The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-03-01
THE TRIBUNAL.
1t Considers the Case Of South
Carolina
And Gives ihe state 20 IIryes OF
course.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA CASE.

THE SOUTH CAROLINA CASE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 27.--The electoral
commission met at 10 o'clock.
MIR. Hurd stated that no counsel would
appear for the objections to certificates
| No. 1.-The Republican certiicate--and
then submitted reasons why the commits
sion should reject that certificate holding
that Republican form of government
must exist In state to give validity to
the vote of that state. He insisted II
legal disabilities were imposed or II In
timidation was practised Republican
form of government was not maintained,
and he proposed to show by testimony
taken by the house committee that both
conditions existed
Mr.. Hurd held that a. the constitution
OF South Carolina required the registra-
ton of electors and that requirement was
utterly ignored, the election was void.
lie next went to the objection that the
presence OF U. S. troops in the state over
awed the people and prevented free ex-
preston Of the will of the people. lie
read the proclamation of the president OF
October IL, 1876, declaring that inslrrec-
| ton existed in the state and contendCd
that the clause OF the constitution author
izing the interference of the federal gov
eminent contemplated an insurrection
against or resistance to the state author
ity, and not disturbances between indi-
yiniIal cifizan. nf hn t,ta a., al, H.,
riding up and down, numbering some
peaceable citizens as stated in the presi- |
dents proclamation, he argued, did not |
amount to such insurrection against the |
United States OF states, authorities as
warranted an interve ntion in the affairs |
of the state. The presence of the troops |
was not to keep the peace, but to infiu.
ence the election.
When Mr.. Hurd had finished, Mr.. |
Cochrane stated that Judge Black and |
Mr.. Blair would appear as counsel for |
DIRECTORS to certificate No. l. They had
been uncertain whether they could at
tend, but were now here.
Mr.. Cochrane then submitted certain
proilers of proof which he proposed to
make good.
They were admitted by the commits
sion as follows
That there has been a failure of regis
tration as provided by the state constitu-
ton, and through such failure over 10000
fraudulent votes tor Hayes had been cast.
THAT in August, 1876, large num-
bers OF soldiers had been sent into the
state under Gen. Ruger, who telegraphed
that all was quiet and no more troops
were needed, and that IL more were
needed lie would call for them: that not
withstandipg this on next day, Oct. II,
the president issued his proclamation
and q large number Of additional troops
were sent into the state. That during
1876 there was no time when the state
authorities could not preserve the peace.
3. That troops were sent into the state
without the request of the legislature,
which could have readily been con-
vened.
4. That troops were sent not to auell
insurrectiOn and preserve the peace but
to Overawe voters and influence the cleo
ton, and that they were present at the
polls and did intimidate and influence
votes.
8. That the presence OF troops embol.
dened the more desperate of the negroes,
and that In Bedford and Chariest on they
inaugurated system Of riot and violence,
in which they were protected by
state officers. That the police
OF Charleston, composed mainly
OF desperate negroes, employed
its time In shooting down inofiensive
white citizens. That negroes at the polls
were armed and prevented colorcd men
who would have voted the Democratic
ticket from doing so. That the state
militia, consisting OF the worst class of
negroes, were at the polls and assisted in
preventing colored men from voting the
Democratic ticket. That one Of the
electors who was sheriff Of Charleston,
2. c. Bowen, appointe hundreds of
deputies who went about arresting citi-
Zens at their pleasure, unwarrsntably
interfering with the election. and that
United States marshals in large numbers
were at the polls interfering with the
free vote by the people Of the state.