The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-12-09
The Recent City Election Declared Ille-
gal and Void-s-The Protest Sustained.

gal and Void-T-The Protest Sustained.
For more than two week our citi.
zons have been regarding with intense
anxiety the investigation by tho act.
ing Board of Aldermen of the recent
municipal oioction. There were in-
terosts at stake that rendered the
issue of vital Importance, and tho
Investigation has therefore, been
viewed, with. deep. concern ut each
stage of its progress. In tho mean.
while business, Of course, experienced
q corresponding stagnation. II tho
state OF uncertainty that ensucd, tho
wheels of the municipal government,
of necessity, moved slowly. l.ptcr-
prise and Investment were N n meas
nre paralyzed. se (.
Upon the action of the Board of
Aldermen dcpcurlud the fate Oft
city for the next three yoars. The
prosperity of. the community hung as
it wore upon a thread 1|
The claimant, Mr.. Pillsbury. ,wus a
stranger in our midst. He had=-no
interest in common with the people Of
this city. He had never been idcpti-
hed with it commercially, or other.
wise. lie stood forward us tho avow-
cd representative Of a party faction,
who while they had indisputable rights
as citizens, nevertheless ignore. the
best Interests of the city and desired
to mako its vast concerns, n. m er,
matter of party spoils, Mr.. Pillsbury
claimed to have been elected by a
majority of twenty-five votes
Against this claim large number
of tho citizens Of Charleston, repre-.
scnting its property and intelligence
entered their protest. They urged in
support tho manifold irregularities
which were shewn to have existed in
conduct of tho election, and the fraud,
violence aud intimidation, Of which
the whole community were w illnesses,
and which were deprecated by cvery
respectable citizen.
Under tho provisions of tho Act Of
1868, the, acting Board of Aldermen
arc declared the appropriate and final
judges in two classes of cases:
First, Where tho Managers arc
charged with illigal conduct.
Second, Where tho election of n
majority OF tho persons votod fOrrarc
contested.
The protest covered both points,
The proof was SO ample on tho Grst
ground thatitwas doemcd unncccssa-
sary, except incidentally, to advert to
tho second. II
For over two weeks the Board have
boon assiduously engaged in this in
vestlgation. The evidence, as elliott
cd from the testimony of tho Mana
gers themselves, has already been
presented to our readers. The Off
olal report of the proceeding has beon
published from day to day during the
session These reports were so com.
plcto and clear as to satisfy tho public
mind of the illegality Of the election
and to prepare ,heln for the result
attained.
After a most careful and impartial
audience audience OF the case and of the argu-
ments of tho learned counsel on both
sides, the Board have declared .thot
no legai and ralid election has been hed
on The l0M Of November instant AMI
Mat no persons haze been czecteato the
offices Of Mayor and aldermen orihe
city Of Charleston. j 1a
The Board have rested their dcei-
sion principally upon tho eillegal con-
duct of the Managers" Tho decision
is, therefore, neither for or against
any party, but that the whole
election is void, on account of the
failure to Conform to tho requirements
of law.
Tho judgement rendered will be
found in fullin the report of the off.
oial proceedings, in another column,
The Board have considered the case
as degos>pod by the evidence, and
upon. these asoortained facts they have
based their verdict.
}, The vote was nearly unanimous -
Twelve ont Of the. fifteen mombers
present voted in favor of sustaining
the Protest. When tits considered
that several Of this number were them
selves the candidates who had receiy-
cd majority of tho votes as Alder.
mon, it will bo perceived that tho
action of the Board was entirely de-
void Of craftsmanship 1t bears upon
its face the impresssofan tunpreiudic.
cd expression. which raises the ycr-
dict above tho breath of challenge.
and entities it to the sanction of if,s.
tice and right. zI4 II
The regular election, under the
charter of. the city, Twill take place
in November next Unless. there.
fore, the General Assembly shall Or
der new election in advance. the
present Mayor and Aldermen, will
hold over until tho regular term and
the qualification of their successors.
Tho decision Of the acting Board of
Aldermen, in declaring the recent
election null and void, will be re-
ceived with great satisfaction Ly all
who desire the prosperity of our CITY
and State. This decipjon. fha Aot of