The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-02

assassinated simply because of his great love
of truth and justice, and the energy and zeal
manifested in their defence. II ne were as
sassinated on account OF his principles and the
ca-se in which he was engaged, this IS sufh-
cient to clearly demonstrate the weakness, tne
unholiness and the falsity OF the cause OF MS
opponents, as violence is never required TO en-
force truth and holiness.
In the person of the Hon. B. F. Randolph
this Senate has lost one OF its eblest ia6orers,
| and the country an able champion OF ilpertS;
| He seemed to fully comprehend the TACT tnae
our State had been very much broken, the
fragments scattered and to gather them up,
and properly unite them, master wofkmen
| were required. In every sense OF the ~oru, ne
was master workman. Many attempts were
made by his enemies to villify and Dlast ms
character, so that they might destroy the
wholesome influence which ne e1erted anionS
| the people but he scared so high ABOVE them
| that their efforts were in vain. he Is dead,
yet he lives; and the influence nc has exerted
will be felt by generations yet unknown, and
| they will revere his name
Mr.. Corbin rose and spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and SenatorS-I desire to
unite my voice with that of the senator from
Beaufort in eulosy upon the Hon. B. +. Ran
dolph. 1t was my pleasure to 81! by his side
during the whole OF tho special session per
haps the most trying that any legislative body
here to testify to his unhlnchlng, his unhesl-
tating and his impartial devotion to duty. He
was man actuated by tho highest motives,
the purest PURPOSES and the noblest ambition.
II we differed. have always ieit that IL was
an honest difference. If we sometimes mad
different views. it was because of the difference
of our constitutions. If We did not see things
in the came light, always knew, whether dis
senting or agreeing with me, that he held his
views honestly, conscientiously, and was al
Tays ready to be convinced ii he was wrong.
Hence 1T is L always felt the most profound
respect and good will for the senator who Is
gone. FEEL however earnest and able we may
work, however much we may toll, we shall
never exceed him in our asplratloLs; we eau
never more deserve-and hope 1t may be my
ambition 10 deserve-that tribute which we
universally accord to him.
That he fell as he did fill is sad calamity;
terrible blow upon the reputation OF our State.
His death sent o thrill through the heart or
every individual in the land, not only through
out our own State, but throughout the Union.
HIS pane and the circumstances OF his death
have reached every town in the Union, and
there has been sent up from every portion OF
the country an unqualified condemnation OF
the terrible deed which so suddenly brought
him to his untimely death. could say no
thing, could add nothing to what has been
already said in execration of the death OF one
world will always condemn, and future genera
tions will look back with horror upon the par
ties who, in open daylight, made an attack
upon him from behind, and without giving him
one word OF warning, shot and left him llfe-
less corpse.
I second the adoption OF the prea llble and
resolutions, and hope upon their adoption
the Senate will adjourn out of respect to his
memory.
Swails rose aud said:
Mr.. President and Senators-It was my in
tention to have risen Tor the purpose OF second
ing the preamble oud resolutions, but that has
already been done. may add, however, q few
remarks to those already made in regard to
the life OF The Hon. Benjamin +. Randolph. L
have been acquainted with Mr.. handolph PROD
ably longer than any member of this body.
My acquaintance with him commenced while
he was vet member and chaplain of tho 26th
Regiment of United States Coored Troops,
then in the service of the United States. He
was then engaged in the great work OF recon-
structing the State Of South Carolina, as was
myself. I met him in 1864 at Hilton Head aud
was introduced to him by one then high in
military officc in this State. found him to be
man in intellect much above the ordinary
standard OF men. I have since been connected
with him in the schools OF this state, and as
member of the Constitutional Convention and
the Senate, and have worked with him Ill all
the political works which have taken place in
the State of South Carolina since the year
1866. have always found him to be man Of
strict integrity and unswerving fidelity to the
people.
wear the usual badge Of mourning for thirty
davs, and said:
NJ President and Senators-iIy object of
intr .ducing that resolution was to mako 10
novel show 10 the world Of the respect that we,
as members OF the Senate, had for the Hon. B.
f. Randolph, for know that every true senator
on this floor, every senator true to liberty and
true to to the cause of humanity and justice,
has long since worn the badge OF mourning on
his heart. The people throughout the State
have worn the badge OF mourning OH their
hearts; but to-day We pay the tribute OF re-
spect du hi n as member of the Senate OF
the State Of South Carolina. When l look at
your chair it makes my heart acho to think
that in the pride CT manhood he has already
fallen in defence Of the cause OF Justice and
humanity. The conscienccs oil the foul assas-
sins, feel, cannoJ be ut lost. The spirit OF
onr deceased senator Is at rest IN the mansions
of bliss; but the demons. who fired the shots
arc awaiting their awful sentence, ''dcpnrt
from me We cursed into everlasting fire pre-
pared for tho devil and his angels"
Mr. President and Senators, hope the Sen-
ato will take such action as TO show the pe,p c
OF South Carolina that FREQ speech, above
everything else, will be protected, no. ouly Ill
the Northern States, nut IL the Southern
States. We have rto and independent form
of government, aud l hope it is the intention
of every senator 10 see that the new Consttu-
ton OF South Carolina is not dead letter, hut
q living reality; that free speech and the free
dom of the press shall be protected all over
this State; and that that dark corner of the
State may yet be brought to light, and law and
order prevail. Let US hope that those foul as
sasslns NAV be brought to punishment hang
ing by their necks until their bolies be dead;
aud, for the sake of mercy, hope God will
have mercy on their souls.
The question being taken on the resolution,
it was unanimously adopted.
MIR, Maxwell offered the following:
Resolped, That as further tribute OF respect
to the memory OF the late Hon. B. +. Randolph,
the Senate do now adjourn.
The resolution was agreed to, and the Senate
adjourned.
Committee on Privileges and Elections, re-
ported
The Committee on Privileges and Elections,
to whom was referred statement OF votes
given in Lexington County for representa-
tive in the Legislature November 3, 1868 have
had the same under consideration, and beg
leave to report, that from this statement they
find that at an election held III the County OF
Lexington on the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in November INST, the following vo es
we're given for o representative in the Legis-
lature of the State Of South Carolina to fill the
unexp,red term OF George A. Lewic, who has
resigned
'Fifteen hundred and eiShty-three votes
wero given for F. s. Lewie, and two hundred
arT four votes we're given for J. j. Dcrrlck;"