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

Gays.
THE CONGRESSIONAL WAAITTEG.
The Committee fr0m the House Of
Representatives to -iuvessigatethe recent
election in South, Carolina has concluded
its labors, and the members returned to
Washington last week. The committee
embraced nine members, as follows
Hon. Milton sayler, OF Ohio, Chairman,
Judge Abbott, Of Massachusetts,, Col.
John F. Phillips, of Missouri, Col.
Thomas L. Jones, Of Kentucky, E1.Gov.
John R. Eden, of Illinois, Dir. Alex. @.
Cochnne, of Pennsylvania, Gen. n. P.
Banks, of Massachusetts, Judge William
Lawrence, of Ohio, and Mr.. E. Chap
ham, of New York. These gentlemen
were engaged for three weeks iu. the in
vcstigation Of the facts connected With
the election in this State, and their labors
were conducted in spirit Of fairness and
Justice, without reference TO partisan re-
suits. The, committee was composed of
six. Democrats snd three Republicans,
and the fullest latitude vas given to the
Republican members to introduce testi-
mony as to the character and conduct OF
the campaign on the part:of.ths Demq7
Gratis. Though the agency of;the Repub.
lican officials in this State, the oppor:
tunaity was fully employed to sustain the
false and slanderous allegations Of Cham
berlain and his associates that the Dem
ocrats eYerawed and intimidated voters.
especially in Edgedeld and Laurens.
We have not seen the evidence taken be-
fore the Congressional Committee, but
we know enough to stste that the failure
on behalf Of the Republicans to establish
their allegations was proof conclusive to
nearly every member Of the committee
that these charges Of, fraud and intiinids-
ton were without foundation,
The committee acted as whole for
about ten days, and held their session in
Columbia, mainly dcvoting their tims to
the examination of the public records
touching the election. Afterwards, it
was divided into three subcommittee
two of which went to Charleston and the
other remained in Columbia--ahd their
labors were directed to the examination
of witnesses brought from every part of
the State. These subcommittee will re.
assemble this week in Washington, and
make up the report to be presented to
the House of Representatives.
The conclusions Of the subcommittee
remaining in Columbia, composed Of Mr.
sayler, Judge Abbott and, Judge Law
renee, are already before the public, how
ever, and we will briefly summarize the
views attributed to them. According to
the newspaper reports, these gentlemen
ascertained that Q majority Of the votes
actually cast in 4his State were given for
the Hayes Electors, and that upon the
face of the returns and statements Of the
county canvassers. there was an average
majority ofabout 900 for the Haves Elsc-
tors over their competitors. This does
not include any reference whatever to
certain illegal boxes, Irregularities and
discrepancies, and does not include the
famous Robbins box in Barnweil County,
which was not even claimed by the Re.
publicaDs. 1t was too clear aud palpsble
a fraud, where the box vas only open
four or fye hours. and there were 1917
votes reported, altogether Republican,
requiring six men to the minute to, be
sworn and voted. to make up the number
of votes in the box. There is no doubt
in the minds of the subcommittee shat
sufficient precincts in the State were
tainted with fatal errors, omissions and
Irregularities to set aside the result upon
mere technical points. But these gen.
tlemen regarded their duties as pertain.
ing to q grave question in which the
nation was interested, and declined to
render their decision upon technicalities.
1t is understood that tho report Of the
committee will be unanimous in declar.
ing that the solid electoral vote of South
Carolina was cast for Hayes and Wheeler
on the 7th of November last. ~.5
In regard 20 the election Of Governor,
Lieutenant Governor and the other State
officers, it Was not required that the Con.
gressional, Committee should examine
into the legality or the result, as the reso-
luton under which they were appointed
did not embrace these officers within its
scope or meaning, and hence the iuforma.
ton obtained upon this point was only
incidentally secured, although it is strict.
ly accurate, and clearly authenticated by
the returns examined in the Office Of the
Secretary of State. The conclusion
reached in the examination of this ques.
ton was that Gen. Hampton aud the
entire Democratic State ticket were elec-
ted by decisive majority, ranging from
LOO downwards. This is the statement
made by Mr.. Sayler, who says there is no
question about Hampton's election, in
his judgment, and that be would be re.
cognized as the Governor Of South Caro-
lima.
In regard to the testimony Of the Uni
ted States officers, Mr. Saylersaid: THE
testimony of these gentlemen entirely
sets aside that of the negroes as to intimi.
dation at the polls, and these officers were
brought in to testify without any refer.
ence tn their politics for the purpose of