The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-10-04
COLUMBIA. S. c..
SUNDAY Morning. October 4, 1874.

Sunday Morning, October q, 1874.
tho Present Comm issX0ners 81 Elec.
lions.
The meeting in Charleston, Thurs
day night, was composed OF Conserva.
tives and Independent Republicans.
black and white, and was the mos,
orderly and thoughtful Of any held
since the war. a common purpose
animated the four thousand citizens
assembled in the meeting, presided
over by gentlemen, Hon. II. D.
Leaesne, who is living victim OF
election frauds, having been cheated
out of his election as Mayor of Charles
ton four years ago. The remarks OF
Mr. Lesesne, Maj. Delaney, Col.
Mackey, Mr.. Joseph Barnwell and
Hon. G. a. Trenholm, were highly
appropriate to the occasion. Mai.
Delaney uttered the wholesome truth,
that "what was most to be desired is
that the whites and the blacks in this
State should know and understand
their duties towards euch other, so
as to act and stand together and work
for their mutual veal and prosperity.
He said that for long time he had
stood alone in lis party, and had been
denounced for entertaining such opin-
ions; but the day is gone, he said,
when We, can be made to believe that
every thing the Republican party did
was right" A preamble and resolu-
tions were adopted which express dis
gust and doubt of there being free
vote and fair count in the approach
ing election for State and County of.
ficers and members of Congress. and
announce the determination to have
free exercise of the principle Of suffrage
aud an honest count OF the votes.
They make this announcement, for the
Information Of those in authority-that
they may be warned in time, that the
citizens will resort to every means
within their power to secure their
rights under the laws and Constitution
OF the country, ";a which declaration
and warning the Republican and Con.
scrvative citizsns OF Charleston Coun.
ty do unite and concur as having, in
this matter, the same object, interest
and purpose" A committee OF seven
citizens were appointed to present the
preamble and resolutions to the Co.
vernon of the State, and require of him
as necessary for the preservation of
public right and maintenance oftAe pub
Tic peace, that he remove the Commis-
sioners of Election, or majority OF
them. and appoint in their stead Com
missioners of known integrity, intelli-
gence and impartiality. And it was
furthermore resolved, that the commit
tee, in the event of the refusal of the
Ex ,cntive to grant this request, shall
call q mass meeting of the people to
take such further action as may then
be necessary.
The Commissioners OF Election,
whose appointment by the Governor
has raised such storm of Indignation,
are @. O. Bowen, B. Fl. Hcyt and Pc
ter Gregorie, the last colored. Bowen
and Hoyt are notoriously corrupt men,
who will stick at nothing necessary to
insure their success in the work ap.
pointed to them to do. They are ap-
pointed to serve base object, but the
scheme has met with the sternest op-
position, and, as things look, cannot
be consummated in Charleston. The
same resolute stand ought to be taken
all over the State where similar ap-
pointments have been made. In every
case, where the people can act, th ey
should show their repugnanoe to fraud
and corruption, and their determina-
ton not to submit to imposition.
The tumble OF the Election Laws.
The election lave are puzzle and q
tumble, containing loopholes for fraud,
and affording opportunities to defeat