The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-23


No pronounced politician was nominated.
The candidates were, all OF them, tried citl-
gems who thoroughly represented the brain
and the muscle, the wealth and the public
experience, of the community. There were
on the Citizens ticket both white men ana
colored men, merchants and Mechanics
bankers and plain men OF business. There
were on that ticket men OF all but the ex-
treme shades OF political opinion No one
could say that it was made up in the inter-
est of any class or party.
The friends of economy and good gov
ernment went to work with will, and
the city was thoroughly canvassed. Just
before the election, mob OF rufians, who
were marchilg in procession in honor OF
the denomination of "old man" Pillsbury,
broke into the stores of several clti-
zens, and strove to set fire to their dwell
liDgs. During the registration, gangs OF
negro rowdies sought to drive the ConserVa'
tive voters from the polling places, but on
the day of election squads Of United States
soldiers, stationed at the polls, protected all
classes from both intimidation and actual
violence. The honest colored people and the
respectable Republicans worked and voted
with the white nti.Radicals. In the face OF
large registered majority OF colored voters
the Citizens candidates were, as before stated,
elected by rousing majority. No word was
said against the election. Mayor Pilisbury for
maly proclaimed that the candidates were
elected to the said several Offices" The
Radical organs and Radical leaders in South
Carolina treated the election as one in every
respect fair and henest. From all parts OF
the United States, from Republicans ana
Democrats, came words OF cheer and con:
graduation. The election OF the Citizens
candidates in Charleston was regarded as a
triumph OF virtue and intelligence over ig-
norapce and crime. An air Of cheerfulness
pervaded the city, All wished that Novem-
ber were come, and that General Wagner
and his Aldermen were installed. The be-
lief was universal that the condition OF the
city would rapidly improve, that the burnt
district would be rebuilt, that the debt
woald be put in manageable shape, that
the city expenditures would be reduced, and
the city receive the full value OF every dollar
which left the treasury. Patiently we have
waited, and now ut the eleventh hour it is
attempted to quash the election and rob the
people of the fruits OF their hard-won vic.
tory.
1t is proper in this place to say that 30
far as we know, not respectable Republi-
can in Charleston, OF any prominence, is
connected with the protest which it is de-
manded that the City Council should con-
slider. The fathers OF the scheme are Mayor
Pillsbury Chei-of- Police Hendricks and Al
derman Collins. These worthless have un.
scrupulously used the whole power OF the
City Government to further their project
Police officers whom the city pays have been
detailed, for weeks at time, to hunt up
witnesses and buy aftidavits. The officers
Of the municipal government and the mem
bers of the police force have been taxed to
form q fund for paying counsel fees and
other necessary expenses. Having matured
their plans, the triumvirate now seek to foist
upon Charleston, for two years more, gov
ernment which, as whole, would disgrace
a village in Ashantee. We cannot meet
luem with their oru weapons. Fr:eke.J asa
brute force are alike denied us. But OF one
thing the people may rest assured: The pro-
test will be fought inch by inch and foot
by foot, and every legal remedy shall be ex-
hausted in defence OF their rights. The fol-
lowing distinguished gentlemen, who have
watched the Piisbury party from the begin
ming and have been cognizant OF all their
movements, have the matter in. charge: the
Hon. VIM. D. Porter the Hon. james Sim
ons, the Hon. A. G. Magrath, the Hon. j.
B. Campbell, Colonel Thomas T. Simons'
the Hon. C. H. Smonton, and Alexander
H. Brown, ESQ.,; also, A. T. Smythe, ESQ.,,
and Mojor G. Lamb Buist, on the part Of
the Executive Committee. In their hands
the interests OF The, people are safe. We
have the moral support of all honest men
whether Republicans or Democrats the
North as Well as in South Carolina. What
is most needed is that the people be firm,
tranquil and full of confidence in the justice
of their cause.