The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-11
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
THE CITY ELECTION CASE
Debate on corbin's Bill

TEROM OUR OWN COHRESfOSOENh'l
Co1ums1A, s. c., February 9, 1S69.-M THE
SENATE, to-day, there was but little prehmi'
narv bpsiness. After the usual calls for peti-
tions. &C., the President announced the arrival
of tho hour for the consideration OF the spe-
cial order, to wit A bill to confirm ond de-
clare valid the recent election OF Mayor and
Aldermen of the City Of Charleston.
On motion of Swaiis, the majority and mi.
nority reports were taken up Tor conslderatioll
with the bill, and the reports read.
On motion. the memorials OF the cltlzens ol
Charleston for and against the bill were read.
THE bill received its second reading, and was
taken up for consideration by sections; ~.
Havne, of Marion, was the first speaker. he
spoke as, follows:
mr.. Pres,deM and Sena,ors-I rise to ad-
yocate the passage OF the bill. The act passed
at the special session of 1868 to provide for the
election of officers of Incorporated towns and
cities, makes it obligatory on the Mayor ana
Aldermen to declare the election. 1hs the
Acting Mayor and Board OF Aldermen @ OF .ne ae
CITY of Charleston failed to do, and were at
last compelled to declare it by the Supreme
Court by writ Of naandanus. BY this com.
pulsory declaration, they declare that Gilbert
Pillabury and his Aldermen received the largest
number of votes. but still the Acting Board OF
Aldermen refuse 10 surrender the ohces 10
their righttui claimants. What Is the cause OF
candidates, claiming that the election was
illegal. Charges Of fraud are made on the Re
pubGcan party and its candidates. This
was not done until the vote was
made known the day after the election" 1t
i'll becomes the Democratic party to ever men
tion the word fraud. We need not go back
any further than this very election. 1t is Weii
rubn
of voters in the City of Charleston, that the
Republican party is largely IN the MAJORITY.
What is therefore the cause OF so small ma
iority for MIR. Pillspury, IT it is not mere frAud
and bribery. Over five hundred men w~te Kept
away from the polls on account OF threats anu
intimidation. Others were paid laree amounts
TO keep away from the polls. Others we're
drugged and every means conceivable usea ~; 70
defeat the election of the Republican candl-
dates, and through all this they were elected
by 3 majority of TWENTY-FIVE votes. Frauds
were committed at the polls by the Democratic
party. These can be proved. The Republican
tickets were counterfeited at the polls. on
these counterfeits were the names OF the ep-
posing candidates. This was but one OF the
many mean tricks to wmcn tue Deuocrauc
party resortcd.
The Acting Board of Aldermen, taking ad-
vantage Of their situation and position, advan-
tape Of the confidence reposed in them as SER
wants of the people, openly oppose the will OF
the people and refuse to vacate ther seats.
Many wonder at this conduct. The Democrats
saw it is not us, but the Republicans. They
have been appointed to these POSITIONS by the
military and not by our choice. as one OF the
senators often remarked, There is o rat IN the
mear' which desires to destroy the whole bag:
The Acting Jlyor is wholesale grocer. and
furnishes the city with supplies. One OF the
Aldermen is lumber merchant. He supplies
the city with lumber. The other, the Chairman
of the Finance Committee, forms trio, or
ring, which forms the opposition to the Mayor
aad Aldermen olect.
To yacate their positions would prove detrl-
mental to their interests. In this case, as IN
many others, men have tramped law and or
der under their feet for thor own agSrandize-
ment. Itis nearly four months since the eloc-
ton was held. and the r1ehtfui claimants are
kept out of Office. The court has decided al
ready that they have declared the election,
and the law says their decision shall be bind
ing upon all partiers. Still they refuse and
desire the claimants to appeal to the superlor
courts for quo acd7r, INTO. This is the time
and place for the Legislature to Interfere. II
it was the first instance where parties refused
to surrender the Office to the rlghttul owner .a 1t
might be left further to the courts
But, at this very moment, the Regis
ter OF Mesne Conveyance, elected by
joint vote OF tpis General Assembly, is
compelled to sue out o quo lodrrdnto before he
can obtain his Office. / am in favor OF eJectlng
these people, who act in defiance OF the laws.
atthe point of the bayonet If necessary. We
must let them know that law and justice must
prevail; that tyranny end usurpation shall not
be countenanced; that the will OF tho p9ople
shall be regarded. AS servants OF the people
it is our duty to protect their interests. Ga
Thursday senator said it was not right to ap-
peal to party. should like to ask II the he
construction acts, which gives the senators the
right to seats on this floor, and their constltu-
ents who sent them here the right to vote, was
not o party measure; and but for TINS party
measure majority OF us would not 6e here to-
day, the senator himself not excepted.
Was not these very acts denounced as uncon-
stitutlonal by the very set of men who clamur
and howl about this bill as being unconstitu-
tioual,- r ,fusa by your votes TODAY to pass
this bill, and in every instance where the Re-
publican party are successful by small majorl'
ties, the other side will contest their seats. In
O. few years you will not be abe to boast OF 4
two-thirds majority, but will be contented to
get third. l would ask II there is not pro-
test before the Election Committee from the
Democratic candidate from Marion County.
contestIng nv seat. Like that very case it cannot
be prorad. Que of their rallying committees
was bold enough to tell me if a certain poll had
been attended to they could have carried the
election.
It is SAID in Charleston that this Legislature
can be bought for q price, and l3w price at
that. A few days ago, while IN the city, L
learned that certain men we're pledged to de-
feat this bill, and The remark was mado that
they we're we'll laid foI 50 DONG. Ifthere are
Judases among us, letus find tncm out before
they sell our lives for thirty greentlcks. A
senator has offered mo bribe. butlt was spurn-
ed with ind guatlon, and should another at
tempt be- made I will expose him.
Maxwell followed III support OF tho bill, dis
claiming all faotious and partisan feeling, but
abusing the Democrats Us having lied and
sworn to override the wi OF tho people. Aftor
the declaration OF the Mayor and Aldermen of
the votes cast. he could not do otherwise tLan
support the I'LL. It was only al uct or Simpie
Justice, an exposition of the popular voice.
Men were starving IN the St. Gets OF Cliarlos-
Ton who hal Llcn ostracised because Of their
devotion to their country, its liberties dad
laws. Pillsbury and his Aldermen were duly
elected and tile bill should pass.
Rev. R. II. Cam followed Maxwell, and said
H,. Preside,t a.d Seadors-I regret tx-
ceedingly that this question is forced upon ;Eis
General Assembly. 1 regret It tho more be-
cause it involves the 1ntel ests, the well being.
the peace, quiet, commercial, agricultural aud
social relations aud happiness Of those who
are Immediately connected with the OPERATIONS
of the election ID the contest winch has been
going on 80 lcrg. wished and hoped that
The courts, those legitimate tribunals 10 which
I think it belongs o settle this question. would
have had the settlement OF it, and that the
Teoisatnrs would not have BEN troubled.
/ am ouposed 10 this bill for various reasons:
First. be!isve that ltS passage will be like the
Ponies bul, o. .aiBst the comet. that it will have
inst abont a much effect, as far as seating the