The New York herald., 1878-12-18
Astonishing Statements Concerning the
Late Elections.
DEMOCRATIC ASSERTIONS OF FAIRNESS,
Republican Aifidavits Showing Ballot Stuff
fling and Intimidation.
WHERE THE "JOKERS" CAME IN.

Of Charleston TO the HERALD on the November cleo
ton. and also several republican and democratic af
davits concerning the conduct Of the election at diff
ferent polls. which, usual with such documents,
contradict each other fatly:-
CHARLESTON 8. c., Dec. Is. 1878.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The general election which was held in this State
on the 5th of November last has been the fruitful
source of gross Misrepresentation and reckless
perversion of the facts of abuse and calumny OF the
people OF South Carolina, hbels upon her chief
magistrate and condemnation OF her best citizens.
With such stuff tho radical papers have been teeming
for three weeks, and been ndustriously disseminate
ing TO posSn inc pIpnc @ mn ,n 20 aevc
against the South. in propagatng absurd and false
versions Of the conduct Of their election that several
independent Journals. and among them the HERALD
ured denunciation Of South Carolina. It is time that
one who knows the facts should speak and plain
hope that anything we say IN defence Of South Caro-
lima would he believed by: those who malign her.
tended, but to record emphatic denial
of the false statements which have been freely and
matter OF history, that when the people of south
Carolina entered. in ls!6. upon q lie and death
struggle with the radical leaders to disodge them and
destroy their power they aid not make it contest
for the supremacy OF political party over an
other; but breaking down party lines proclaimed
that it their purpose to uproot and externinate
loathsome and laundering dynasty, to rescue their
civilization and to place honest men in office.
HELP FROM coIORED MEN.
II was State struggle in the nature of a civic
revolution and the Presidential and national cleo
tons were entirely subordinated to it, This move
ment, led by Wade Hampton. was aided by $1,000
coored voters. who gave it support and crowned it
with success. The sequel to this movement has be-
come matter of history. After its close the
whole current Of State politics began to run in
new channels. The frauds and rascalities
Unssreasa lns ans the spectacle % Of %
ruin the state presented forced upon tho white peo-
pie the Of holding their State i all has
OF necessity drawn Close and the ignorant and
venal followers Of the carpet baggers who had
stripped the Commonwealth. we're assured that the
rule which prevailed from 1868 to 1876 would not
be tolerated and should not again be imposed upon
e ws Dealt to ali Classes s
crime diminished in consequence of . due enforce.
negro under the constitution jealously guarded.
The mild and benefcent sway of Hampton was
emancipated blacks. SO entrenched was Ham pton
in the affections of all classes and parties that the
demoraized leaders OF the party Of corruption dared
advantage Of the fact tat there would be contest
for the State ofces their leaders formed scheme to
capture the Congressional positions. the general
Assembly of the State and the county ofhces
CHARGES AGAINST kEPUBLICANs
sional district In this district the democrats nom
inated Mr.. M. p. OConnor, gentleman who has eIi-
3oyed large popularity with all classes who has
been conspicuous, and especially commcn led to
the colored voters for his fearless advocacy in 1B0 Of
their rights under the fifteenth constitutional amend
H..
due that at Baltimore, in 1872 this amendment with
the fifteenth and fourteenth. Incorporated with
and sngaied upon the creed OF the ae%oerae party
heralded success, and was welcomed with the
approval Of the officials and employees in the different
offices OF the government in Charleston and by lead
ing republicans in various portions Of the district.
His election was considered Sn tait accvmpti. This
nomination was made early in July. and for nearly
three months Mr.. O'Connor made most thorough
canvass OF every Of the three counties in his dis
trict. covering the whole ground and making
he went. L. W. NJ. 1lackey. whose name
and fame are recorded in the proceed
tngs OF the first session OF the Forty fourth
Congress- from which he Was elected on account OF
fraud was not put in nomination until ten days be-
itself convention met in dirty back street, and
after disgraceful scramble between the chiefs for
its control Mackey won it, Along with Mackey for
Congress- this pseudo convention put forth ticket
for the various state offices which, with few excep
tons, has never been surpassed in names synonv-
nous with everything vie, despicabe and mean.
Thieves swinders and perurers were paraded before
the public by this State street cabal mt candidates
to represent Charleston in the Legislature and
other offices. culprt selected to be elected as
custodian OF 100000 Of the Educational Fund OF the
State; and another nondescript to fill the Office of
Judge of Probate and guard the archives in which
deposited the wills OF ancestors from genera
tion to generation and the muniments OF title to
ots,ia ,baa %e fdrmsa this ticket headed bx
Mackcy. IL fell upon the public like declaration OF
war against the taxpayers and property holders OF
Charleston. Many of the radicals themselves were
disgusted, and so intensely offensive the
names Of the principal candidates that one
wing OF the republican party headed by its
county chairman resolved to have nothing 10 do
with H. washed its hands of thafoul conspiracy and
renounced all responsibility for this last and greatest
crime and shame. 1t was y foregone conclusion that
ticket such this nmical to every vital and val
liable interest of the community could or should be
elected Thus the lines of battle drawn between
the opposing organizations-the democratic party
representing law order. property civilization; and
TINS iates. spawn OF corsupuou representing gnor-
for this odious and disgracefil ticket II seemed to
tumble to pieces from its sheer rottenness Its re-
suit In utter rout and defeat foreshadowed and
foretold. The republicans took no stock in this
ticket. The democrats up and doing active and
energetic everywhere Throughout the entire canvass
in the Second district not single act was done to
give rise to complaint or prosecution under the elcc
QUEER METHOD OF VOTING.
The day of election came 1t was quiet and
pcaceable election. The only attempt ut intimida-
tion was made by the defeated candidate Mackey.
who early in the morning. upon the opening Of tile
polls, threatened the Commissioners of Election to
have every manager arrested who should dare. re-
gardless of challenge to refuse negros vote. soon
tho radicals was disclosed. There we're eleven
8. . and were surrounded by large con-
negroes, who choked all access to the polls
and virtually precluded the white citizens from vot
Inc in the precincts in which thoy lived Precinct
No being regarded the fortress of the democracy
abandoned by the radicals and many hundreds Of
which they lived tthe law allowing them
to vote at any precinct in tho county,
No. No. 8. he where they could peaeeably deposi,
their ballots The system OF repeating by the negroes
which had been practised to largo extent in preced
ing elections. was adopted part OF the programme
on this occasion IL IL well known to be dfcult to
establish the identity Of negro, aud ~ they were
seen going through the city from one poll 10 another
for no other purpose than repeat rigid sysiem of
challenges resorted to to check this fraud,
and no negros any other mans vote
was rejected except after challenge made, tried and
decided The very large and excessive vote at two of
the precincts in ward No. may be accounted for by
the large diversion of the white vote from other
wards 70 this ward, where they voted in large num-
bcrs and sworn in groups to expedite thc voting
and enable every one emitted to vote.
svoTlNa THE ''LrT1I.E JOKER.
The tissue paper tickets, OF which such wide COM
ment has been made. were openly exposed ON the
tables of the hotel keepers, and voters publicly went
up to the tables took them and voted them openly.
1t Is undeniablo fact that many colored men
In tho different wards Of the city voted
the democratic ticket. but in most cases they
voted this secretly to avoid ostracs In their fami-
lies and churches. will make brief reference to