The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-12-17

ber from Richland (Nash, colored,)
and also of 6df lawyer from Beaufort
Wright, colored j between us, how
ever, L believo we could use him up.
w. b. Nash, colorcd, did not believe
tho committee had gone far enough in
their investigation; it was time to
show the people Of Abbcvillo that if
they didn't vote according to law they
couldn't be represented here. An
election couldn't be held in that county
unless six or seven lives wcrc sacri-
feed. lie believed when Guflin signed
tho paper stating that Mr.. Cothran
had received q majority of votes, ho
did it because he feared his life would
be sacrificed if he did not; if tho con-
stitution did not give the Senate the
privilege of keeping from it's body the
man whom it believed was elected by
fraud and intimidation. he was willing
to camp outside of it (thc constitution
for this special occasion.
Senator Leslie introduced the fol-
lowing:
RESOLVED, That the subject matter of
the election in Abbevillc County, for
State senator, especially at Calhoun's
Mills, in said county, be sent back to
the Committee on Privileges and Flee
tions, and that they have power to
send for persons and papers, and take
all tho evidence pro and con in regard
to all charges or allegations of fraud
and intimidation that took place at
that or any other poll in the county.
RcsolUed, That the committee report
to this Senate the number Of votes
cast at that and at every other poll in
that county for State senator.
Rcsolved, That the committee report
TO the Senate every fact in connection
with the legality or illcgality Of the
election as held at Calhoun's Mills, in
| regard to tho organization of the poll,
anu whether there were any legal
managers there or not On that day.
IIoyt offered tho following resolu-
ton:
Whereas, Frauds and Irregularities
and intimidation were perpetrated TO
such an extent, at Calhouns Mills and
other polling places, at the late elec-
tion for senator in the County of Alb
bevillc, as to vitiate tho election ut
! those polls; and, whereas, Iemucl l.
Gl.ffin received a majority of votes at
polls where no such acts were perpe
tratcd; therefore, be it
Resolved, That Lemuel L. G|nfin be-
and he is hereby declared entitled to
his scat in this Senate, and that he be
forthwith allowed to qualify and take
| his seat.
Leslie desired to know of Hoyt if
he wanted the question clearly con-
sidered, and upon Hoyt's replying in
the negative, said: "Oh, why not? If
we are going to down him, Cochran
let MS do it legally"
| Hoyt's resolution was then tabled.
Jillson and Cain, (colored,) made
brief remarks, the former in opposi-
tion to Leslio's resolution, and the
latter in advocacy of it and fair con-
sideration of the case.
Maxwell, colored, was in favor of
Leslic's resolution and spoke at length
in support of it, and concluding with
an answer to a question from Hoyt
"who would pay the cost of tho in
vestigation.?" that the State would
pay it, he would rather it would OK
pend 100000 than not to give the
case fair consideration.
Wright spoke at length in support
of his motion to declare tho election
illegal and have new one, and was
willing to be among the number to
60 and see that every one had an op-
portunity to vote as he pleased; was
willing to stand his chance of being
shot and having his blood spilled.
Raincy, colored, thought it was
high time that some measures woro
taken to have the elections in Able
vile conducted according to law. 1t
was we'll known that the republicans
were in a majority there, but, owing
to their being intimidated and often
murdered. they could not express
their opinion at the ballot hox. An
election in Abbeville was always as
sociated, in his mind, with murder,
blood and death. 1t was time that
such things should be stopped.
Leslie's resolution was then put to
vote and carried-three voting
against it.