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

On Thursday last Judge Graham granted
writ of Mandamus, requiring the Clty
Council to meet on Wednesday next and
hear the protest against the late municipal
election, concocted by Mayor Pillsbury and
his henchmen, Captain Hendricks and Alder
man Collins. Failing this, the Council must
show cause before Judge Graham, on Satur-
day next, why they have failed 10 comply
with the requirement Of the writ.
1t may be well to recall to the memory OF
the public the history oi that municipal re-
form movement, whose natural and legitl-
mate result was the victory Of the 2d Aug
ust, when the Ciizens' candidates for Mayor
and Aldermen of Charleston were elected by
a majority OF seven hundred and seventy
seven votes.
In 1868 the Mayo; Of Charleston was Mr.
G. W. Clark, strong Republican, the pre-
sent collector OF the port. He and the
board of aldermen were appointed to office
by the military authorities. At The special
session of the General Assembly, held under
the new or Reconstruction constitution, an
election for mayor and aldermen OF Charles
ton was ordered to be held on the second
Tuesday Of November. There were two
sets OF candidates; but even at that time all
;5vlitical questions were, on the part OF the
conservative citizens, stuuiously excluded
from the canvass. Tne Radicals, on the
other hand made the election party anes-
ton, and Mr.. Gilbert Pillsbury and his
aldermen were elected by a majority OIL
twenty-three votes There were, however
80 many manifest irregularities in the pro-
ceedings OF the managers and Others that
the validity of the election was at once con-
tested Under the State law, when "the
election of majority Of the persons voted
sfor is contested, or the managers are
enlarged with illegal conduct" the case
must be investigated by the ac.ing alder
men, whose places that election Is to I'LL,
and 'their decision shall be binding upon
"all parties" The case was accordingly in-
yestioated at length hG Mayor Clark and his
/ al. 'ermen, all of whom were military ap-
! 20 ,tees, and most Of whom were pronounc-
Republicans. These, after hearing the
testimony and arguments OF counsel, de-
cided that there had been mo legal anu
.valid election" This decision, declared
by law to be binding upon all parties"
was rendered on November 2s, 1868. The
case was now carried before the courts, and
was again decided against Plilsbury and his
aldermen. In the meantime, Mayor Clark
and his aldermen remained in office; but in
March, 1869, the Legislature, in defiance OF
their own law and the decision OF the
courts, passed an act declaring the elec-
ton of November, 1868, "vaIid to all in
"tepts and purposes" Under this act
Mayor Pillsbury and his aldermen took
office. No sooner we're they installed than
majority OF their number proceeded to
turn the victory to account. AS they were
legislated into their seats by Radical Legis-
lature, they made instant changes in the
city government, appointing notoriously
unfit men to responsible positions only on
account Of their fea!ty to party AS time
wore on it became evident that the Pillsbury
council had neither the skill nor the hon
esty necessary for dealing with the compll-
Gated questions OF debt and taxation. Money
was lavlsbly spent without other benefit
than the enriching OF the officers OF the city
government. Confidence, never strong, be-
came weaker every day until it was entirely
lost. There was only one hope; that in 1871
the citizens of Charleston, discarding pol
itics, might elect mayor and aldermen
who would worthily represent the integrity,
experience and ability of the city. Alarmed
at the idea that the municipal reformers
might drive them from the Offices which
they disgraced, delegation OF the Pills
buryites was sent to Columbia. These con-
trived to secure the passage Of bill requir-
| ing the municipal election to be held on
August I'd, 1871, instead CT November. In
August large number OF persons are ab-
sent from Charleston, on business or on pleas
ure, and every absentee was expected to
count as q vote lost to the opponents OF the
Pillsbury party. Under the new law the
election was accordingly held.
Mayor Pillsbury was q candidate Tor re-
election. The Radical organ, the Repu5ll-
Gun, supported his claims, but urged, day
after day. the Importance Of eschewing poll
tics and OF electing aldermen whom the
people might trust. But this did not suit
the Pillsburyites. They held their conven-
ton, and nominated ticket so scandalously
weak and rotten as to provoke the angry
denuuciations of the Republican, ard OF all
the respectable members OF its party. A
few OF the candidates were highly respecta-
BILE men-the rest we're fools or knaves, OF
both. We may aid that five responsible
citizens, whom the Pillsburyites nominated
to strengthen their ticket, Indignantly de,
clined to remain in so eQuvocal company.
The Republican at once announced that it
could not, and would not, support wnat was
then dubbed the Riff. Raft ticket. And now
the Citizens party chose their candidates.
1t was desired that the municipal canvass
in Charleston should be part OF the great
reform movemen: which, the whole country