Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-10-27
SPEECH OF MR.. SHAW
OF CAMDEN AND cURR1rUck,

delivered in the Senate, on the 1871 OctoOer' U'
Mr. GiLnner's Resolution, proposing 70 TgeI "se
Camden and Currituck case to the C0"'''''''''
on Elections.
Mr.. SPEAKER: 1t has not been my lntenton y. "
NV de.;ra to obtrude myself upon the attention OF
th Sonate or to take any part in the discusslen OF
a question in regard to which my feelings might De
spnnosed to influence my judgment. Nor dia
cxpect that there would be any further discussion
upon this subject after the very decisive vote OF the
Senate, and after the announcement when was
made. in a very emphatic manner, by the Senator
from Rowan, that an appeal was to be taken lroln
this tribunal to the great body OF the people :.
But, Sir, after the very strange ana eAIrsol ~
nary proposition made Saturday last by tl ne
Senator from Guiford feel that justice to mysei'
and the duty owe to that portion OF the cltl|enS
of North Carolina, by whose favor ENJOY tnI
honor Of a seat in this chamber, demand that
sbould no longer remain silent. Sir, the oenH'e
has already decided this question; amaJority tne
Senate have already declared by their Votes' gwen
under all the responsibilities which attacn 10 Ineil
"a senators of North Carolina, that, according TO
tbe evidence produced here, the evidence contained
in the certificates of the acting Sheriff OF Curl
trck and the Sheriff of Camden, and which, oW-
;no tn the manner in which this case has come up
here was the only evidence that was or could De
brought before the Senate, L was entltled 10
seat here as Senator from the I'd Senatorial DstcC
of North Carolina this is what the senate mas
already decided. What, Sir, is the proposition OF
the Senator from Guilford Why, Sir he very
coollv calls upon the Senators who thus voted to
stptify themselves by declaring, that the per-
son whom they declared by their voses, a few days
since to be entitled to seat, may not after all DE
so entitled, Well, Sir, / must be allowed to say
that this is a very modest request. But, olr does
the Senator expect that any such vote Will be CIV
en-? Most assuredly not. What, then, is his OBJ
IL, ol,rfInn lie I
proper and legitimate business of legislation by an
idle discussion upon a question already disposed
off for I feel assured that there is no Senator
upon this floor who is prepared to deny that 1T Is
disposed Of unless constitutional dlsquallhca-
tion can be shown. Was the resolution introduced
for the purpose of annoying me Sir, take oc-
cason to say that the insinuatlons that have been
made that have not been sent here by MAORI
ty of the Senate voters of the I'd Senatorial dis
trict, and that occupy seat IN this chamber IN
violation of law, have no power to disturb my equa-
nimity or ruffe my temper-such insnuatlons,
come from what quarter they may, pass by me as
the idle wind which | regard not. But will do
the Senator the justice to say that do not att1b-
ute to him any such motive-that gentleman Is
eminent for his abilities and his high standing
with his party, and am sure that he could derive
no qualification in endeavor to disturb the quiet
of so humble an individual as l am What, then,
BY which Senators expect to accomplish the pur-
pose indicated by the Senator from Rowan when
he declared his intention to appeal to another tn
bunal? If So it appears to me that some other
method ought to be adopted for the accomplish
ment of this object, which would be attended with
less detriment to the public interests.
Sir in the discussion of this case, it will be re-
membered that Senators upon this side ofthe cham
Der confined themselves to the evidence strictly be-
h. no a6
by gentlemen upon the opposite side. En- parte ev-
idence introduced; affidavits were read, state
ments were made (based suppose upon erroneous
information) which were unsupported by the facts
in the case.
Sir, the Senator from Pasquotank and Perquim-
ons desired to be heard upon this question, be-
cause, having come from that section, he was more
familiar with the facts than any other gentleman
upon this floor" That Senator states in the pre-
amble to the resolution he offered, and he repeated
the statement in his speech, that there were two
votes taken out of the Governors box at the Coen
jock precinct in Currituck, and counted for me,
where, without counting said two votes, the num-
Der of voters listed and the number of votes counted
out were the same" Now, Sir, l think that having
come from that section of the State, and claiming
to be we'll informed as to the facts, the Senator
ought to have known very important and a very
material fact in relation to this matter, and if so
informed, common justice required him to make it
known. / allude to the fact known, l might al
most say, to every man, woman, and child in that
district that there present at that precinct,
two persons who voted for Senator, but whose
names were accidentally omitted on the poll book.
But, Sir, what the facts in relation to the two
votes taken out of the Governors box, upon which
the changes have been rung with as much peril !
nacity as Othello manifested in harping upon 4" the
handkerchief" While the voting was going on, the
inspector at that precinct (who is decided Whg) !
received from the hand of voter a democratic |
Senate vote which he put into the Governors box
this was observed by one of the poll-keepers and
instantly proclaimed the inspector admitted it at
once and asked what should be done-it was then |
agreed that when the votes came to be counted out
this vote should be put with the Senate votes where
it belonged, and counted as SUCH Was there any
thing wrong in this Surely not Would YOU, |
Sir, be willing, would any one who knows his own |
rights, and who properly appreciate the rights of
suffrage, be willing that his vote should be thrown
away on account of the negligence, the careless
ness or the dishonesty of inspector? Surely not
lie agreed at the same time that any other similar
mistake should be corrected in the same way and |
when the votes were counted out, two Democratic !
Senate votes were found in that box-they were
counted by this Wing inspector, certified to by him.
acting under the solemn responsibility of n'oath,
and no objection was made thereto; my competi |
tor there but did not object to these votes nor
did any one else until the returns had been received
from all the precincts in the district and it was
found that these two votes would turn the scale
Well, Sir, when the Sheriffs met to comnare tho |
polls it said that the inspectors certificate and
the poll book from the Coeniock nrec;no+ 5;d ~ -