The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-02-17
TIE PROTEST OF cHEsEERFIELD.
"A Strong Utrerance.


At meeting of the citizens of Chesterfield
County, held on thes 9th instant, the following pre-
amble ind resolutions were adopted:
Whereas, 1t becomes people who are attached
to the form Of government under which they have
been reared, and who value the political rights It
was designed to secure to them, to guard them
with Jealous care and denounce With unhesttating
boldness any peryersion OF the one or infringe
ment OF the other; and whereas, their own sell.
respect demands some expression OF indignant
condemnation OF the conduct OF those-whoeyer
they may be-who dare, In defiance OF law, OF
justice and Of reason, to perpetrate upon them 30
gross an outrage as to stt6e the voice OF the peo-
pie at the balot-boX and deprive them OF repre-
sentationm the government by their ewn chosen
delegates; and whereas. it would be unmanly ana
unpatrioic TO refrain from the public utterance
of our true and decided sentiment OF reprooatlon
and disgust induced by the recent outrageous &C.
lion OF the House Of Representatives at Columbia,
In eecting the representatives from Chesterfield,
and imposing upon Us by fraud, By bribery and by
tyranny, incompetent and unworthy substitutes
who are not the choice OF the large majority Of
the voters, but were rejected by them at the bal
lotbox.
do golemnly protest against the unwarranted
p election Of Messrs. II. /. Kough and B. G. Evans
rom their seats In the House Of Representatives.,
to which they were fairly, legally and triumphant
ly elected, notwithstanding the opposition OF IN
scrupulous partisan tricksters, and the operation
of laws designed to defeat q fair expression OF
the will OF the people.
3. Resolusd, That we protest against the admis.
sion OF one HttleHeld, who never was citizen Of
Chesterfield, but political adventurer, who was,
at the Gate Of the election, and long after; mem
ber OF the constabulary force, and one Singleton,
neither Of whom received majority OF the votes
cast or even majority OF the votes counted out
OF the ballot boxes after they had been shame.
fuIly tampered with aid altered, with q view to
chauae the manifest result of the election.
g. ResolUed, What we denounce the action OF
the House of Representatives as being without
The semblance Of law, or even OF common decen.
cy; against the evidence Of the Official return OF
the board Of canvassers, and the sworn state.
ments Of many OF our best citizens; In violation
of It's own order In the case but few weeks be-
FORE and OF every fair precedent In like cases; IN
derogstIon Of the right OF suffrage and Of repre-.
sentatlon; and as indicative OF deliberate and
settled purpose, on the part OF those IN power,
Notwithstanding the recent and repeated protes-
tations OF their Governor and other political lead.
ers and orgaps, Of moderation, amendment and
reform, to carry out the system OF fraud and op.
preston they have inaugusated, to Its fnal and
inevitable result Of anarchy and ruin.
1. Resolued, That while we 'denounce the cor.
ruption which tolerates such iniquitous and reYo;
| lutIoriary proceedings we cannot hep depl0rtng
| the mischievous edects which must result te me
people Of our community and State, IN exeitfng
jealousies, provoking bttternessaof feeling and
stirring up strife between the different classes Of
citizens. Instead OF repairing the unhappy
breeches, healing divisions. harmonizing con.
nicttnR 0plnlon9Sanu {npereStS, buQ hsapSluK
every citizen Of tho inFiolablty OF his vested
rghts inorder tn # society may be nrmly sestab-
lished upon the basis OF peace, order and perma.
nence, we cannot doubt that It Is the purpose OF
the actors In this outrage TO perpetuate as iasas
may be In their-poWer, the reign OF dt5cort ana
corruption. Yet, as good -cittzens, We earnestly
deprecate siy action on the part Of our peope'to
which, as men under unusual, provocation, they
might be tempted TO resort In order to right their
own wrongs, outside Of the law.
g. Resolved That. we attribute the assaults
which are especially made upon the rights OF the
people,ot Chesterfield, In great measure, TO the
/ innuance OF one R James Donaldson, who, ever
since he ;came among us, In the gutse Of min.
Lister OF religion, has bnsied himself 10, sowing
| the seeds 4of dlssenston between the white and
colored races reaping for himself harvest Of fat
Eofices and lucrative positions and betraytng his
ideluded followers, and wss the ingenious though
base contrtyer OF all the machinery Of fraud put
lin operation at the receRt election here-a Oils.
/ grace and d burden to his. own party, and 9
| iomenter OF discord III the community. s-..t
I, 8. RESOLVED, That VIC cannot recognize the m
diyiduals now occupying the seats Of our elected
members as the Representatives Of Chesterfield
On motion Of e. F.. .Malloy, -
Resolved, That this preamble and resolutions,
with this motion atixed to'those adopted, be sent
to theGoyernor OF the State, the president OF the
Senate the speaker Of the House Of Represents
tives, with the request that they be read before
the House, and 10 G. W. DuTall, Esq, our senator: