The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-23

HE ELECTION AND IT'S FRAuDs.-The
election for State and County officers for
this County, held on last Wednesday,
passed otf quietly-no disturbance what.
ever. we regret to say, however, that,
TO our knowledge, there never was an
electlon held under greater disadvan-
Gages: Illumination was the watohword.
Inc Radical ring knowing, or believing,
that tne Conservatives would put candi-
dates IN the field for County Offices, and
fearing this opposition, set thair rascallv
wits to work to carry the election at ali
hazards. With this view, thew. fret and
foremost, brought Deputy Marshals to
this place, in order, we firmly believe. to
intimidate the people. The said Mar.
shals hung around for several days in all
the "pomp and circumstance" Of their
official position. until last Sunday night.
wien three separate squads of cavalry
were detailed, each under command of a
Deputy Marshal. They left this place
between i and IL o'clock, going in diff
terent directions. They secured the
country from the time of starting till
Monday noon, returning with six limo.
cent and unsuspecting citizens. The
midnight riding had the effect these
scoundrels desired, to considerable ex-
tent, though not 30 much as they had
hoped. The people were somewhat be-
wildered, but they were satisfied as to
the meaning Of this midnight riding,
coming as it did just on the eve of the
election, and they determined to vote
ana FISK tho consequences; so they did,
though great number, no doubt. were
deferred from voting from fears of arrest
So much for the intimidation scheme.
which we designate as fraud No. l.
Fraud No. oonsists in the Commits
sioners OF Election failing to provide
box at each precinct with four separate
and distinct apartments, as the law
plainly contempiates, which reads thus:
"Eaoh box for such precinct shall be
labeled as follows: Congress- State
Circuit and County Officers.'"
Instead Of observing the law in the
above particular, the Commissioners
only provided 3 single box, containing
one single and general receptacle, into
which all the votes were deposited.
This being the case, number of Con-
seryatiye votes at Clinton, according to
the ruling of the managers ut that box,
were lost, many voting the State ticket
(Tomlinson's) folded with the Conserya.
tive ticket for County officers. We learn
That lSO of these tickets we're thrown
out at the Clinton box alone, and we
presume the same will be. or has been.
done at other boxes.
Fraud No.. 3 (perhapa the greatest of
all) was in the failure to open the LYONS
box. This precinct was duly advertised
In this paper, and the managers ap-
pointed. The chairman came, as re.
quired, was qualified, received the box.
and left this place on Tuesday night, vet
no box was opened. The voters at that
precinct were promptly at the polls, and
waited there until IL O'Clock. No mana
ger appeared, and of. course the voters
at that precinct were deprived of the
privilege of voting. Now, in our OPT
mon, this failure to open the polls at
said precinct, was an Intentional fraud,
perpetrated in order to throw out the
whole vote, which the ring knew was
largely Conservative. Not less than 800
votes were lost to the Conservative party
by this failure to open the polls at the
Lyons precinct.
Fraud No. 4 consists in the voting of
negroes under age, aud others voting
"early and Often" This was undoubt-
edly done here. This charge can be
substahtiated and will be dore. One
negro was caught in the act of "repeat-
ing" his vote at this place. A number
OF others voted here early in the morn
ing, were furnished conveyances, and
sent off to Hamilten's, where they re-.
peated. This, We learn from reliable
authority. can also be proved by the re-
cord, and by respectable citizens. Wa.
gon-loads of negroes we're sent from
Clinton to this place. and from this place
to Clinton, and repeated their votes.
Hence the large Radical majority in this
County.
Knowing, as every one must know,
the numerous, npheard-of and mon.
strous frauds practiced In the late cleo.
tion, we can't see how any man, with
particle of conscience, could qualify and
serve in the Office to which he may have
been elected.
We might be in favor of making an
effort to contest the election, were it not
that We have no hope OF favorable con.
sideration; and, 80 for as We are con-
cerned. are disposed to give up all hope
of getting fair election until the laws
and regulations are changed in regard to
voting, and we are again allowed regis.
tration, and when the commissioners of
election and managers are not all candi-