and as an ofilcor,
and when thoy have given mo such
substantial recognition, I can afford
to pass this by. As to my friend on
my right (Irbv) who seems to be In the
samo boat as f am in tho contemptuous
comparison made by tho gentleman
who spoke on Saturday, that is his
concern and not mine, but if he is
willing to acknowledge his Inferiority
t.) Gen. Butler ho can do so. Perhaps
there are others here who will agreo
with him.
t wish now to pass to another phase,
of tho subject?to do justice to the
dead. The assertion was made that
Mart Gary died under a cloud of pre
judice. I say It is not true. Bo died
under a cloud of slander and lies
heaped on him by tho man who do
feated him by unfair methods in 1880,
who broko IiIb heart, took snap judg
ment or. him and tho pooplo and nomi
nated HagOod. I happen to be a wit
ness who can disprove this assertion
from personal knowledge. About two
weeks before tho Kdgetleld oonvon
tion, I happened in Augusta, und
ttiere mot a man who waa a friend of
Gen. H nl t and ho let it out to me
that there was a scheme on foot to
beat Gary in his own county and that
ho was Going charged with indepon
dontism. I wr .to to Gon. Gary and in
formod him of this schemo and asked
him by the memories of '711 to put tho
lioon tho insinuation that lie would
run as an Independent by declaring
that ho would abide by tho result of
tho State eonvontion. On tho morn
ing of tho meeting of tho Edgofleld
convention I went, to Gary and he
showed me his spoech In manuscript,
saying "that is what I shall print. I
don't know what I shall say." There i
was a phrase in it which might havo '
glvon his enemies ohaneo to mako un
just charges against him, and at my
request ho allowed mo to ohango it to
adoo\dod expression of bis determina
tion to stand by the result of tho State
convention. Ho thereby pledged him
self and wont to the conveutlon the
true oholco of tho people of the State.
As soon a9 his enemies had gotton
hold of tho rope which I had placed
around his nook, although tho conven
tion had been called to nominate
delegates to the national convention,
they trlokod him and nominated
Hagood and we all had to submit.
Nobody oan say truthfully that he was
acoused of Indepondontisra except by
h s enemies.
Mr. G. D. Tlllman: Did you over
I hear of tho letter ho wrote to Gen.
1 Ca? a V
Senator Tillman: Yes, 1 have heard
of the Cash letter, and it had reference
to Gen. Butler's cowardly and ungrate
I fui attack on Col. Cash about the
I duel with Shannon. It had no ref
I ferenoe whatever to ludependentisin?
I and was not published until after
I Gary's death. When tho mass meet
J lag was called at Edgeflold at which
j my distinguished colleague paid his
; tribute to his dead friend, the mass
meeting to cotiBidor the question of
! raising a monument to tho bald'oagleof
Kdgetield, it was Senator Butler's in
fluence and that of his friends which
prevented action being taken. They
pursued the dead hero even into his
grave and paralyzed the efforts to
onor his memory. This it was and
not independentism, which his enemies
had whispered and circulated.
If Mart Gary had run as an Indepen
dent it would have been nothing more
than he ought to have done after
being swindled and oheated by Hamp
ton, Butler, Hagood and that crowd.
I am not pursuing Gen. Butlor.
After, he w&S defeated last aummer
did he submit ? No. There are raou
on this floor who, if they would speak,
could tell you, because they have told
me, that he organized the movement,
of which Popo was the leader, and
traveled from county to county to put
independent tickets in the Held; that
he abused all Reformers *, the news
papers charged that thero was a ring
and did everything that was disgrace
ful and tried to use tho negro. He is
fiursuing me in tho Senate to keep me
rom being seated as your representa
tive in that body. Does this convon
tiUD want to aid him to strangle me too
by giving bis name to this now county ?
No Butlor but ho is koown outsido 01
tho Stuto except to thoso who havo
studied its history. You cannot
divorce him from his ancestry.
We are askod to namo a county after
this traitor. Will you disgrace your
self by giving his name to this county?
To tumo this county Butlor will bo re
garded by tho outsido world as a vindi
cation of his recont action. Allusions
havo been made to Butlor and Gury
linking their names together as tho
heroes of '70. I acknowledge that But
ler did his full duty, but ho was not
tho peerless leader that tho other man
was und 1 assert here from personul
knowledge that, it was Gary's bravery
and audacity which won the fight for
Anglo-Saxon civilization in that trying
period and redocmed the State from
the thraldom and degrndutlon Into
which It had sunk. Memory brings to
mind two incidents of thut memorable
cumpaign and I cannot refruin from
relating them us tbey will feelingly
illustrate tho temper und character
und sorvlces of the two men.
Thoso of you who are old enough 1
will remombor that after the fumous
joint debate with Chamberlain at
Edgetield Court House on the 12th of
August, in which that dirty carpet
bagger hud been so badly worsted, tho
troops were sent to Edgofiold and a
pretext was sought to declare martial
law. The Radical managers felt that
tho wave of liberty was sweeping them
out to the sea and that something
must be done to stem tho tide.
Notice was sent out to tho negroes
iu Edgeliold of a muss meeting to bo
hold, ut which Chumberlaln would
again uttompt to speuk under tho pro
tection of the troops, and naturally a
large number of colored people were
on hand on tho duy appointed. Gen.
(Jar", who was county chairman, had
organized Edgeliold more thoroughly
than bus evor boen known in the his
tory of any people. Every man in it
able to ride a horse belonged to sumo
company, with regularly elected of
liccrs, and many of thoso companies
hud armed themselves with improved
weapons. And such wus the stuto of
feeling that Gary could at any time
mobilize and concentrate a thousand
red shirts iu ten hours. Chamberlain,
however, did not come. Ho was too
cowardly to risk it. Tho speakers
who ventured into tho lion's den, for
Edgotiold was us much in u stuto of
revolution as Paria was iu 1780, were
two or three of tho minor State olllcors,
including Jlllson, Nuglo und tho fut
mulatto Smalls. Gary had sent out
orders for u lurge number of red shirts
to bo on hand, and upwards of a thous
and were in and about tho public
square when tho hour for tho Radical
speaking to begin had arrived. it
was decidod that such game wus un
worthy the Eagle's talons, but to show
that the presence of troops had not
cowed the spirit of liberty in tho
whites, it was determined that the
rod shirts in procession should march
by tho stand whore tho negroes wore
assembled and then disperse to their
homes. While tho procession was
forming Gen. Butlor took it upon him
self to rido in advance and pick out
tho lino of march. He had a con
ference with a scalawag white man
who was acting as marshal for tho
negroes and agreed that the. proces
sion should take a route through tho
Academy Grovo upward of 100 yards
from tho stand. When the Bald Eagle
at tho hoad of his red shirt legion,
making a procession over a mile in
length, reached tho edgo of tho grovo,
ho was mot by the Radical marshal
and told of tho agreement which But
ler had made. In a voice which rang
out so that tho nogroes and whites
could hear him he exclaimed : "Got
out of my way, you damn white puppy.
This is public property and I will ride
on It where I please." And ho headed
tho column straight for the Academy,
passing within twenty yards of the
stand about whloh tho nogroes woro
massod, forcing sonio of them to move
to keop from being run over.
Another lncldont gives even a more
striking illustration of tho claim I put
forward in behalf of my dead friond
that h? deserves tho honor inoro than
any other of redeeming tho State. On
tho day of election thero wore twelve
companies of United States infantry
in our county. They had been sent
thero to ovorawo the whites aud en
courage tho nogroes to vote. Six of
these companies had bcon distributed
at various olection precincts in the
county where tho hoavicst negro vote
was usually cost. Tho other six were
at Kdgofiold Court House undor com
mand of Gon. linger. Tho nogiocB in
large number*, probably 3,000, massod
at tho Court House before day on the
morning of tho oleetion. Gary had
anticipated this and tho evening
bofore the election about 800 piokod
men, over one-half of thorn from
Saluda, with their baggage wagons,
provisions and arms, had taken pos
sossion of the Court Houso and Masonic
Hall and wero in readinoss to obey tho
orders of their chief, whatevor thoy
might be. Thoro was no si ?op. Tho
camp fires gleamed out brightly, for
it was cold and drizzling rain, and
Oakley Hall, tho Gonorars residence,
was like a military headquarters,
while fiddling and dancing wore going
on In the two buildings I havo men
tioned. It had been agreed between
Kuger and Gary that the whites should
vote at the box in tho court houso,
while the negroes should vote at
the school house, another precinct
one-half mile away. A white comp
any was detailed to watch the bal
loting at the latter place and all
day long the voting went on at both,
very rapidly at the court house,
very slowly at the souooi house. Late
in the evening Caio, the mulatto
county chairman, finding that it would
be impossible to vote Iiis men at the
; school house, determined to make a
' desperate move and try to capture the
other box. At the head of his black
phalanx, 2,500 negroes, armed with
clubs and pistols, he marched towards
the public square. A swift courier
notified Gary that they were coming.
He Immediately ordered that tho
court house be packed, steps, porticos
and all, aud so promptly an-, thorough
ly was his order carried out that a tloa
could not have crawled between tho
mon standing on the stops. The upper
windows in the Masonic Hall, in which
the rifles and other arms had tn>on
placed, were manned with sharo
I shooters und all the other inon who
could be spared were ordered to mount
I their horses and mass themselves on
one side of tho square. When Cain
and his nogroes reached the head of
tho street loading into tho square,
Oiling it completely, seeing the pre
parations mado to receive thorn, they
halted und a message was sent to
ltuger. R?ffer left his quarters somo
two hundred yards on a side street and
camo towards the court house. Gary
advanced to meet him and aftor the
two had saluted, with military puuo
tillousness, Gen. Iiugorsaid : "Geueral,
I am informed by tho Republican
County Chairman that ho can't voto
all his men ut tho other preeinct.
You must mako your men give way
and lot these nogroes get to the ballot
box. My orders aro to see that there
aro no obstructions to voting."
Tho ono was dressed in the blue uni
form of the United States armv and
sad boeu sent to Kdgoliold by Grant.
The Other had on the grey coat of the
Coufedcrato brigadier and military
boots. It was the erueial test of norvo.
South Carolina's destiny hung in the
balance and Gary saved her. Tho
" Bald Kugle" straightened up, his
eyos gleamintr, and clear and shrlP,
for his voico always rang like a silver
boll, he exclaimed, "By God, sir,
I'll not do it. .1 will keep tho com
pact I made with you this morning,
that tho whites and negroes should
vote at separate boxes and if you think
your blue coats can make way for these
negroes to vote again t?*y it."
There had been the stillness of
death while these two confronted
each other, but when that voice rang
out the whites caught up the yell of
deiiauco and for minutes pandemonium
reigned, linger quietly turned on his
heels and went back to his quarters.
The negroes slunk away like dissolv
ing mist and in less time than 1 have
taken to tell it not one of them was to
be seen.
Allusion has been made to Butler's
sei'vice at Hamburg. 1 was at Ham
burg and know that thoso services
were groat. But tho people were
ready to act without his leadership
and you all remember the despicable
and cowardly stab ho aimed at me last
summer with roloronco to that riot.
For all his services to tho State ho has
been amply rewarded and had he
possessed a scintilla of genuine patrio
tism he would have died before he
entered upon the role which ho played
siuce August, 185)4.
Wo are asked to name a county
aft? r this traitor. Will you disgrace
yourselves by giving his name to this
county? But the clouds will roll.by,
we are told, and when reason shall
regain her sway, the prejudice, as my
colleague terms it, against this man
will pass away Mr. President, there is
no prejudice. It is a sense of righteous
indiguation and wounded sentiment
which called down the wrath of this
people on Butler's head. He has at
tempted to stab tho Stata through
Judge GotT by overthrowing our olec
tion machinery and this is his unpar
donable sin.
I ha/e used my influence to bring
about poaee in this convention. I had
hoped that no factional lines would bo
drawn, but they have been. Not one
solitary Conservative voted for the
name Saluda and some few good Re
formers yielded through inlluenco to
disgraco their Stato. You have
drawn the lino and not we. Thoso of
you who have blundered in this move
ment take warning. If you give us
tho point of the sword you will receive
it back. If you offer us tho olive
branch we will receive it as South
Carolinians and do nothing to draw
the lines. In God's uumo lot's stamp
out any attempt to inject partisan
feeling" bore. Now, I apologize for
trespassing on your patienco by this
I long attention and move that Saluda
bo substituted for tho naino Butler
whorovor it appears in the ordinance.
--4?*?
TlilO <;o\-/.Ai.Kr; INCIDENT.
Tho State's Attack Upon President
Kvhiih Kecelves Attention-?Talk
About Expelling Its Reporter.
The session of the constitutional con
vention on Wednesday bid fair to pass
off quietly, but just before adjournment
a storm appeared to bo brewing, when
Mr. A. Howard Patterson, of Harnwell,
took the floor. The trouble was brought
ab)nit. by an editorial in Tho State
which reflected on Gov. Evans' course
in the memorable debate between the
Tillmans, in which he was accused of
falsifying the report of tho tellors.
Mr. Patterson rose and said : " Mr.
President, 1 have a resolution which 1
desire to otter, aud as it is a personal
matter concerning tho president, I
would ask that one of the vice presi
dents be called to tho chair."
Every one in the hall knew what the
resolution related to.
President Evans called Mr. Tal bort
to the chair and withdrew.
Mr. Pattersons Mr. President, I of
fer tho fallowing resolution, und usk
for its iminediute consideration :
Whereas, " The State," a newspaper
published in the city of Columbia, did
on the 17th inst., in its editorial col
umns contain tho following statement
in reference to the action of tho presi
dent of this convention in announcing
tho vote upon a motion to take a re
cess, whon tho question as to whether
the name of Saluda should be inserted
In lieu of Butler, in the resolution
before this convontlonon the Kith inst..
to wit: "On a division voto Intended
to defor final action on tho matter
until Irby's forces could be rallied,
the president openly und defiantly mis
stated tho returns of the tollers, sub
tracting two announced votes from
Irby's side in orde ? that he might show
a majority of 0111 against postpone*
meirt;" therefore bo it
Hosolvtd, Thatassaid editoral statt -
inent is unsupported by tho facts Sena
tor Irby having announced upon the
floor of tho convention that tho an
nouncement of said vote was correct,
and as said stat ment was a reflection
upon the honesty and intogrity of the
president of this convention and an
insult to this body : bo it
Resolved, Taat this convention do
hereby pronounce said editorial state
ment as being a malicious falsehood.
Mr. Patterson stated that this was a
matter that this convention should
pass upon In a few seconds and not a
committee Now, sir, I offor this tobo
lutlon for this reason ; that we should
proteot our presiding oflloor from Insult
as well as this body. He is tho Gov
ernor of South Carolina for whom we
bavo the ut nost rospeot and coutidence.
All who wore present heard this vote
wheu announced and the chair was
i tot unly sustained by Mr. Irby but
! by the second veto; ttioroforo tho edl
' toriul in The Stute was malicious und
! false. Lfsten at it. (Ho once nioro
read the editorial.) Said he, " Now,
gentlemen, uro we to submit to that V"
Can wo sit here content and allow our
prosidont to be insulted V I don't be
lieve in muzzling tho press. But when
we are attacked by suuh a man as the
editor of this paper we should act. Ho
know thut no man there was too high
for him to say mean things about, but
they, as individuals, could put up with
it. But this was au attack on the
president of the convention. Whon ho
rell :cts en our president, ho reflects ou
us; therefore 1 move that the resolu
tion bo passed."
Lator Mr. Patterson took tho floor
again and stated that a member of the
convontion had gone to the reporter
of this paper on tho floor, aud told
him that sevoral members had asked
him to see the representative of the
paper and ask that the statements in
the editorial bo corrected. Instead of
a correction, thero was another edi
torial this morning repeating the same
charge. Can wo stand that? Ht had
thought of a resolution to deny to tho
writer of the article tho privileges of
tho floor. " Lot It go to tho world that
wo denounce it as a falsehood and a
reflection on our president and this
body."
Col. Talbort was about to put the
question when his attention was called
to tho fact that the convention had
not decided yet to act upon tho meas
ure immediately. Ten members arose
and objecied to tho consideration, so
the resolution went over until to-day.
Thero were about fifteen members
who object ;d, Senator Irby being
among the number. He said on a
matter like that tho convention should
' not act hastily, but should rather act
after mature deliberate consideration.
Outside of this incident tho rest of
tho work of the convention was pretty
much routine and a!together the body
wus not in session an hour.
On Thursday morning the resolution
of Mr. Patterson eame up for con
sideration, aud the day was largely
spent in the discussiou of the matter.
Tho lending members took part in the
debate, a number of Conservatives in
cluded, and the following substitute
olTered by Mr. Patterson was adopted
by a vote of 123 to Every speaker
declared that he did not endorse the
editorial attack upon Cov. Evans, and
testified to the high respect in which
he is held no the presiding officer :
Unsolved, That said editoriul state
ment ia unsupported by facta, Senator
Irby having antiounced upon the 11 ?or
of the convention that the announce
ment of said veto by the president was
correct and as said editorial is a reflec
tion upon the honesty and integrity of
the president of this convention, and
an inault to this body, be it
Resolved, That the convention de
sires to expresc its entire confidence In
the integrity, honesty and fairness of
our president, the lion. John Cary
Evans, and wo do hereby declare the
Statement in the aforesaid editorial to
be unsustainud by the facts and untrue.
Resolved, That we consider the edi
torial in question an abuse of the pri
vilege granted to the press, in admit
ting its members to the lloor of the
convention.
Senator Tillman, in speaking in favor
of the adoption of the resolution, made
reference to Mr. Gonzales and em
phasized his remarks by pointing at
him and roferring to him an " that
man."
Senator Tillman got very much
wrought up in his speech and scored
tho Conservatives for pretending to
meun one thing while at heart they
meant directly the opposite. He was
very emphatic and used some very
strong language. He said that every
one agreed that it was unfortunate
that this subject had been brought up,
but that it. would be doubly unfortunate
if tho convention did not do its duty.
He saw cropping out in the discussion
some political animus. Every lawyer
in the house had spoken and they
wore all Conservatives and they had
expressed themselves as favoring
postponement. Only two Reformers
bad spoken on tho same line. Pointing
at Maj. Barker, and tho rest of the
Charleston delegation, he said that by
sophistry they were trying to convince
tho convention that this editorial was
beneath their notice while they full
well know that any postponement will
bo taken by the public as a lack of con
fidence in the Governor.
And these men are knowingly trying
to bolittlo the issue. With two excep
tions eveiy Conservative on the door,
who hud spoken, was saying that it
was beneath the dignity of the conven
tion to notice the editorial or were
talking about postponement. Mr. Wil
son has plainly stated the issue?it is
not a question of numbers but the im
putation of a wrong motive to the
president of this convention. Some
members talk about his suing for libel
while others talk about bedding that
man personally liable. Do you want
him to take a stick and knock him
down V
That man in the last four years has
dished out more lire, hell and damna
tion than any other man, and now let
us throw back into his mouth some
of tin; gall he has been Bpoutlng out
upon us. (Cheers). You aro just
trying to shield him. Why in tno name
of God don't you come out and tell the
truth and say you are opposed to this
resolution been use you are afraid of
hurting the feelings of the oilitor of
tho State f
Mai. Barker! "I tall the member
to order. It is not permissible for him
to impugn the motive 8 of any man in
this convention.
Theohair sustained the point.
SenatorTillman: "Th.9 truth always
hurts. Nobody is trying to abridge
the freedom of the press, but we are
simply giving them notice that they
must behave themselves. We want to
put It on record that he (pointing to
Gonzales) has told a falsehood and we
are going to do it whether you vote
with us or not. (This was dirooted to
wards the Charleston delegation.)
"If vou want to draw the line, draw
it. Whon you chunk rocks at us we
are going to chunk back and when you
attempt to impute buse motives to the
president of this convention wo are not
going to stand it."
Maj. Barkor : M I again call tho gen
tleman to order. He has no right to
array factions against each otte r in
this convention."
The chair: " Tho point is well taken.
Tho gentleman will proceed in order."
Sonator Tillman : " Wo can't afford
to postpone this matter. We all saw
it and all hoard what occurred. The
{>resident might have been mistaken.
>ut wo cannot afford to lend a vote to
I Imputing dishonorable motives to him.
1 will now !-it down and get in order
and await tbe vote."
Mr. Prince said ho was sorry that
Sonator Tillman had spoken as he
did. If it was his purpose to try to
force us to voto his way ho has failed,
but we are in favor of vindicating our
president, and I will vote for tho resolu
tion and hope all Conservatives will not
withstanding Senator Till man's etTort
0 craolc tiiu whip over thorn.
Senitor Tilltnun Bald t hat \he Con
servatives said that here. i>.iV~*boy
want to postpone action so ab''not to
officially endorse John Gary Bvans.
Mr. Sheppard said earnestly that the
Eosition Senator Tillmau would place
im in was without a shadow of justifi
cation.
Mr. Prince sail that there woro
numbers of us In the convention who
could not be drawu or led by a nooso
in the ring. Th< If conduct had shown
that they were uot the pdppots Of any
boss or any no we papers. He appealed
to Conservatives to rise above pro
judieo aud vote the way they felt, not
withstanding wluit had been said.
Senator Tillman arising said that ho
wished to apologize to any member
whoso feelings he may have hurt by
what he had said, it did seem to him
at the timo that the circumstances
justified the language, but lie didn't
want to wound anyb uly's feollugS.
WOMEN WANT SUFPHAGK
The Calm After the Bioviu?The I>??le
ui s Listeu to i he Advocates of Wu
iiiun Bulfrafce,
In tho constitutional convention on
tho 17th inst. everything was us Hero no
and placid as the surface ef a lake ifn a
sultry day. There was dot even an
echo of yesterday's bttttlo of words.
Senator Tillman being engaged with
bis committee hearing a contest was
not in the hall during the morning
Session? Of course, the sensational
events of yesterday has been the sub
ject discussed by every knot of men.
The news that Irby hud so severely
handled bis erstwhile bo&oiu friend Wtw
a surprise t*? will take many some time ,
to recover from.
The con vent ion was in session only
about half an hour today, owing to the
fact that none of the com ntttoos wore
ready to report. A flood ol new ordi
nances and resolutions were received, -
and then the convention took a recess
until Hp. m., on motlouof Col/Ald*
rich, to bear speeches from all advo
cates of the ettuso of woman's suffrage
'whowishe.d tau iwdijiiQs^JJmoottventio.n.
Col. Ahlrlcb staled that they had
the right that any clti/.OU had to be
heard, and to present tneir grievances. - '
Tho convention agreed to it without
trouble.
During tho day several important
ordinances were introduced : among
them were ordinances !?> regulate the
suffrage In various ways, to engraft
the dispensary law's main fcuturcs in
the constitution, to mane education
compulsory, to prevent favoritism in
awarding contract.- for public printing,
cte.
General Robert Smu Is, the negro
who was a member of the reconstruc
tion convention, introduced an ordi
nance con tain ing the article on tho suf
frage in the proseul constitution. I.
R Road, colored, today Introduced an
unti-lyuching ordinales providing for
the summary dismissal ol any olllcor
of the law who allowi a prisoner to
suffer auy bodily harm while in bis
eustoo v.
Thin evening tho gullet los w< re pack
ed to thoir utmost capacity with specta
tors, mostly ladies, to hear the speeches
of the ;ni vocaies of woman's bUlTrugo.
It was one ol 1 in: hll g'< station lices ever
seen in tin hall. Addresses wore made
by Miss Laura M. Clay, ol Kentucky,
the noted advocate! of tl.auso ; Mrs.
Virginia I). Young, president of tho
Equal [lights' Association, and Mrs.
Viola Neblott, *'lco president ol the
association. They wore most atten
tively listotu d i". and seomed well
ploased with ih<- attention shown
them by tho convi idiom Toe speechos
were unusually strong. The reasons
for woman's sulYrago wore presented
in a forcible manner.
Hov. Evans, introduulngJMiss Clay,
took occasion to say that it was sup
posed that they w< re the so' 'in
power, but that was not mi: Ivon/aii
was there to speak for bersolf. lie
paid a high tribute to the great
Kentucky statosmun, Henry Clay, In
introducing his relative, and said :
"Who knows but that this relative
of the fumed compromiser may h?here
now to cans'.' history to repeal itself so
far as our Stale \t i oncorned."
At the conclusion of tho speeches
Mr. McCoWII OlTered a resolution,
asking for its Immediate considera
tion, that the committee ou sulVrago
be requested to report to tho convon
lion an article providing lor woman's
suffrage. Mr. MoCown was going too
fast though, nearly three tunes Ion
members objected to the Immediate
consideration and it went to tho com
mittue.
TA LIU :KT AND TIHLMA.V.
'Mio Kx Congressman nud Ulfl Siio
ccssor Have a "l iiswlo.
In tho passago-at-nrnision Monday in
tho constitutional convention Uu: toi*
lowing took place between Congross
man Tai he rl and e.\-(?'ongroBsman
Qoo. I). Tillman :
Congressman Tili.? rt got the lloor
next and thoro woi.xciting passages
at-arms botWOCQ him ant' ex-Congress
man Tillman. whom he defeated in '1)2.
It was during their incessant and
hoatod colloquy thai tin president had
to send the sorgc:inl at urms to quiet
Mr. Tillman. and a good many times
thereafter tho prosidenl called on the
sorgoant-at-arms to pr< sorv< t he peace
of the. convention.
Mr. Talbert hoped that ti.? minds of
the delegates would nut bo led astray
by tie; pei-.omitit.es that had been in
jected int.) Iii is eon vi 111 i< m. It was an
important mat tor Tor the m w county.
There was a'motion ponding to kill
tho whole mattor. When ho came to
tho convention) he came to bo a i-undi
Matc for tho presided y. but ho .saw
tliat the bar nony of the convention
would bo endangered and ho withdrew
from the race. Ought tlx y to be gov
erned by scntiut intal npci chon or by
tho Bontimont of tho people of the pro*
pOsed new county, lb thought his
distinguished frieud was mistaken
when lie stated that tho people wanted
the name of 1 hitler.
M r. Till man (with much energy)?I
said that for years I mid drawn up and
soon petitions all mentioning tiiat
name and it only.
Talbert : The people ol Saluda want
the name of Sil I udn.
Till man : That's . our opinion.
Talbert : I have fin much right to my
opinion as you I dive tO yOUi'S, sit*.
Mr. Talbert and UGOI'gO Till man
faced oaoll other In the aisle and their
lingers shook in one unothi i - iaees.
Talbert almost Borcaincd his remark
and tins thing looked pretty SJl'lo'iH,
Mr. Tillroan quiotly replied: 'Of
course, you have, but still I have a
right to my opinion."
'J'iilman : I have made a great many
speeches in the county advocating this
now c untp. ami speaking of it as But
ler.
Talbert went on to Sfty that ho hon
ored the name ol Butlor OS much as
Mr. Till man did.
Mr. Till man: Why don't von vote
for the name then : I want to do honor
to the dead a* well as the living.
Talbert: Tell me, didn't you draft
that ordinance calling it Butlor,
Tilluiuu : Yes, I drafted tho ordi
tCXWTlNUED ON FOURTH PAGK.j