The New York herald., 1877-02-28
EIGHT TO SEVEN.
South Carolina Disposed Of by the
Usual Vote.
THE END APPROACHING.
The Democratic Objections
to the Hayes Electors.
No Registration, Use Of Troops and
Intimidation.
MoRToNs REcoNcILING ORDERS.
An Impassioned Appeal from
Hon. Jere Black.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 1877.
Almost universal surprise occasioned here
day when, at ten minutes past one tho Electoral Com
mission, after having heard argument for only three
hours, cleared the OF spectators and went into
secret session on the South Carolina 1t was evi
dent when the commission opened at O'Clock that
the interest in the proceedings had greatly diminished
There was crowd Of any magnitude about and
though the room gradually filled the striving to
obtain ingress was not noticed.
When Mr.. Justice Clifford asked who would appear
counsel on the democratic side Mr. Cochrane said that
none would appear Atterward, however, tho Hon.
jeremiah S. Black announced as tho counsel who
would address tho commission.
Mr. Justice Clifford then invited tho objectors to
tilcate No. to express their objections.
SPEECH HURD
Mr.. Hurd as objector, then proceeded submit the
reasons why he thought tho commission should reject
certificate No. l. He said he would not 90 over any
ground that had been contested anything that had
been decided by tho commission. Hc would connne
himself to what he considered new points. He would,
In support OF the first objectonthat the government
ofthc State was not republican In form-not go back
OF tho Reconstruction acts the events which ol-
lowed but conhno himself the few months that pre-
ceded the election.
He went into an inquiry as to what constituted
republican form OF government and the relative duties
OF the fedora! and State governments, and holding
tnat it only could be republican that gave the people
free and fair opportunity express their will the
selection OF their rulers. Whatever prevented q free
expression OF the Will OF the people, the that
II operated SO far destroyed tho republican character
OF the government If legal disabilities imposed
or II intimidation was practised the Republic not
maintained They proposed TO show by the testimony
taken by the House Committee that colorcd men
in South Carolina intimda,ed by other
colored men; that they whipped and
driven from the polls, democratic tickets taken
from them and tho republican tickets put in their
hands and they forced to vote them. They proposed
TO show that there coored rife clubs which werc
not disbanded in accordance with the proclamation
the President and they proposed show by tho proc
Iamaon OF The President short time boiore the cec
tion that there was an nsurrecton the State which
was not put down at the time OF the election, but
that time required the presence OF Jhtrtytw0 compa-
MES OF troops to prevent an outbreak. Would
the commission receive tho testimony which
would show concusively that anarchy prevailed
IN that State on the day OF elections In
ihc Union and when The Ssatss came bact nnasr % ,ho
Reconstruction acts 1t had been held that Congress had
Ihe power to inquire whether there was state
aured by the constituton and this, no said, the
Inquiry 10 which he desired to direct the attention OF
the commission, and asked that they admit evidence
Iho* that anarchy prevailed, and hence there was no
Mr. Hurd held that as the constitution of the State
"
ment was utterly ignored the election void.
PRESENCE TROOPS.
- lie next went to the objection that the preseace OF
united states troops IN the State overawed the
people and prevented FREQ expression OF the will
Of tho people Ho read the proclamation OF the
recton existed in the State, and contended that the
clause Of tho constitution authorizing the interference
OF the federal government contemplated nsurrcc.
tion against. or resistance to, State authority,
and not disturbances between individual citl-
uQ
stated in tho Presidents proclamation, he argued,
did not amount to such an insurrection against tho
United States the State authorities
Intervention in affairs OF the State. The call OF the
Governor, moreover, was he claimed not in accord
sncc with the constitution, and the troops were the
State ON the day OF the election unconstitu tonaiy.
The troops were ut the pos not 10 keep the peace but
show that, by tins military ,nterlercnce, intimidation
was practsed that produced a resu: different
from What II would have bcen had tho
The military ut the polls was never known. History
showed that despotism had advanced and The Republic
rcccued In exact ratio to the relaxation OF the watch
iuncss OF the people ana tho abatement OF their jeal
ousy of the of the military the civil
encroachment IN South Carolina might not DO made
the irst step In that direction IN our own country
Mr. Cochrane stated that Judge Black ana Mr. Blair
would appear counsel for the directors to certificate
No. !. They had been uncertain whether they could
attend, but were now here.
THE DEMOCRATIC OFFER.
Mr. Cochrano then submitted certain profers of
proof which he proposed make good IL admitted by
No l. It is proposed prove by competent evidences the
following facts which said facts offered separately and
first-Taat by of tho failure and refusal fthe
Legislature OF South Carolina to for the
tut Of said and by Of Ss acts passed.
a NV % p com son.
" least 1000 illegal votes Tor the a,es eectsrs which,
tors u,,
gessto wit in month of August, Isi-. large mum.
bero United States SOLDIERS under the of Cen
tha. on october ID General uger telegraphei to the
was no need Tor Inrther troops that II he deemed ur
ther iorcs necessary he could call tor the same tnat
on October II the President issued proclamation decar.
surecton, and that immediately thereafter large numbers
OF United States soldiers sent into said state that
dillon OF voencs or insnreeton which the authorities Of
the year 1875 did such state Of affairs exist ia South
Caroa US justified tho Intervention OF The federal govern
Thi,dTha. troops into said state without any
have been readiiy convened.
foah-rat the troops we're sent into said state no. for
and good order but Tor the po.e and w, the design OF
stoned ut the polls election day. and that their
pesence before ana At the day OF election did bn obsruet
ana interfere with the expression OF the popnar wlli and
prevent free election.
the more desperate being assured by the party
leaders that said troops there Tor purpose OF
tecipg them IN act of Violence. that the blacks
throughout the counties Bufod Chare,ton inaugu
Officials nc.tsd them to the =" every character
OF crime .at murder was committed and the perpet.tr;
were allowed 10 escape punishment that justices refused
to criminals charged with
the crlmc Of murder. and shsriis said
warrants isaued that the police force o the city of
Charleston, composed almost entirely OF republican
nesro,s employed its time ia shooting down
npon tue public streets quiet and nofcnsve white
many OF them being leaders III hich
that election day the the polls
nnd with rifles aud weapons
negroes who desired To do voting
ticket that the State militia composed OF tho worst
mets of Tue negro population. supplied with state arms.
ws asp At he polls eins and abens IN ,ne viols,in q
Charleston county oi the republican electors without
warrant ur authority Of law appointed h.ndreds
called deputy sheris AL negroes republicans investing
them with the power to make their
that deputy shers about the various polls
election and by their threats aud violence did min
der prevent many citizens from voting,
and snprs'n witn1nt warrant many oi those who ut.
tempted vote the democratic ticket that lersons STYLED
United deputy msrshns also stati ned at the
polls, aiding and assisting such deputy sherif,s: that
gout the state the negroes believed the United
sodcr had been sent to shoot they did no.
vote the republican ticket.
s iha such violence and awlessres existed through.
L.. MI lirn.