Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-09
THE CAROLINA VOTE.
NO PROTEST WILL DE MADE TO 1T
WEDNESDAY.
MURRAY CHANGES HIS MIND.
He Has Found That He Could Not
secure the Backing He Expected
rext of the Palmetto Darky Me-
mortal.
mortal.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. February s.
There will be no objection to the count
ing or the electoral vote of South Caro-
lima at the joint convention of Congress
on Wednesday. Murray, the colored
representative from that State, who ORR
ginated the proposition, and who pro-
posed the memorial upon which the OBJ
Jection was TO be based. to-day stated
that he would not make the proposed OBJ
lection.
NO good would be accomplished by IT,"
he said briefly, in explanation Of his
changed purpose; land much harm might
result"
The memorial reached Murray this
morning, and to-day he presented It to
the House. through the petition-box, and
1t was referred to the Committee on the
Election Of President and Vice-Pre
dent and Representatives in Congress. It
reads as follows:
we, the undersigned, citizens OF the
united States, and Of the State of South
Carolina, do hereby memorabilia and
petition your honorable bodies against the
counting Of what purports to be. but is.
neither in law nor fact, the electoral vote
OF south Carolina; and ask for an in
Vesugauon Of the political affairs of the
state which is truly without that form
VI government guaranteed by the Fede-
raj Constitution, for the reasons which
follow:
Il. a vast majority OF the Iegallv-
qualified voters of this State were pre-
vented from expressing their choice for
presidential electors by the enforcement
Oh lhe part OF the managers Of elections
Oh llesal ana unconstitutional barriers.
The so-called Constitution of 1885
under which the election was conducted
is illegal, both in its conception and exc
cutlon, for the reason that, first. the vast
majority or electors, by a law twice de-
cldIeu unconstitutional by Congress itself
ana every court which has passed upon it's
merits, were prevented either from parti-
cpatng in the election for calling said
so-caled constitutional convention or that
OF eIecung delegates therefor; second. the
so-called Constitution of 1895. which has
been lnvoluntarily forced upon the people
or this state by the military depOtism i'm
control Of the government, is illegal be-
cause the delegates Of which the conven-
ton was constituted refused to take the
oath to support the Constitution and laws
OF the United States, as required by the
Federal Constitution, before entering upon
their alleged duties in said so-caled con-
Vention' and further. refused TO submit
the so-called Constitution of 1895 TO the
electors OF the State for ratification prior
TO its enforcement as the organic law OF
the State, thereby overturning the prece-
dents and form of making adopting. and
enforcing constitutions, in order to estab-
lish republican form OF government. in
vogue from the very foundation of our
government; third the section of the suf-
frage clause which discriminates in favor
or the eX-Confederate soldier, in the mat
ter of paying polltax as a prerequisite
to vote, violates both the fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the Constitution
of the United States; fourth. because said
so-called constitutional convention of
1895, In so changing the qualifications to
vote as to disfranchise a large majority OF
the electors OF the State, violated the
Federal statutes at large. 1867 to 1869. first
second, and third sessions Fortieth Con-
gress which declare that the Constitution
Of 1868 Of this State, by which It resumes
its status in the Union, should never be
so changed or amended as to disfranchise
any one who was enfranchised by IT. ex-
cept for crime OF which he shall have
been duly and lawfully tried and con-
victed.
''3 Your memoralists further declare
that a republican form Of government
does not exist I'm South Carolina: that the
will of the people has been overthrown;
that a military despotism is in control
Of the State Government, and that the
people of South Carolina appeal TO Con-
gress for the fulhlment to the State Of
South Carolina Of the United States con-
stitutional guarantee OF a republican form
Of government. Your petitioners aver
r,t. 1Te
than 10000 electors were denied their
right TO express their choice at the ball
lot-box. while I'm all. less than 6o,OOO votes
were counted. was illegally and fradu-
lently conducted.
1--WE. therefore, petition that your
honorable bodies will take such action as
may be necessary TO restore cOnstitu-
tonal government TO this State, and re-
pair the breaches in the Constitution Of
our country"
The memorials are four in number.
and are signed by r. =. Scott and thirty
six others. of Florence, S. c.; S.
II. Nix and forty-nine others. Of Colum-
bia. S. c.; II. Stokier and $50 others. of
Charleston. S. c., and Martin Fluid and
fifty-three others. Of Charleston.
Maury said to-day that he had accom-
plished what ne wanted-that he desired
TO get the matter before the country,
and had succeeded A good deal of pres
sure has been brought on Murray since
Saturday by Republican leaders to drop
the proposed contest. 1t has been pointed
out to him that the law was against
him. and that he might bring on big
ger interruption to the electoral count
than he had figured on. Murray also
found that he could not secure the back
ing he expected.