Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MR ontWTFNSr-'V* RKIM.Y. >ea*loi Resents t.oteruni'* Alleged Instuuati.iiiv \gain?t MN Esther. c..luin>.i.i. Feb. 4 - SesSstir Nells Christen**", si Beaufort, made the f(?\owinf statement in the executive session or the senate on last Thursday night Keeling that it would not be prop? er for ma to ha prcMnt during the dls ruaaion of a matter no persona). I ab? sented myself from tha lutter part si vour executive session. But t nm told th.it you have taken action to vln dtcste the rights and dignity of this as hate, a bodv greutly respected by the p4N>r>le of South Carolina; and to vindicate me. far who h I am deeply grateful. "It now becomss my plate to speaU for mine ?wn. beneath the sh.i?> of a great live ? ?k m a Beaufort graven nrd. lies the bod\ of my father. Tonight his name la held up for the scorn of the people of thi?. Sinte by Mg governor, snd for a thing he did not do. My lather was a union soldier If it had become his ? lutv to lead charge*, with negro troops against the white soldiers of the Southern Confederacy." he could huve done nothing else as a soldier, Hut that dutv did not bee.1 me his. He entered the armv a foreigner, hardly able to speak this lnngunge, and for bravery on munv ;? hard-fought bat? tlefield he was promoted to be a cor? poral, to l?e a ?.e^eant, to be g cap? tain Me received a commission, put? ting him la command of a negro com? pany on a distant field. Hut his or? ders were modi tied, and he wa* assign? ed to other duty. "The insinuations in this message were voiced shortlv after the dispen? sary Investigation by H. H. Kvans, In Newberry, nnd published in the daily paper Confederate Veterans in Beau? fort, my father being absent from the State, published a statement protest? ing against the attack and speaking highly of his lire In Beaufort That ectlon of those Confederate Veterans ?a a part of my heritage. "I believe that no youth In this State has grown up with reelings of greater respect for the soldiers of the Confederacy than 1 have, and I got them from my father. He taught me to honor the Confederate soldiers. For four years he fought against the armies of the South. For more than thirty years after the war he lived In the South and did all a man could la an humble way to build it up. In my campaigns for the position 1 now hold, all these farts were fully discussed, and the people who are re? sponsible for mv balng here know all about them. They havs passed on them. They knew mv father well, gray-haired Confederate Veterans and men whose forefathers lived on that soil when it was roamed by the In? dians, voted for me and sent me here to represent them. ' Born in this Stute, I loved It as 0 lad. But that lore hss grown very deep und very strong these later year' as t have found its people ready to accept me and mlno without prejudice. A people who can rise above these sectional passions Is a noble people, and their State is a gr-at State. It seems a splendid thing to me that my humble political career could embod> tbs evidence of this fine trait of South Carotinlana She forgets the bitter neos of the past. and. cherishing It* Ideals of sacrifice for conviction, live in the present and In the future. There Is now another matter, and about it I htsltate to speak. Hut, I H ^k. I I uat. ?\fter serving here for ten years HI was my privilege to "ning nto thi* cnamber and |g Introdjco to many of ?11 my rrmther I>ur ng an evening session, while 1 was caged out. .she was' *.-hiected Ig the experience of bear-! ins that other message of the gover? nor rea 1 in which her nan,,, is men- 1 ttoned In connection with his slurs 1 and InainuStlSSsa a*d ,n which veiled I and sneering elHs^SSsj to h?r dead husband wer?? gMSBS 1 stand hers to resent this. "f know that If vou reel an t did thst vou would wish rOS could h a v? auch thins* sSitd face to face, man t, man. Hut they are sent te us mm mes ?ager* and 1 must me.?t lasts ;is SUSI This is no tim* for rttnperetion hut I will nay this, ?hat rverv mm in1 this room knows that as long an th> man who now nit* Is the governor's I hair Is there we mav SSSOOt bun Is use the opportunities his office SJfordf In such 1 k on ejVf women altd 0U dead 1m in.ik'ng that simple ntnt?? m?nt of fact t SettSjVl that t ha\ voiced the ?tront;<*t ? ?ndeinJMstU?S lol which a ordn <an be found." The hoard ol trad.' of Beaufort adopt* <) ihe i<dln*ln?| resolution*. "Wheieas. a rOOenl < omniunb ation fiom the governor to thi state gSflMlM reems to be ?onstrmd i>\ the press a?1 (onveving reflei tlons MOOS the charge ? ?r and RSSgsjSI * our SStSSntStl f e lb oa elttSen. Copt V Chnstens. n. now dr leased, who was for BSSHaJ \earw. and up tu the date S4 his death, a no tid e of this board, and. whereas, ceitaii statements in the said eommttnleatloi may convey an entirely i.tls. imurt sion of the man and to I Uce to bis luvmoi > , "Be it resolved by tho hoard of trade Of the town of Beaufort Thai wo. who knew ?n| lived with hin? fOf many \f-ns. deem it ..Mr ?lu1\ ;iO.I esterm it our privilege, to testil} to his high character and to his blameless lit**. "a man oi high educational attain? ment, liberal mind and progressive wpirit. he was ever ready to further the best interests of his adopted home\| and he was respected and esteemed nonetheless because of the fact that he hnrt been a brave Union soldier and had done his duty as ho saw It Inj that capacity, having enlisted as a foreigner and having served through | the whole war. being thrice wounded and thrice promoted, though the state-i ment that he ever led negro troops in battle against the soldiers of the Contederocy is erroneous, and was long ago refuted when first made. The idea that he ever stood lor social equality of the races is as absurd as it is baseless. Capt. Christensen mar? ried after he settled here and his chil I dren were born and have been reared here, and his family are held in the highest esteem. His son, the Hon. i Niel* Chrintensen, has always made eveey effort to establish and maintain white supremacy and has been thrice elected senator from this county, and we have certninly no apology to make for his election, and are Also entirely convinced that all who know him know that there Is no reason for any. However, we are quite content to let hU own record speak for him." The following newspaper clipping is reprinted from 1006: Mit. W UUtsVlWUPi SR., AND HIS W AR RECORD. Confederate Veterans of Beaufort GlTfJ Their Testimonial. Mr. Christen sen's Service. I Beaufort, Aug. 1?. 1906?A com? munication has been received from Mr. X. Christensen, father of Senator Chrittcnsen. with the request that it be forwarded to the State. Mr. Chris? tensen Is spending August In Ver? mont where he has the State forward ed, and there he saw the State's ac? count of the county campaign meeting at N<*wberry. When some of his friends here who are Confederate Vet? erans heard of the "aspersions" to which he replies, they ajgej put a com? munication In the hanus of your cor , respondent to be forwarded with the other. Both of which are enclosed. V Midler's Record. I To he Editor: Mr. Hub Evans in a speech lately delivered in Newberry I county takes Senator Chiistensen to task for an event in his father's mili? tary career that happened fourteen years before the son was born. Mr. Evans alleges that Senator Chrlsten aen's father was a captain In a ne? gro regiment that fought against the South. Mr. Evans perverts in part the facta of the soldier's record to suit his purpose. As I am a private citizen and have been so for the past 31 years, holding no office, except that of town war? den, and seeking none, I do not per? ceive shy I should wantonly he drag? ged before the public concerning a matter In which It can have no possi? ble interest and which concerns none but myself. If. however, my military record has to be ventilated before the public to further a politician's aim In hie pursuit after the unattainable. I prefer myself to give it as a whole, simply an outline of the same, that it might he the hotter understood. With that object in view I submit that I 1 entered the service In the eo.rly part of tho war in the 14 5th New York Vol? unteers (white) and served with it In the Anry of the Potomac until it be? came decimated by the casualties of war, when the remnant left was con? solidated with another New York reg? iment serving in the West. I was then transferred to the 102d New York Vol-j unteers (white,) serving in t ie West.1 At Savannuh a IpQClal order was hand? ed me through the regular channel i from th?- Secretary of War to proceed to join a colored regiment stationed ati Chattanooga, Tenn.. upon arriving there I found It engaged in doing picket duty. Thu war then being prac? tically o.er. I was assigned by the corps commander to special duty as a member of a military commission f'?r the trial of eivil esses that were sent before it. 1 was afterwards as? signed t-t duty as a member of u eOttrt?ms tlul for the trial of military cessa About tbr. time that this duty had been performed the regiment wa; mustered out i then lolned the IM "teran corps (white.) composed oi ofH 'era and men ? lie ha i been wound? ed in the service Upon this regiment bring mustered out i was assigned lo the ist United m itsii inf inti i white,) regular army Aftei some service with ?hu? rsgdmonl i found my health n paired, and on account m the rigors of Morthem wintern came Bouth< where f h.i\<- it ad for thirty-five rears In !!<? tufoit. n, c i sen' d In ins ui mj ?even veut?. i will state ihat in nil the campaigns tluhting and battles In which I took part, and tha3 wars i ui u f*w. I served oiils with white troop i i was ihres times wounded in battle, I have u?j gpoleglei to make lor any part oi rnv record as a soldier or that of a citizen. X. Christenstn. Beaufort. S. C.i August ?. ?006. i-Vom C onfcdmtiev. Beaufort, fe. c, Aug. 11. 1906?Our attention has been called to a most malicious and unwarranted aspersion' cast upon our friend and neighbor,* Mr N. Christensen, Sr., by Mr. H. H. Evans in a recent speech of his at NeWperry on Tuesday, the 3d of J.uly last. An eminent author asserts that it is almost criminal to hear a worthy man traduced without attempting his justification as to be the. author of the. calumny against him. Capt. Christen sen is away on his vacation, and in his absence and without his knowledge we desire to say a lew words about him. As old citizens of Beaufort and Con federate veterans, we desire to say to the people of South Carolina that we hold Mr. Christensen in the highest,, esteem. He came to live among usj ? some thirty odd years ago, and from I the very first won our respect. From' what we know ol his record as a Union 'soldier we have every assurance to be? lieve him to have been a gallant of? ficer and a worthy foe. From what We have known of him since the war ?we enertain for him the kindliest feelings and hold him in just esteem SI a true and worthy citizen, one who can always bo counted upon to fur? ther every progressive movement. Coming here with very little capital, he has become one of our largest tax? payers |n the county, through indus? try and fuir dealings us a merchant. Re has never taken any part in poli I tics, except to serve for several terms as warden in the town of Beaufort, his modesty and conservatism causing him to eschew any and all political , preferment, which he doubtless could jhnve obtained, with the sanction of our best citizens. To our fellow veterans throughout tho State we would say that we de i nounce the nspersions cast upon our ,frlend and fellow citizen as unjus?. 'and we condemn the gratuitous effort jthat has been made to arouse unwar ? ranted prejudices against him. He is i living nnd working here among us as an irreproachable citizen, and one of which any community would be proud. Signed: Thomas O. White, First Lieutenant Company F, Palmetto Begiment, Light Artillery. I S. H. Itodgcrs, Company A. Hatch's ' Battalion. P. C. Adams, Beaufort Volunteer Artillery. J. OH. Sanders, Sergeant Stono 'Scouts, Body Guard Ocn. Hardee. I S. M. Keys, Company E, First S. C. Volunteers. B. B. Sams, Beaufort Volunteers Ar ; tlllery. j - ; On Wednesday, September 28, Sena? tor Christensen, rising to a question of 'personal privilege, made the follow? ing statement in the senate. I "The propriety of my conduct as a I citizen is called in question by Gover-! nor Bleoa? in a special message to1 the legislature. This because of the| fact that I am trustee of the Port Royal Agricultural School and because i Booker T. Washington Is named on a1 letter head of the school as a refer-' ence. The said message also insin- j uates by question and phraseology i that whites may be teaching negroes, I that social oquallty may be taught, and that a school may be a State in atltntlon, "The facts could have been easily, ! ascertained by the governor from the j name source through which he secur? ed the partial information used in this, message. Briefly stuted, they aro as ! follows: "The Port Royal Agricultural School is a private school for negroes ami uses no public funds. The four' trustees are white. The letter head in question was printed lor the negro, principal at his older and for his Use, and so Uir as I know it is not used! by any one else. The principal Is a| graduate of Tuskegee, and it Is but natural that he should refer to the principal of that BChOOl as one who i knows him. All the teachers of the! Port Royal School are negroes. j "Nearly every school district in this! State has ne^ro schools in it, and each of the white, public school trus? tees of this district is a trustee of ne? gro schools. Governor Blease him-1 self was for some years a trustee Of B negro OOllegO, for which position ln> WM ? candidate in 1902 before the j legislature which olected him. So there is no objection to a white man acting as a trustee to u negro school; the only Question is the kind of school! he Is In charge of. I "The school in question Is located m lleauforl County, five miles from i the town of Beaufort; it is known by the public school trustees ol the din*I trii t who heartily approve it. l hav e discussed ItS policies and methods With former Slate Superintendent of Education <>. B. Martin and the pits out State Superintendent of Educa? tion, j. r, swearlngen, who have ap proved >>f same I believe that no school fo| negroes in this country 18j *o free id uny teaching of social equal-; j ? It is a farm school. The thirty-' live boys and girls who live there do all the work of the seventy acres un- , der cultivation, working summer as', well as winter. When the boys get through their course they go back to their own farms on the inland or' work for the white farmers as hands,] and many of the girls are house ser? vants for white families thereabout. The aim of the school Is to make the negroes of Port Itoyal Island better i fitted to fill the place that the Al? mighty in His wisdom and South Car? olina by its laws have assigned to them. "Thin attempt by tho governor to discredit me und others through this trusteeship is Just such a one a? was made in Beaufort county ten years ago, when I was first elected to the State senate. The voters of Beaufort county heard the matter discussed on the stump in all of its details and then elected me by a large majority. They have twice re-elected me. The ! people of the State may be sure they 1 would never have done this had the insinuations of tl is special message been true." Christensen Roods Statement Columbia, Feb. 4.?Just before ad? journment tonight Senator Christen? sen read the following statement in the senate, which that body ordered printed in the Journal: "Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Senate: Permit me to express my 'deep appreciation of your many ex? pressions Of esteem made on the floor the past few days in connection with j personal matters that have come up jfor discussion and action. I And that ' I must trespass further on your atten j tion and make a request that you pub I lish this statement in the Journal. } "I have asked the judiciary eom | mittee to request the governor to send It the 'further information' he reports ? in Messago 17 he has in his posses i slon, and 1 want it known that 1 urge j them to go to the bottom of any fur I ther charges he may have against me. Any charges against my family should j be made to me to be dealt with by me 1 personally. N. Christensen." COUNTY EXPENSES DURING PAST YEAR. Annual Report of Board of Com? missioners Shows Work Bono and Money Expended. T' i annual report of the County Board of Commissioners, which wa? handed in to Judge Gary on Tues ' day, shows what work the supcrvis ; or has done on the roads of the ' county and the money expended by \ the Board during the past year. The ? report is as follows: ;To His Honor, Frank B. Gary, Pre | siding Judge of the Third Circuit, Spring Term, 191*. Tlu? Board of County Commission? ers for Sumter County, respectfully I submit the twelve monthly reports of j tho County Supervisor and a reeapitu i lation of the financial transactions for I tho year, us then* annual report for i the fiscal year ending December 31, 1913. The said monthly reports con? tain an itemised account of all moneys received for the county and the 1 sources from which it came. Also an 1 itemized statement of all claims audit , ed and paid by us during tho year, j During the past year we have spent j upon roads and bridges the fol? lowing amounts: I County Ordinary Fund.. ..$7,110.25 Road Improvement Fund . . 8,000.06 This last amount of $8,000.06 con? stitutes the balance on hand January 1st, 1913, from the sale of the Koad Improvement bonds In 1912 and has been expended in building sand clay roads, improving roads that have natural drainage and the purchase of T. C. pipe and galvanized pipe and also tho erection of a reinforced con? creto bridge over the Dingle Mill stream. The money has been used OXClUSively for these purposes. We have advertised the third series of, th<' I toad Improvement bonds for .sale and expect to have the money available, at an early date, samo to j be used as heretofore. The issuancoj of these bonds does not impose an; extra burden upon the taxpayers, as the County Ordinary levy has been reduced in order to provide a sinking fund for the retirement of tho bonds at their maturity, tho levy now be? ing o 1-2 mills Instead of t'? !M fori County Ordinary purposes, the 1-2 mill bolnn used for the sinking fund for Court Houhc and Road Improve? ment bonds. The amount spent upon roads and bridges out of the County (Ordinary funds has been used for the purchasing of lumber, tho mainten? ance Of a Floating Gang and small! contracts for upkeep. The roads( an a whole are In Very good condition all j over the county. Chain dang. The chslngsng has done good work in building hew roads and the upkeep, of the old ones. j Wo have spent $10.087.19 upon this department. Since out 1 mKt report .the chain rung rifts improved the following roads: Sumter to Manning. Sumter i to Pinewood and Sumter to Wedge* held. Also several roads near Wedge field and Stateburp. They are now working on the road from Sunter to Wedgefleld. The great increase of Convicts has necessitated the erection of another convict cage, which will be completed in a few days. We now Mve thirty convicts and often nave as m?ny as forty-five. The health ofi the convicts lias been excellent and the conduct also, these features b*ing' very Important In our opinion. The I amount spent has been used lot the! purchase of all tools, machinery, wag? ons, harness, mules, tents, fcod for I mules, drugs, food for convicts, blankets, etc. Alma House. ? The expenditure of $3193.60 upon, the Alms House includes the aiding of Inmates for which we now pay 40c! per capita per diem, medical attention, .drugs, clothes, etc. Also insurance upon the building and the necessaryI j expense of upkeep. The inmates are] Well taken care of and kindly treat- \ I ed. The health of them being about ? a* well as could bo expected of per-( j sons of their ages and conditions pre j vious to commitment. Since our last I report Mr. B. D. Mitchell, the elflclent .and conscientious manager has been j called from our midst and his wife : has succeeded him as manager. Salaries. I We have spent for salaries during the past year $20,01 Besides the salaries for the regular eeunty officers, this amount Includes salaries tor the overseer of the chain gang, guards, J overseer of tho floating gang ar.d I scraper gang:, County Attorney, Coun? ty Board of Education, County and 'Township assessors, Equalization Board, janitor Court House and four Rural Policemen. Itural Policemen. I The four Rural Policemen, recom? mended by the Board, aie doing ex cellent work in suppressing lawless I nets and ix great deal of revenue and labor is brought in by this depart? ment. They are also rendering th?e : Supervisor great assistance In main staining the public high-ways by pre? venting parties from plowing into , the roads and otherwise doing in 'Jury to them, i Jail. I Tlie County Jail has been main j ? tained at an expense of $2,629.04 for , the year. This amount includes, be | sides the 40c per capita per diem for dieting , repairs to buildings, fe.ices, plmbing, insrance, water, 1 ghts roal, telephone service, disinfectants blankets, drugs, medical attention, etc. The health of the prisoners has been good. This Board has faithfully endeavor l ed to improve and enlarge the Coun Ity jail, but up to this time have been unsuccessful in the attempt. Our delegation, during the 1913 session of I ihe legislature passed an act au? thorizing us to borrow $8,000 for the purpose of enlarging the present j building. After giving the matter very careful attention the Board de i cided that It would be more advisable > to sell the jail and lot and purchase I a new lot upon which to erect a new ; jail. We therefore .advertised the property for sale but received no bids. This action was taken as it was impossible to convert the old building Into a modern .sanitary prison with tho funds for this purpose. We have requested tho delegation for an ap? propriation of $20,000, with which , we can build a new jail upon the j present site. Having been aseured that the sum asked for will be pro? vided, wo hope to soon have erected a J modern jail of sufficient capacity to I take care of Sumter County's pris? oners for years to come. Public Buildings. We have spent upon Public Build? ings during the year 1913 $1,868.78. This includes water, lights, fuel, dis? infectants, telephone service. In-] surance, work in Court. House grounds, etc. Mr. L. W. Jenkins still renders careful supervision of the j work on the Court House grounds [ without any charge for his services. Court Expenses. We have spent for Court expense-; during the past year $6,207.30. This amount covers the payment of Jurors, j witnesses and bailiffs. Contingent. The. amount of $7,671.66 under the I head Contingent has been expended for tho following items: all printing,1 publishing of reports, noticeg and advertising, payment for office sup-' plies, books, stationery including that for all magistrates of ihe Coun? ty; Post, mortem examinations, ex? aminations in lunacy by the Judge of Probate and physicians and trans? it rtatlon. Transportation of pris? oners and the expenses incurred by the Sheriff out of tho County. Maln talnenco of an automobile for Super? visor in County work. Interest on Court House bonds amounting to $1,3F>0 per year and interest on fir.?t and second series of toad Improve? ment bonds amounting to $900. Ap? propriation by tho Legislature < f $200 for Sumter Ugh! Infantry and other Items of this nature, I's-Conl'odcratn Pension-* We have paid old soldiers $1,680.00 as pensions during the past year. Interest. Having been authorised by the Legislature in lt61 to loan out such County Fund? a.< would not Too need? ed for three, ?ix r*nd nine months, to Banks, we have done so and from this source ha" e received during the year $533,49 ,:*iB amount being In? cluded in amount received on financial sheet . County Indebtedness. 15 year Court House bonds, 4 1-2 per cent.. .. .$..30,000.00 20 Year Road Improvement bonds.$20,00'. 00 S50,00).O0 Financial Statement B >ard County Commissioners. January 1, 1912 to January 1, 1914 January 1st, 1913. To balance: County Ordinary Fund ..$26,933.14 Road Improvement Fund ..8,000.06 Court House Sink. Fund .. 665.81 Road Improvement S. F. .. 655.80 Amounts received from all sources: January.8,286.62 February.6,640.12 March.3,264.00 April. 268.63 May. 446.56 June. 1,679.46 July. 830.95 August. 216.71 September. 271.71 October. 2,430.64 November. 3.452.44 December. 31,265.46 Received from special levy for Road Improvement {Sinking Fund. 1,726.83 Received from special levy for Court House Bonds Sinking Fund. 1,725.81 $98.898,71 j Jan. 1913?By paid Warrants: Roads and bridges.$7,110.26 Salaries.20.018.96 \lms House. 8,193.60 Chain Gang. 10.087.18 'Public Buildings. 1,888.78 Jail. 2.628.S4 Contingent .7,571.66 I Court Expense. 6,207.80 Road Improvement. 8,000.06 J Ex-Confed. Pensions. 1,680.00 Jan. 1914?By Balance: jCo Ordinary Fund.26,818.60 i Court House ?. F. 2,381.64 I Road Improvement 6. F... 2,381.83 $98,838.71 The Best Cough Medicine. "I have used Chamberlain's Cough Remedy ever since I have been keep? ing house," says L. C. Hames, of Mar bury, Ala. "I consider it one of the best remedies I ever used. My chil ! dren have all taken It and it works like a charm. For colds and whoop j ing cough it is excellent." For sale by *N dealers.?Advt, MEN Cured Forever By a true *pe ci*< 1st a no U"*t?e*-e- th< experience of years. Tbe j right kind of j exp^rtem e ? I d olng the ? same t h i n g the rlsjht wny Ivin- reds a d p rhaps th'.u *a*iU?of times, with uofaiir.fr. permanent re? sults. Don't you think it time vo get . t h ? right treaimenr? if ?.<?.. ue?ire to consult s reluble ioug-ektah ished specialist of vast experience, come to ms and team whatcanb*- accomplished with skillful, scientific treatment I hold two medical diplomas and certificates by examination and other r?<iUlremei.ia from the boards of medical examiners of 14 States in the U~ Ion. together wltl- over 20 years' ex? perience iu specialty practice. I succeas fully treat blood Poison. Varicose Veins, Ulct-rs. Kidney and Bladder uiseases, Khrumattsni. Gall Stones. Paralysis Dis? charges. Piles and Kectaal Trouble. Stricture and all Nervous. Chronic and private Jls? asea of Men and Women. Examination free and strictly coafl dental ll^urs; 9 a. m. to f p. m. Sun? day f. 9 to 2. Call or Write DR. REGISTER, Specialigt, C06 UNION NATIONAL BANK BUIL0IN6, COR. MAIN AND GERVAIS Stf.. Columbia, S. C. BRIDGE TEETH By this work the den? tist is able to fix per? manently between the teeth left to you artific? ial ones that are perfect in appearance and use? fulness. >ee Dr Court? ney. He makes this work his specialty. Have an inspection. Get his opinion. Sumter Dental Parlors, Dr. C. H. Courtney, Prop Over Shaw & McCollum.