The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-20
TrRoM our OWN CORRESPOND ENr. !

FROM OUR OWN CoHRESPONDENT.l
COLUMBIA, s. O., February 18.-The event Of
to-day was the discussion in the House of the
Charleston Election BILL. The debate though,
lively, and at times rather of personal cha
racter, clcited no new arguments. It was coz
fined entirely to the Republican side of the
House, ALI the Democrats and five Republi-
cans voted against the bill. The latter were,
DeLarge, of Charleston; Elliott. of Barnwell;
Ferter, of Sumter; Hyde, Of Geeenville, and
Stoeber, of Marion. Ihe speeches were all
brief owing probably to the fact that The mer-
it's and demerits of the bill had already been
fully canvassed in the SJnate, and the debate
cut short by Brodie, Of Charleston, calling for
the previous question, which was almost
unanimously sustained.
Ransier, of Charleston, said that they all
knew the fact that an election had been held.
1t was admitted that there were irregularities
or informalties in the conduct OF the election,
and the General Assembly is asked to validate
the election, Notwithstanding those irregulari-
ties, and to award to the persons receiving the
highest number of votes the Offices which they
claimed. and to which they were entitled. For
himself be had decided how he should vote on
the question Of agreeing to the bill. He had
voted for 1t IN the committee. and he desired
to say that his was no hasy decision. He fe!t
it to be his duty as o representative of the
people, as owing 1T to his constituents who
sent him here, and also IN consideration Of the
questions raised as to the right of the General
Assembly to act in this pratter, to give
t.le reasons for the vote which he
should give ln support Of the bill.
The bill before the House and the subject
matter has agitated the community Of Charles
ton for three months, il not longer. AS mem-
Der OF that community 1t had occasioned him
much anxiety He knew OF no event in the
moro excitement and feeling of direct. deter
mined opposition on both sides. Identified
with the city, ~ was but o natural desire on his
part to see all its people, OF all classes. pros
fore, he Witnessed on the one hand a political
party deter mined on exclusive representation
and consequent control, even making it q
question Of color, and the other side struggling
Consequences that might follow. Their Dem
ocratic friends in Charleston desired that
the Republicans should not consider this
& question s,I Of party. while they under
determined and acted strictly as a party.
That was on their part, to say the least, an un-
pardonable mistake. He did not lay claim to
any legal ability, but would endeavor to meet
tho argument used by some, that this matter
should be left 10 the courts. The election was
held on the 10th or November, 1865. under tie
7;s0ns of isii a0t 10 Provide Tor the election
OF officers of Incorporated cities and towns Of
the State OF South Carolina. 1t cannot be de-
| MED tnat tho most gigantic efforts we're made
in This, as in other elections in this State, un-
der the Reconstruction acts, to defeat the Re-
publican party. The case before them upon
wh,ch they were now called TO take action, is
one OF those causes growing out Of the dam
nable efforts and designs OF parties opposed to
this entire programme Of reconstruction. The
election was held in Charle sCon; a protest was
submitted aud entertained. The Acting Mayor
and Aldermen had an investigation, and pro-
to stocharge that the election was null aud
VOID on account Of the Illegal conduct OF some
Of the managers and propose to contest the
serts Of o majority OF those persons who claim
to br land were) duly elected ut that election.
| The ffLh section, OF the act provides, .sthe
managers OF elections shall decide contested
cases subject to the ultimate decision OF the
Board OF Aldermen or wal dens when organiz-
cd, except when the election OK O majority of
| the persons voted for are contested or the
managers charged with illegal conduct, IN
whicn case the Fe,urng, together with the bal
| lota shall be examined and the case inyesti-
| gated by the Acting Board OF Aldermen, who
| shall declare the election; and their decision
| shall be binding upon all parties"
\ 1t was the duty then OF that Mayor and Board
| OF Aldermen, upoa RECEIVING the returns Of the
manag srs 20 publish the same IN according to the
ceiving the highest number OF votes would b
| IN possession Of primo jdoie evidence OF their
/ election. The seats OF q majority OF the Board
we're contested, or the managers charged with
4 iilegal conduct. " was then competent for
ne Board 70 examine the returns
~ was, perhaps, not necessary to dwell on
the fact that She returns were rot, in the first
instance, published as directed TO be doae BY
law, or, secondly, the ssata Ok q majorits;of
those reeeiyIn rsa me shsst .unaber " votes
and necessary TO discover the gist II the
1 whole matter to ascertain whether the aileTa@
| ton OF frAud is true; whekher the managers
werc guilty Of illegal conduct sssfacient to I'M