The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-12-17
ABBEVILLE SENATORIAL ELECTION
Debate in the Senate.

oOHoVO LILO SOudCos
J. J. Wright, colored, offered the
following resolution:
Whereas, it appears by the report
Of tho Committee on Privileges and
Elections, that such irregularities oc-
CURED in tho conduct of tho recent
election for senator in the County of
Abbevi1lc as to vitiatc the same, be il
Resolvsd. That said election be de-
clarcd null and void.
The motion was seconded by w. B.
Nash, colorcd.
Wright, in reply to request from
Leslie to give his reasons for making
tho motion, said, substantially; The
Legislature had appointed county
canvassers to supnrintcnd the election
and sec that it was conducted accord
ing to law, and if there were any iIlc
gal votes to throw them out. If
there were such, they did not throw
them out it appeared, from tho testi-
mony. According TO the law, the
report Of the county canvasscrs is
final. While, perhaps, they knew Of
Irregularities, yet they would not
throw out the votes for the reason,
perhaps. that such action would have
interfcrcd with tho election for coun-
ty officers, who were voted for at the
g II,
installed. 1t was shown that there
was fraud at the elcction-at Cal
houn's Mills-and it was in evidence
that men had been intimidatcd, but
the committee took no cognizanco Of
it, because it was not admissible to
show which way those who were in
timidatcd and prevented from voting
would have voted. There Was no
corruption shown in the conduct Of
the judges, and the law does not al
low the committee to go behind their
report. The law, however, does allow
the House or Senate to declare the
election null and void if it be shown
that there was neglect Of duty on
the part Of tho county canvassers !;
and there was neglect Of duty-be-
cause the manager of the Calhoun's
Mills precinct appointed manager
there, when only the commits. toner's
of election had a right TO appoint a
manager.
Leslie said he was sorry to sec that
considerable outside political pressure
was being brought to bear upon the
senators in regard to this election con-
test. He had been q Democrat once,
and he knew that there were some
things that party would do that tho
Devil himself, were he on earth, could
not excel. He did not want the sena-
tors to do like the Democrats would
do-not give Republican fair
showing-but to give each of tho con-
testants chance. He knew that If
this was a contest between Radicals
and Democrats, and this were Dem
ocratic Senate, the senator's would not
give Guffin time to say "God have
mercy on my SOUL" before they would
chuck him out of the window; and
that is the way some Of the Republi-
cans want to do with their opponents
representative, because they (the
Radically are now in power. This is
not the right way-this is not justice
but it does not seem that there will
ever be Justice in South Carolina when
it comes to a question of politics or
color. If man says he is a Demo
crat, that party goes for him; and if
he says he is a Republican, the Re-
publicans 60 for him, right Or wrong.
There never was n fair election held
in Abbcville, and now for person to
declare his intention to vote the Re-
publican ticket there his life is endan-
gered; he is threatened before tho
election, on his way to and at the
polls, and if he vote as he deems best,
he may consider himself woll off if he
gets home alive. The county COM
missioners have placed the Senate in
an awkward fix. If the vote at Cal
houn's Mills be thrown out, then both
Mr.. Cothran and Guffin will have an
equal number of votes, and how. can
the Senate decide that either was
elected. It is true that it is shown
tdcre was intimidation at Calhoun's
Mills, but it is not in evidence that
the men who were intimidated, as is
claimed, would have voted for Guffin.
If the election was unfair at any poll,
throw the vote Mt out. It is claimed
that the election at .Calhoun's Mills
was unfair; if SO, throw it out. Then