Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-08
MIR, DIBBLE'S ADDRESS.

The following is the substance Of Mr.. Dlb-
ble's remarks in his own behalf in the con-
tested election case between himself and
Mackey;
Mr.. Dibble said that he came to an office
he did not seek, one that he had publicly de-
clined, but which he had taken because a
constituency demanded representation. ne
came here for their rights and for their rights
he proposed to speak. He gave detailed ms
tory Of the progress of the So-called contest
for his seat and Il full statement of his long
struggle to obtain justice from the committee
and an investigation of the evidence. One by
one he disprOved the numerous RepuDllcan
statements tending to msrepresent the acton
of the committee and to make it appear that
he had received fair treatment and the inves-
tication he had asked for. He had read by
the clerk a report on former contested elec-
ton case sustaining his assertion that true
evidence could not be obtained in such cases
on eXparte statement without cross-eXamlna-
ton. Much merrment was occasioned by
the reading of the names OF the slgners OF thls
report, for one was J. Warren keifer. AS
to Halsely's affidavit, he stated with much
emphasis that he had challenged Mackey to
put his assertion of forgery into writing.
lMackey and Mackeys men sat and heard
this, but they did not say anything In re,
gard to the question Of succession he SAID
that it was not denied that Mackey had taken
many and changed many aftidavits after Mr.
O'Connor's death. If, as the committee de-
clared, he (Mr. Dibble) had inherited that
case, Mackey had no right to do this without
consulting him and obtaining his permission.
Mr.. Miller had shown what he claimed to be
tissue ballots voted by the Democrats in
Charleston county. Mr.. Dibble, alludng to
this exhibited the ballots used in his own
county, Orangeburg. They were on plain
white paper with no design. He sent to the
clerks desk what he denominated genuine
tissue ballot, an original one The clerk read
from it the name of E. W. NJ. Mackey for
Congress, and the full Republican ticket.
The ticket was held up and inspected with
much satisfaction and amusement by the
Democrats. Republicans looked sheepish
when Mr. Dibble suggested that they should
compare it with the Democratic tissue, they
would find it thinner and smaller. AS to
the right of the county canvassers to judicial
ly canvass the votes for Congressman, he read
the decision of Judge Willard, which had been
the law in his State until after the last cleo
| tiOn, and which expressly allowed 1t to be
done.
Mr.. Dibble showed fully the efforts which
had been made in South Carolina to attract
the colored people to the Democratic party,
the representation given them in the schools,
the privileges, and the good government, and
proclaimed the fact that the colored Democrats
were reality and rapidly enlargng one. 81
will say to that side of the House, said ne, that
when they gave the ballot to the coored man
they by that act gave power to the white man
1t was meant to injure US, but 1t Will 90 us
good That colored vote we will control, and
control it by kindness and fairness, not by
oppression.n In concluding Mr.. Dibble said:
''Standing here by the free choice Of the peo-
ple of the Second District and anticipating
that. by the avOwed action of the majority OF
this House gross wrong is to be inflicted on
my people, l say deliberately and earnestly
that have not had that fair treatment in
this contest which the litigant is allowed by
law. BY this tribunal, which is the highest
Judge in this case this tribunal which should
act by law and precedent, is ordained pre-
cedent which future Congresses will dlsclalm
and which will be looked back to with regret.
have nothing to request grace for. only ask
that which believe to be right. But eX-
pect it to be denied. My people have right to
their proper representation. If they are to
be represented by one whose record OF the
past eliminates now in forgery, it is not by
their consent, but by the will of this House."
[Great applause.
Mr.. Dibble's speech is spoken OF in wash
ington as one of the best arguments heard in
Congress for long time. He was under
much disadvantage. Two hours were needed
to reply to all the mistatements made III the
case and he had only one. But he put the
brand on Mackey. At the conclusion of his
speech Mr.. Dibble left the seat which he had
| 6llod co uo11 for civ months