Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-15

THE DEMOCRATIC PRoTEST.-The follow
ing is the full text of the protest OF the Demo-
cratic minority in the Mackey-O'ConnOr con-
test. The document, signed by all the Demo
cratic members of the House, was offered, but
not received
Whereas, The minority of this House have
heretofore, under the rules of the House, sue
cessfully resisted the efforts of the majority to
consider the case of Mackey vs.. O'Connor, be-
cause proper hearing has not been granted
to the contestee by the Committee on Elec-
in the evidence submitted by the contestant ;
and,
Whereas, The minority have offered to pro-
ceed to the consideration of the case as soon
as said allegations have been duly investiga-
ted ; and,
Whereas, The majority, in order to prevent
and avoid such an investigation, have pro-
ceeded to change the rules, in a manner not
provided for in the rules by which alone they
can or ought to be changed and,
Whereas, The Speaker has made ruling
which justifies a proceeding unknown to the
principles of constitutional and parliamentary
law and subversive of the rights of the minor
ity,
Therefore. The undersigned, representatives
of the people, hereby protest against the pro-
ceedings of the majority and the ruling of the
Speaker, as unjustifable, arbitrary, and revo-
lutionary, and expressly designed to deprive
the minority Of that protection which has been
established as one of the great monuments OF
the elective system, by the patient and patri-
otic labors of the advocates of parliamentary
privilege and civil liberty.
A FEARFUL SCENE IN REEvEsvILLE.-
oil nf or
county was burglariously entered on Monday
of last week, and a quantity of household
goods was stolen. Certain suspicious circum-
stances led to the arrest, on the following af-
ternoon, of Bill Williams, colored, who con-
fessed his participation in the crime, and in
private conversation with Mr.. Walters impli-
Gated two other negroes, named Joel Frederick
and Moses Cane. Williams was taken to
Reevesville and lodged in the guard house, at
II O'Clock that night, to await All examination
before Trial Justice Appleby, next morning, at
which it was understood he promised to pub
licly reveal the names of his accomplices.
At 2 O'Clock, A. NJ, the citizens of the town
were aroused by the most agonizing cries of
distress, and soon discovered that the guard
house was in flames. A large crowd collected
around the burning building, but the fire had
already gained such headWay that all efforts
to extinguish it proved Intellectual.
The unfortunate prisoner in theupper story,
maddened by the knowledge of his impending
fate, glared wildly between the iron bars of the
only window to the room at the men below,
and shouted piteously for assistance. He was,
however, beyond the reach of human aid, and
in short time the building was entirely con-
sumed.
This morning heap Of ashes, in which the
burning Goals still glistened, and the charred
remains of Bill Williams, told the tale of the
terrible tragedy. The dispatch to the News
and Courier, from which we gain these facts,
says the fire was evidently of incendiary origin,
and the opinion is freely expressed that Fred
erick and Cain, fearing the anticipated confess
sion of Williams, decided to destroy the only
living witness against them.