The news & observer., 1897-02-06
Remarks From Mecklenburg
Member Before Unsea-lng'
HIS ARGUMENT STRONG
HE AND HIS COLLEAGUE WERE
HONESTLY ELECTED.
NO POLITICAL l4ELl As ALLEGED
II is a SANDER on the Good Peop'c OF
Meek eaburgto say that Panoemo-
mum Mas Turned Loose on
Election Day.

Yesterday afternoon Messrs. j. Sol
Reid and j. NJ, hanson, the Democratic
members from AIecklenburg, who had
been unseated the previous day, left Raj
eigh for their homes. They had earned
the confidence and warm regard of their
colleagues: had been prompt and imtelli-
gent in the discharge of their duties;
and convinced all who studied the evil
dence that they were honestly and fairly
elected. The speech of Mr.. Reid, who
has several times represented his county
in the House and Senate, made "a mark
ed impression ON all who heard it. He
said:
Mr.. Speaker: I desire to submit q few
remarks touching the matter under CON-
sideration not so much, sir, In defense
Of my claim 10 a seat ON this floor, as in
vindication of the good name and fair
fame OF the grand old county OF Neck
lenburg, of which county l am proud
to be a citizen, not that / underestimate
citizenship in any other county of this
noble old commonwealth, not that | love
amy portion of North Carolina less, but
Mecklenburg more. / look back, sir,
with pride to the periods in my life when
was called TO represent that historic old
county, both ON this floor and in the other
end Of this capitol. And | am glad to
know, Sir, that stand here to-day as one
of the Representatives of Mecklenburg,
fairly and honestly elected, the report of
a majority of the committee to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. / received at the
hands OF the good people OF tMecklen-
burg the honest, intelligent voters OF
that county, a majority of the votes cast
at the November election. received
from them q certificate OF election and
upon that certifcate | was enrolled as
member OF this body.
The ma ajority report OF the committee
declares that / am not entitled TO a seat
ON this floor and during this contest it
has been made to appear THAT a reign of
terror existed in Mecklenburg, during the
campaign and on the days OF registration
and on the day of election, and
that condition of affairs most i'm
tolerable prevailed IN that county. Now,
Sir, l want to say for the good people of
that county, THAT no such conditions ex-
listed there. / want to say of the people
of Mecklenburg county that they are an
intelligent, honest, law-ab:ding liberty
loving, patriotic progressive people. On
as has been so eloquently stated by the
chairman OF the elections committee, and
beneath her SOIL rests the dust of those
grand old patriots whose names we all
revere They were men who loved hb-
erty, and spurned political slavery, and
such are THE characteristics of the intel
llgent masses of that county to-day. They
have not, they do not, and they will not
countenamce fraud in elections. They be-
lieye in free ballot and fair count,
and | undertake to say Sir, that such was
the character of the election in Noyem-
Der last. 1t was a quiet peaceable, fair
election, not an affray nor a disturbance
Of any kind in amy part Of the county on
the day of election, and the reason and
only reason why. contestants failed OF
an election was the simple fact that they
failed to get the votes.
Now, Sir, never before In the history
OF Mecklenburg county, has there been
a contested election case, but in the last
campaign and election we had a differ
emit condition of affairs, from anything
we had ever had before and by reason
of such conditions, gentlemen, came up
here and claim seats on this floor on the
fimsy, shallow pretext that under exist
ing arrangements and agreement made
and entered into they, the con-
testants, should have received so
many votes at this precinct and so many
at that and so many at another. Now,
Sir, the people of Mecklenburg do not
all wear political collars. Some do. "And
the best laid schemes Of mice and men
aft gang aglee" l am glad to know that
<psx or
Gratis, and / am glad to know that | re-
ceived Popuhst votes, and / want to say
that an occasional colored man voted for
me, for Mr.. Speaker, we have some iu-
telhgent colored voters in Mecklenburg.
Now, Sir, do not wish TO consume
the time of this House, | have no desire
to criticise the majority report OF the
committee. / am not here to say that
they have not made as they see 1T an
honest report. | am not here to say 5hat
partisan prejudice had anything TO do
with that report. | am not going to say
that they have not weighed the evidence
alii where points of law were involved,
that they have not rightly construed them
but I believe and / am here 10 say that
the minority report lis in accordance with
the evidence and the facts in the case.
/ repeat it, Sir, that no such condition
of affairs as has been made to appear
during this contest, ever existed in that
county, prior to or on the day of election.
There was no such thing as pandemon-
ilrm turned loose as has been stated.
There was mo such thing as pollhcaa
hell in Meclzlenburg, and | hurl it back
with the contempt and scorn lt deserves,
as a foul dispersion upon the character
OF the people of that grand old county,
Why, Sir, take Pineville township that
has been held up In this contest as the
very embodiment of fraud and corrup-
ton and / say, Sir, that the cstizens
of that township are as good law-abading
orderly men as live in Meckleuburg or
amy other county in North Carolina. |
say Sir, and defy any man or set OF
men to show to the contrary, that the very
men in that township who have been
held up as violent, brutal, disorderly law
defying men, are honorable, high-toned,
quiet peaceable law-abiding citizens,
men who would spurn TO do a dishonor
Il. 4 Inx De-