The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-01-04
THE CONGRESSIONAL 0OanITTEe.


THE CONGRESSIONAL OOaaITFRE.
The Committee from the 'houss Of
Representatives to investigate the recent
election in South; Carplipa has concluded
its labors, and the members returned TO
Washington last week. The committee
embraced nine memben, as follows:
Hon. Milton Sayler, Of Ohio. Chairman,
Judge Abbo.t, OF Massachusetts,, Col.
John F. PHILIPPE. Of Missoui, Col.
Tloma' l.. ZONES. Of Kentucky, Ex.Gov.
John r. Eden, Of Illinois, Mr Alex. G..
Cnchnne, Of Prunsylvanis, Gen. N. P.
Banks. Of Masaachusetts, Judge William
Lawrence, Of Ohio, aud Mr. e. G. lap
ham. Of New York. Tbess gentlemen
we're engaged for three weeks ia the iu-
"rssigatiua al .ils facts eeansssed viii
the e!ectiou in this State, and their labon.
were conducted ih spirit Of fairness and
Justice, without reference to partisan re.
suits. The. committee vas cossie=ed of
six Democrats and three Republicans,
and the fulleat latitude was given 20 the
Republican members to introduce testi-
mony as TO the character and conduct Of
the campaign on the part OF the Demo-
crats. Though the agency OF the Rcpub.
lican officials In this State, the oppor-
tunity was fully employed to sustain the
fn!se and slandcrous allegations Of Cham
bcriain and his associates that the Dcm-
ocrats eyerawed aud intimidated vote rs,
especially in Edgefield and Laurens.
We have not seen the evidence taken be.
fore the Congressional Committee, but
we know enough to state that the failure
on behalf Of the Republicans 10 cstablnh
their allegations was proof conclusive to
nearly every member Of tho committee
that t''.ae charges Of fraud aud iutiinids-
ton were without foundation.
The committee acted 10 o whole for
about ten dayo, and held their session 10
Columbia, mninly dcvoting their tims to
the examination of the public records
touching the election. Afterwards, i.
was divided into thTeo sub.cowmittess--
two of which went to Charleston aud the
other remained in Columbis-ahd their
labors we're directed to tho examination
Of witnesses brought from every part ol
the State. These snb.committees will re.
assemble this week In Washington, and
make up the report to 30 presented t.
the House Of Representatives.
The conclusions Of the subcommittee
remaining in Columbia. composed Of Mr
Sayler. Judge Abbott end Judge Law.
renee, are already before tho oabl;c, how.
ever. and we will briefly summarize che
viewa attributed 70 them. According e.
the newspaper reports, thsse genslemeu
ascertained that majority Of tho vote.
actually cast in ahis State were given fas
the Hayes Electoru, and that upon the
face of the Feiurns aud statements eg the
county canvassern there vas ou average
minority OF fabous 600 for tho Hdves Eloc-
tors over their competitors. This does
not include my reference whatever u
certain illegal boxes, Irregularities and
discrepancies, and dnes not include the
famous Robbins box 10 Bsrnwell County,
which was not even clsimed by the Re.
publicans. II WAS too clear aud palpsble
fraud, where the boz was only open
four or five hours, aud there were 1917
votes reported, altogether Republican.
requiring six men 10 the minute TO be
sworn and voted TO make up tho number
OF votes in tho boz. There is no doubt
in tbs minds Of tao subcommittee that
sufficient precincts in the stato. were
tainted with fatal errors, omissions and
Irregularities TO set aside the result upon
mere technical puinta. But. these gen.
tlemen regarded their duties e1 pertain.
ing to grave question in which tho
nation was interested, and declined to
render their decision upon techaI.alities.
1t 10 understood that the report Of the
committee will be unanimous in dsclar.
ing that the solid electoral vote Of South
Carolina vas cast for Hayes and Wheeler
ON the 7th of November last. ,f,..e III.
In regard 60 the electioa OF Governor.
Lieutenant Governor and the eshe. eeAte
officcrs, :s @a= &c. resnissd tAs. the Con.
greasional. Committee ahould examine
into che legality or the reasit, es the reso.
luton under which they weFo appointed
did not embrace theso officers within It's
scope or meaning, and hence the informa-
tion obtainesi upon this point wes only
incidentally secured, although It 10 strict.
ly accurate. and clearly authenticated BY
the returns examined in the oflco OF tho
Secretary Of State. ThoV coucluaiou
reached in the examination Of shis quea.
sion vs= :sh!.s=. sh!.s=. Gen. Ha.antnn sud the
entire Democratic State ticket we're elec.
iod uv aoi: aaois.ve E:s.5, E=ies:.5 ssssssns from
l,100 downwardS. This 10 the asatement
made by Mr. sayler. who eays there is no
question about Hsmpton's election, in
HE judgment, and that he would be 70.
cognised as the Governor OF South Caso.
lima 'Ns
In regard TO the testimony Of tho Uni.
ted States officers, DIS. ssylarsaid. ..The
testimony of thsss gcntlenen entirely
sets aside that Of ths negroes 80 teintini.
dation at the pc!la, and taese officers were
brought in TO seatify vishaas any refer.
eura; ff. thnip ,.oy;t;ra f,v a., ,,,,.,,,,,, -