Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-12-12
wALHALA SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY DECEMBER II, 1878

ments, especially that relating to the suf-
fragc. They pretend that the great body
of laws framed und passed by themselves
during tho construction period, many Of
them odious in the irresponsible power they
contcr upon moro partisan agents, are not
sufficient aud that other laws arc necessary.
| Tho Democrats will probably wait to sec
what precise new laws the Republicans will
propose, aud it is possible that prolonged
and important debate may result from this
Republican man9uvre. 1t is not probable
that in the end the country can be
deceived as to the purposes of tho Repub.
lcans in dragging this question forward
once more, but 1t is possible that II large
number of Democrats will aglco to any
proposition to make these laws moro strin.
gent. They reason that this whole class of
regulations gives tho party in power great
and decisive control over the elections in
mary if not in ul the States, md that they
can be used by Democratic administration
whenever that party goes into power, with
even greater effect than they are now used
by the Republicans. 1t is well known that
when, in 1876, it was supposed that Mr..
Tildon would be President, the proposition
of the better class of Democrats to REPEAL
the enforcement aud Election laws was
| violently opposed by Democratic politicians
| who observed that these laws would be as
useful to them as they had been to the
Republicans and that they would not be
| in haste to rcpeul them.
Tho Democratic Senators have deter.
mined not to oppose MIR. Blaiuc's resolution
| for an investigation committee to inquire
into alleged violations Of the Federal cleo
| tion laws, and Interference with the rights
of voters. They will only ask to have it
amended SO as to make the inquiry general
and applicable to all the States aud not to
certain Southern States alone, and it is
understood that Mr.. Blaine will accept this
amendment. There is good deal of feel
lug among the New York Democrats hero
about the arrests of voters in the city on
| election day, which, it is charged, iutimi.
dated { srce. number of persons legally
optiled to vote, und kept them from the
polls and was designed to produce this
effect, and ao inquiry in,o this matter will
be de:uaudcd under Mr.. Bluiuc's res, luton.
! WAslINaroN, December In the
Senate, the preamble and resolution sub
mi,tcd by Mr.. llarrs, Of Tennessee, on
Monday last, providing for the appointment
of committee to inquire in regard to the
best means Of preventing the Introduction
and spread of epidmio diseases, especially
yellow fever and cholera, within the limits
Of tho United States, was agreed to with an
amendment providing that the committee
shall consist of seven Senator'S instead of
four, and that it shall have power to sit
and act in Injunction with any similar
| committee OF the House,
| Matthews, Of Ohio, submitted a motion
to proceed with the consideration Of the
the Texas Pacific Railroad bill, but several
Senators opposed it on the ground that it
would lead to lengthy discussion, aud a
matter of such importance should not be
considered during tho first week of the
session The Scpatc, BY rising vote Of
yeas 10, nays %, rejected tho motion.
| Edmonds, of Vermont, gave notice that
on Monday be would call up for action the
Senate bill to amend suudry provisions Of
chapter /, title 3, of tho revised statutes
of the United States, relating to the Prcsi.
dental elections, and to provide for and
regulate the counting of votes for President
aud Vice President and the decision of
questions arising thereon. lie hoped the
Senotors would examine the bill and be
prepared to proceed with its consideration.
| A singular case of collision between
Federal and Statc;authoritics is likely to be
reported to tho present Congress, being
now under investigation by the Governor
of Virginia. III order that the facts may be
presented to the President. Some time
ago two negroes were indicted and tried in
Patrick County, Va, for a serious crime.
One was sentenced to eighteen years 10
State Prison, the other for shorter period.
They appealed to the Federal Circuit Court,
with tho plea that on their teal before tho
State court they had asked for mixed jury,
composed partly of coored and partly of
white men, and that this had been refused,
aud on the ground that the jury had been
regularly drawn and the law recognized no
difference Of raco. Judge Rivers, Of tho
United States Circuit Court entertained
their appeal and set them both free, and
they arc now at large. Whc, all the
facts n tho case,arc collected by the Attor.
ncy General of Virginia tho Governor will
present tho case to tho President, in order
to have tho question determined properly
whether it is in the power of Federal
Judge thus to interrupt the course of JUS
tice and set convicted criminals at liberty
upon his own motion, and the case may be
brought before Congress for its action
PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
COLUMBIA, December 3, 1S7S-In the
Senate, tho House returned to the Senate,