The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-04
THE ABBETILLE ELECTIONS.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
Senator Leslie makes q Spccch-Whnt
tho Senators think of Abbevlllc-
Wright is Ready to Spill his Blood
at the Ballot-box.
IERoM OUR OWN HEroRTRE.l

COLUMBIA, S. c., Thursday, December 2
The Senate to-day took up the report Of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections on the
contested election for senator from Aboevllle.
The report Is as follows
The Committee on Privileges and Elections, to
whom was referred the report Of the county can
yassers for Abbeville County, In an election
which was held on tile 25th day OF May, a. d.
1869, to choose senator for the said county,
have had the same under consideration, In con-
nection with other documents referred to them
concerning the said election. Your committee
md, by the report of the county canvassers Tor
the said county, (Which report Is nude out in
proper form, signed by the county canvassers,
and signed and sealed by the clerk Of the Court OF
Common Pleas and General Sessions Tor Abbe-
vile County, that for SENATOR James s. Cothran
received fourteen hundred and eight (l4OS)
votes and l.. l.. Guiiin fourteen hundred and
three (l4e3) votes, making majority for James
s. Cothran of five (5) votes. Your committee
have concluded that, according TO Article VII
and Section IL Of the Constitution OF thls
State also by Section 81 or act of the General
Assembly, ratified on the 10Th day OF September,
1865 that the report or statement OF tile county
canvassers is pTiHlG Jttcte evidence OF the SAID
James S. COthran's right TO seat as senator from
| the County OF Abbevillc But the said James =.
Cothranis seat is contested by l.. H. Gufiln, one oil
the county cunvassers for AbDevillc county, upon
| the following grounds, TO VII:
First. Because the poll 1T Calh0un'S NILS was
not opened according TO law. Secondly. Because
there was only one Of the legally appointed inalh-
gers that acted al manager NJ Calhoun's Mills on
the day or election, to wit: the 18th day OF May,
| A. D., $780, Thirdly. Because at Chlld's CfusS
| Roads there were three younE men registered Oh
| the day of the said election, contrary TO the net
providing for election TO Oil certain vacancies,
| approved the 23d day of March, a. d., 1882
| Your committee have examined several wit
| neSscs in this CASE and according to the tcsti-
mOny OF l.. p. Guffin, the poll was not opened At
| CahOun's Mills till SH O'Clock A. NJ Section
seycnth Of an act OF the General Assembly, ap-
| proved the 10Th day OF September, A. d.,
| is6S, requires that the polls should be opened
| ut O'Clock A. NJ, and remain open till O'Clock
| F. NJ AS il has been shown that the poll NJ
Cahoun's Mills was not opened as the law di-
rccted, it Is plain that the law was not complied
witli and the election at that poll was not held
| according TO law.
Again, it is shown, by the testimony OF the
! on the day of the SAID election acting us deputy
State constable, and saw tile chairman Of the
board OF managers appoint person to act AZ
manager OF election At that poll, and he (the said
t;uiiln) did not object to such appointment Your
| committee have concluded that, according To
section secnnd Of an act of the General Assembly.
| approved the l6ih day OF September, A. ID. 1868,
none but the commissioners uf election who were
appointed by the Governor had the right to up
point Il manager or managers ol electi0n; aud
] that therefore, the eIectiun which was holden at
| the pOl 1T Calhuun5 Mills, Oh the 18th day Of
MAY, 1860, mana :ed by person who had not the
eg Il authority so 10 act, Is Illegal ald SHOULD nave
| been declared void by the county canyaasera.
Tie grounl upon which the seat Ol Mr.. Cntra!l
is contested tn.rGy S, that three young men reg