The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-25
THE SITUATION.
Proceedings Against
the South Carolina
Board for Con-
tempt.
The Florida IDjunc-
ton Case Still Un-
decided.
| ONLY ONE PARISH IN LOUISA
| Ma CANVASSRD YESTERDAY.
Political Murder
in North Caro-
lima.
SOUTH CAROLINA.

The Democrats Tired OF the COnIest.
Herald special.]
COLUMBIA, Nov M.-Leading Democrats are
getting tired of imperiling their own chances
for Governor in the vain effort to help the
Northern Dem ocrats elect President. Three
out of seven members of the Democratic exc
cutive committee are in favor of issuing an adj
dress, saying that they make no issue with re-
gard to Presidential electors, but only claim
that they have elected the Governor and ma
iority of the legislature.
Two or Three False Reports.
Especial to the New York Times.l
There is not the slightest ground for the re-
port that orders for the arrest OF members of
the board of canvassers have been issued by the
court, and thar they have fled to Washington;
nor for the other report that the board acted
under advice from Washington. No lawyer
from Washington or anywhere outside of South
Carolina has given them any advice on the sub
ject. They acted on their own belief, backed
by their counsel, that the law required them to
finish their work Wednesday, and that it would
be hazardous to give the Democrats any tech
nical advantage by failing to comply with the
strict letter of the statute.
Why MIR. Purvls Resigned.
Il. W. Purvis, late Adjutant General and
member of the board of state canvassers, re-
signed, but not before he had signed certif-
and state officers. The remaining certificates
he refused to sign, and resigned, alleging that
there was fraud in the election of members of
the legislature and county officers to which he
would not be party.
ITO the Associated Press]
The Canvassing Board Arraigned for
Contempt.
The court convened at p. m. in response to
a rule issued at the morning session to the can
wasting board to show cause why they should
not be attached for contempt of court in refus-
ing to obey its mandate issued an Wednesday
United States District Attorney Corbin, coun-
sci for the board, introduced an affidavit asking
for further time
Court stated that if he would indicate the
line of their defence or assure the court they
would obey its mandamus, further time would
be granted, He would not do this and the re-
quest was refused.
The counsel for the REALTORS were instructed
to draw the order, but as a recitation of all the
proceedings was required as a preface to the
order to commit the board for contempt, they
requested until to- morrow morning to file it.
Court said that they hoped the board would in
the morning obey its mandate and purge the
contempt 1t they do not they will be COM
mitted to jail.
The counsel for the REALTORS then moved that
a preemptory mandamus be issued to 81. A.
Paine, Secretary of State, to issue certifca tes
to all members of the general assembly, includ-
ing the counties of Edgefeld and Laurens in
accordance with the order of the court of We'd
Desday's session.
Associate Justice Willard said that the rela-
tors ought not to pray at this stage of the pro-
ceedings as Mr.. Paine was now in the contempt
and the court had no assurance that he would
obey as he had disobeyed their mandate already
intimating that counsel ought therefore to
await the result of the rule before moving this
order.
Judge Willard said: Here we have just
made solemn decision in which he (Payne) is
a party as member of the board of state can
vassers, and as Secretary of State. If the
order in thatcase-an order directed to him, as
we'll as to the others on the board-had been
obeyed, this question would not have arisen.
As the cafe now stands, an incident occurred
rare in the history of civilized society. Men
clothed with civil authority of limited charac-
ter, subject to the courts of the land, have
court in the State Of South Carolina, and are
now jeopardizing the security of justice and
abe security of peace. They are in an attitude
of defiance, not only against abstract law, but
against its embodiment in this court. They
have brought political death for a moment
upon the state and upou the nation. They hold
in their hands tirebrand and they have ap-
piled it to the whole structure that covers US
while they are thus standing, defying the
power of this court We are now gravely con-
date to another of this boare. I cannot believe
that when these gentlemen come to consider |
when they come to night to ask the protection
and favor of their God-when they recall the |
sanctity of their oaths of Office, do not believe
they will longer resist the power of this court. |
This court is clothed with majesty. We do |
not speak the voice of men. We speak in judg- |
ment, and judgment is the voice of God. Eve
~ legal power will be exhausted by the court to |
compel from them what their conscience does |
not yield, and whatever loyalty, fealty and JUS
tice there is in the community will be exerted |
to compel by force what conscience does not |
yield. What are we doing? What reason have |
we for believing that this order will be obeoed |
any more than the others? What reason have |
we to believe that this defiance will cease? We |
should take into consideration the bearings of |
this question The actions of this boyrd in my |
opinion will do more to call up generous spir- |
it in the people, and forgetfll of craftsmanship |
to cause them to unite upon the high ground of /
justice and truth than anything that has been |
done in the history of the country since its first
origin.
The court meets tomorrow morning at ten |
o clock.
Abram y. Hewei to Wade Hampton.
Hon. Abram s. Hewitt has written the fol |
lowing letter to Gen. Wade Hampton:
National Democratic Committee, Nsw York,
N0U. "a:
My Dear Sir:-Your admirable address to the /
people of South Carolina is the subject of uni |
versal admiration here. In fact, the prudence |
the forbearance and the self-control of your |
people under the most exasperatiDg provoca-
ton is beyond all praise / can only trust shat |
yurself next week no outbreak will occur. 1t |
is almost too much to expect that there will be
no indiscreet man in South Carolina who may
provoke the collision. But nevertheless the
providence of God has SO far guided you and
your people in all your difficulties, that your
friends rest in calm confidence upon the wisdom
and good fortune which have SO far attended
your actions.
You may rest assured that your Northern
brethren have consecrated themselves to the
work of your deliverance, and will never cease
heir efforts until you are restored to that free
iom wherewith you "vere made free" by the
abors and sacrifices and wisdom of our fore
athers and your forefathers. God give you and
-FOUR people all the wisdom and all the patience
needed in this hour of trial. and in this crisis
If the destiny of our common country. We
nave have full faith in the justice of the people
'f the United States, and we do not entertain
doubt of the final verdict which they will
pass upon the occurrences of the last two weeks.
This verdict will surely vindicate their majesty
ng basis.
have the honor to be very respectfully your
)beolent servant ADRIAN S. HEWITT,
Chairman Natl Dem. Coin,
III Can Wade Hamntou Colup,b;o 9 |