The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-03-02
From the Chesterfield Democrat.

Pursuant to notice, a Mass Meeting
of the citizens of Chesterfield County
was held at Chesterfield Court House,
on Monday Goth inst. Maj. j. G. Colt
was called to the chair, and Messrs.
Duvall and Miller requested to act as
Secretaries. The Chairman after short
address stated the object of the meet
ingwhich was to give the people of Chcs,
terfeld an opportunity of publicly ex-
pressing their just Indignation at the
uuwarrantable action of the House OF
Representatives, in ejcctinG from their
seats Messrs. NJ. I. Hough and B. c.
Evans, the lawfully elected members
and choice of the people,. and seating
in their stead, those whom they had
so positively rejected at the ballot box,
and who they never recognize as their
!. Representatives. Mr.. NJ. I. Hough
being called on, in. q .forcible and spir-
tied manner showed how trickery and
fraud, were carried out by Chesterfield s
most inveterate enemy, Il. James Don.
aldsoD, in conjunction with few others
of the same stamp, had taken from the
people the rights of the ballot box.
On motion of Captain"T. F. Malloy,
the preamble and resolution adopted at
a meeting held at Cheraw were en-,
dorsed.
On motion Captain w. L. J. Reid, a
committee of FIVE were appointed to
draw up petition to the Legislature,
requesting them to do justice to the
people Of Chesterfield, by removing
from their seats Philip Singleton and
VIM. Littlefeld, and replacing the
lawfully elected members, MeSsrs. NJ. |.
Hough and B. G. Evans.
During the absence Of the committee
spirited addresses were made by Mr..
Z. F. Malloy, VIM. Spencer and others,
and every mau present seemed to feel
that he had been most shamefully
cheated out of that right held most
dear by a freeman, the right of the
ballot box. The committee now offer
ed the following petition which was
unanimously adopted:
PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF REPRE-
sENTAT1vEs oYTuE STATE OF SOUTH
CAROLINA.
Whereas, by the constitution Of the
State aforesaid, it is declared that the
right of the people to petition for the
removal of wrong aud grievances per-
pctrated upon them shall never be
abridged; whereas, we, the people o1
Chesterfield County, feel that a great
wrong has been imposed upon us in the
late action of the House Of Representa-
tives aforesaid, in removing from their
seats Mess. IIough.. and Evans, and
placing in their stcads one Philip Sin
eleton and one VIM. Littlefeld, there
by dcpriving US of tho constitutional
right Of electing our own Repre-
sentativcs, therefore, we, the people OF
Chesterfield County, in mass meeting
assembled, do petition thst body tt
reconsider their action in the case a
forcsaid, and allow us tho constitutional
privilege of electing our own members
to that body; if there should be any
doubt in the minds Of the members Of
that body as to the justncss Of their
late action, aud as the constitution ex'
prcssly declares that where thdrc is nj
Representation there shall be no taxa
ton, therefore, We, the tax payers il
the aforesaid county, feel that it is due
to US as a constitutional right that W.
should be allowed Z voice as to whom
should represent us in your body
And your petitioners will ever pray
&c.
On motion of Captain T. F. Malloy
a subscription list was now opened for
the purpose of defiaying printing ex'
penses &c. Moved and carried, thai
the proceedings of this meeting be
published in the Democrat and Other
napers of the State. There being NJ