Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-02-09
FIN THE ADVERTISER.


thought proper to deal in assumptions foul and un-
generous. lie sets out by stating that l WAS dis
posed to charge the hIanagers of Elections at Dun
ton's Towards and Grantevile with having ~'llul-
ly ms-stated, in making their returns Nothing eoud
be surther from my thoughts, or design on the
contrary, entertained no doubt, but that the cleo
ton was held, and conducted honestly and fairly.
and That the usual forms had been observed so far as
to secure The rights Of all nor do believe that my
communication can be made to convey any such
meaning. intended 10 state the facts, as regards
the result Of the election, and no more In all pre-
ceding elections such notices had been made, and !
saw no reason why it should be devlated from IN the
present case. i think was at least due to the pub
lie, and do not suppSe the truth will offend any
one unless it argues aadly for the Esquire. lie
further says, the objeA Of my communication IL to
get up the belief, thaaI am prosecuted man, and
that there was no ground for the protest. and 30 on
am free to state that do not suppose that there
was ever an election held in as large District as
ours, but that there migh have been some exception
taken on account of some slight error. supposed
he had taken exceptions to some unimporant "pin-
ion that perhaps had frequently been made before,
without design. lie :dda that when | wrote my
communication, I knew that the boxes at Dunton's
and Towards were net opened but one day. nm
at loss, even at this time, upon that subject, for
sec BY marginal mark Of his, that he says "when
he cn:crcd his protest. he was in error in surprising
that the box at Towards was open only one day."
know that he stated in his protest. that the Mana
gers CT Elections at Towes', at Duntons, at Nails,
at IIowards, and at Divers other places, did not on
the 3rd and 4th days Of january, meet, open and
hold the polls and hold the said Election as required
by law
Now must state that the range which lie has
taken, or allowed himself, is so wide that it would
be difficult to know what he did mean; whether
they held the polls one day according TO law, or
that they did not hold it in conformity with The law
ut all.
He says, I "kncw that the box at Granitcvle was
not opened at Q O'Clock 4. NJ, ami kept open I'll
4 O'Clock p NJ, as required BY law" | was not
informed as to whit hour the polls was opened, or
at what hour it was closcd for he did not state in
his protest.
lie says, in effeo", that have mis-stated when
said that took it for granted that the polls lleld
returned, and certified to by the Managers were
fairly conducted. think may say that will
stand justified in making that assertion, for do
know that the Chairman of the Board of Managers,
refused to receive return made of box, because
the be er of it was not a Manager and therefore
could not certify 10 its correctness consequently it
was reasonable to suppose that all which were re-
ceivcd were according to law.
As regards his statement about the inquiry being
made by General JONES, whether YVES Post Master
at Fruit Hill at the time Of my election, have in
reply to say, that understood General JONES to ask
me whether was Post-Alaster at the time of my
election, and if was exercising the duties Of Post
Master, which according to my understanding at the
time of cur conversation was, whether was excr-
csng the functions and benefits Of the Office Of Post
Master at that time the time of the conversation
tod him no. was not Posi- Master at that time bu:
had resigned before the extra session, and had sent
my resignation forwsrl, formally to the Department.
but did I rot know whether Il had been received or
HUT UUu THINK oftrfeu reTgr INN tU G H. TENN
Post Master at Edge6rd, for The precise date, as he
did See my resignation, and SEAL and send it for
ward for me. think he replied that it did not
matter whether it had been received or not or words
| perhaps 10 that effect
Should there be any difference Of opinion between
General ZONES and myself about what he under
stood me 10 answer to his inquiry, I'm confident
that it was owing to his misunderstanding of what
meaning intended to convey. know that he
would not mi.consruc Intentionally.
The House was in Session ar the time when the
conversation took place between us, in the lobby,
after which returned to my place in the House,
where remained til its adj ournmcnt. That even
ing cact on friend (and other legal gcntlcmcn)
who was o. opinion that had resigned nj the proper
timc though he promised that on the next day lie
would examine the prccedcnts in such cases, and
answer me more to his satisfaction. The next even.
ing saw him and think it was on Friday or Sat-
urday Of the same week, that madc the facts known
to the House. When the communication was read
by the Speaker, Member rose and offered rcso-
luton to thu effect that the be declared vacant
and Writs cf Election issued forthwith A Mem
Der from Charleston objected, upon tho ground, that
it was matter not only affecting the Member, but
also his constituents; and proposed that the matter
be referred to the Committee upon Privileges and
Elections, that the question might be settled for all
time to come, as there were similar cases coming so
frequently before the House. Another distinguish
ed lawyer then addressed the House, and stated
that he wonld give the opinion as lawyer, that the
Constitution, properly construed, meant that the
time of eligibility applied to the time Of taking the
oath, though he said he believed that tne-honorcd
prccedcnts had decided to the contrary, and he was
willing that the matter should go to the appropriate
committee, after which the matter was placed be-
yond my control The rcrort was very lengthy.
embracing great deal of information, that will serve
as matter Of reference for the future.
The Esquire charges me with attempting to make
the impression that he was not n candidate. Just
the reverse was the fact did entertain some fear
lest it might not be well understood that had oo-
position, and his friends manage the matter so rs to
defeat my election. When made the inquiry
whether he had consented for his name to be an
nounced, was not singular his name had been
brought forward by his friends, and the opinion
was entertained by some that he would not rum
About that time was informed by A. J. SMYLy that
S. P. ToMFKISs told him that S. S. ToMrKrys was
not candidate. 1t has happened that scme Of tie
first men in this District have withdrawn their