Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-12-07

The New York Times sums up as follows
the facts on which Mr. Cor5in bases his
claim To "a seat in the United States Senate,
and the facts Attending the sn-called election
of Gen Hamburg" Batter
The only regular and official canvass of
last wears election for members OF the South
Carolina Legislature revealed the tact that
one hundred and sixteen members of the As
Semhly, and sixteen members ct the upper
House had been duly elected. Because of
absolute proof OF fraud, murder, and violence
in the counties of Eigeiirld and L1urruS, the
returns from them were rejected by the
board Of canvasserS, and under the law the
candidates in them were refused certificates.
On November 2Sth, one year ago, the Legs
lnturc came together, aud the Senate, halt
the members OF which held over, at once or
ganized without trouble. tpon the roll
We're eighteen Republicans Whu>e SEATS were
not contested and thirteen Democrats There
were two vacancies from the Liuren- and
Elgrtirld districts A tall House ut Assem-
hly in South Carolina consists ul one hun
dred and twenty-iour members hat owing
to the palpable frauds and 0utrages Ia
which we have already referred, only one
hundred and sixteen certificates Of election
were issued Ut the members holding these
necessary titles to seats. fifty nine. an un-
doubted majority, and, IL Is claimed by the
best legal minds of the country, cUnStltu-
tional quorum, came together in the Assem-
bly, Chamber of the State House, and was
duly organized. 1t then proceeded To con-
slider a number of contests and seated iOur-
teen Republican members from the counties
of Barnwell. Abbcville and Aiken. thereby
Increasing its membership To seventy three.
In the body 50 constituted. the members OF
tho Democratic minority refused to take their
seats, but without them, and acting in full
accord with the only Senate which had Il le-
Gal as;-;unce, it went on with the business
,f the State. On the l2th day ui December.
the day legally set apart for that purpose.
the election for United States Senator oc-
Cured. All the State Senators participated,
the Democrats acting with the Republicans,
| and of the whole number 81 votes east, Di-
yid T. Corhiu received >cycntccn, a clear
minority. In the Assembly. sxty-cight
members participated, mud Mr.. Corhin
received ilty-eight votcs. The next day,
| in accordance with the law. both
| Houses met in PUNT session, compared their
| i,urnal4. and declared that he had been duly
| elected To the nitcl States Senate. Sab
| sroucntly he received hi- certificate tfom
| GOV. Chamberlain, who at that time aHd
/ for some weeks after. was recognized as
| Governor, even by Wade Hampton.
| As to :. Hamburg Massacre Buffers
| claim To the seat which, as hiss been shown,
| rightfuly bclougs L. MIR C1rhin, hnt little
need he said. ca the I9th ol December,
after the day fxc by law, before GoNcrnor
/ Chamberlain : original term at "iEtc had cX-
uucd. before hi- Gnyclnmyu; hal been uvcr-
| thrown by the " ntc League. and while the
/ lccal Legislature was still IN session, the
members ,L the Democratic minority IN the
| House. together with u number ui persons
who claimed. hut had no right Ia seats, met, ,
and voted Tor United States Senator. The
roll ot membership OF this bogus Assembly,
consisted Ot seventy -nino names. Butlcr =
! fatal vote however, amounted To only sixty
four. 1t Is upon this ilimsy prcteNt that the
| hero of Hamburg claims seat IN the ma
tinn' = senate, and ignoring the fact, that the
state Scnatr a. such took No part IN the -1-
called election overlooking the fact that the
Democrats never even claimed II senate uui,l
late IN March, after the overthrow ui Cam
brrlain. and willully refusing 10 adusia the
| tlr;hcr tact that Eutct's ceTuiicttc Wis not
signed by the Governor Of SOUTH Carolina
who was in undi~putahlc possession of his
Office until January, ls1l.