The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-06
A Caucus on the Late Primary.

To the Editor of The Herald and
News: On Saturday, the first day of
September, the Democratic convention
of Newberry county met to elect dele
gates to the State convention. Just
four days previous to this the New,
berry primary election had been held
and the announcement had gone forth
that Gen. y. J. Pope had defeated his
competitor, the Hon. J. a. Sllgh, III
the Senatorial race by majority of
only (34) thirty-four votes.
At 10 o'clock on Saturday morning
one hour before the county convention
met, about one hundred of Mr.. Sligh's
friends and supporters met in Judge
Rlease's office to talk over the results
of the election, and to take some action
in regard to the fraud and corruption
by which said election was carried Ill
favor of Mr.. Pope. Five hundred peo-
pie could have been easily gathered to-
gether on this occasion had the word
gone out that such meeting would be
held. There may be other meetings
similar to this one,as feeling OF unrest
and Indignation is widespread among
many of the people of the county. Mr..
Samuel Duncan was made chairman Of
the meeting; J. S. Wheeler, secretary.
The resolutions below, introduced by
Mr.. w. A. Hill, after being duly con-
sidered, were unanimously adopted.
The meeting was not noisy one-the
men composing it were sober and tcnl-
perate in their utterances, but spirit
of earnestness characterized all that
was done and said. Those men are al
true and tried Democrats, their democ-
racy has never been disputed, but they,
with hundreds of others, good cit
izens and Democrats of the county, feel
that a great wrong has been commit
ted, and they say to the few who are
the main perpetrators OF these unjust
proceedings: Thus far have you gone
and no further must you 60" They
believe fraud and corruption have been
practiced within the party III ORDER to
defeat those who have always been true
to the party, and they simply intend
not to countenance such any longer
nor allow it.
After the adoption of the following
resolutions the secretary was requested
to have the same published in the News
and Courier and the three county pa
pers, and to furnish along with them u
Statement expressing the feelings and
sentiments OF those composing the
meeting:
WHEREAS, At the recent primary
election, held in the county OF New
berry, on the 2Sth day of August, A. u.
1883, in the grossest and most Willful
violation of all the precedents, rules and
regulations of the Democratic party OF
Newberry, persons Of the negro race,
with irresponsible vouchers, minors,
non-residents, drunken persons and
other illegal voters were all ordered to
vote, and fraud and corruption We're
practiced in the purchase OF voters, and
voting the ballots of voters, and like
wise Intimidation and force We're eXer-
cised in various ways, but especially in
the free use of Intoxicating liquors, thus
accomplishing the complete destruction
of all the sacred honor and former pu-
rity of the Democratic party, and ira
ducing its good name in the county OF
Newberry; therefore
Resotued, That we denounce all
SOCA u1CA VI AAASIlllSj "AO WIN NSe
lively or dormantly engaged or en-
ployed in perpetrating such wrong
upon the political rights of the white
people of New berry County.
Resolved, That we empbatically and
without reserve, pronounce that the
said election was illegal and invalid,
and that by reason IF its illegality its
result is not binding and of force upon
any Democratic voter of NeWberry
County.
Resotued, That in the adoption Of
these resolutions We declare it to be our
purpose to tenaciously adhere to the
Democratic party, and to act within its
lines, and in all our efforts and works
under the same, our object is and shall
be to effect the publication and purga-
ton of the Democratic party of New
berry County of the vicious influences
and practices used by the successful
party at the late primary election.
Resolved, That we hereby demand
and urge that the Hon. J. a. Sigh
shall make a public exposition Of all
the actings and doings of those who
have been instrumental in perpetrating
the fraud upon the party at the late
primary election.
SAMUEL DUNCAN, Chairman.
J. S. WHEELER, Secretary.