The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-02-07
NEGRO MAY PREVENT IT.
i IS Possible That The inauguration May
Not Occur March 4.
COUNTING SOUTH CAROLINA'S VOTE
a Nc=rG CongrexSi,IUTT 1ITy Protest, :,
la Which Event Tiii,nun Says tho
ftSht VIII Lnst Long Enough
!" Prevent MciiinIcy'G Going
In on Time.

Nashinston. jan 6.--'rhc publication
OF 1he tact that Hon. G. w Murray,
the colorcd representative from M.
First District of South Carolina. in
tended to protest against the countin;
Oh tne electoral vote Of that State at The
Joint meeting of Congress- OH Wednes-
uay next. engaged the interested atten-
non OF Mr.. Aiurray's colleagues, all
democrats, to-day. and several informal
conferences were held. at which Senator
llliman was present After one OF
these. Mr.. Tillman said:
II Nr. Mckinley IS going TO be in
auEuratcd on the 18th OF March, the Joint
convention has got to count the vote or
South Carolina. If the Republican party
wants Ia make an attack on The consti-
,ullon OF the State, It must make It on
some other ground or in some other
manner than by trying to prevent The
counting Of her vote.
PREFlIRS NrKlNLEY TO OI.NI,Y.
Il wish To so further and express nv
preference for seeing Mr. MCKINLEY
president than 10 have that function
exercised by Mr.. Olney, as 1t will he
after the 4th OF March if the effort IS
made to deny South Carolina the right
to vote. This has been my feeling for,
a long time past"
Murray was said 10 base his proposed
protest unon memorial numcrously
signed by colorcd residents or South
Carolina, recitlng that the constitution
OF The State violated the 1ith and 18th
amendments to the Constitution Of the
United States ana the law OF 1867 pro-
NldinE for the admission of South Caro-
ma into the union; and that ii was In
valid because 1t had not been submitted
10 the voters OF the State for their np-
| proval. gs ------7E a 1-
- a -LIGAL- OPINION r-y-:, Z,
| Representative McLaurin, OF South
Carolina, who has held the Office OF At
orney-Gencral of the State, travcrscL
| these objections this afternoon to Il re-
| porter 1or the Southern Associated
Press. He said:
Ihe constitution of South Carolina Is
valid constitution, although not sub
mitted 10 the people for ratification. II
has never been the custom in the State
or South Carolina to submit it's new con
stitutinns to tho people for ratification.
The only instance in which this rule VAS
varied from was in 1868. In many of
the other States their constitutions have
not yet been SO submitted. The act of
the Legislature of South Carolina call
ing the constitutional convention OF
1879 did not require the ratification Of
us WORK by the people. Besides. this
constitution was at once. and ever since
mas been, recognized by all the depart
| ments OF the State government MS the
organic law Of the State
If Congress is going into the merit $
OF the vote of South Carolina" he said.
steps Will be taken to see that the vol eS
OF Northern States. concerning the
validity of which much doubt has been
expressed. notably the vote OF Ohio, will
| he investigated before those electoral
votes are counted We have fair elec-
tlOnS In South Carolina.''
| The probabilities seem to he l1pon in
qllrE this afternoon that the advertised
protest viii! not be made Mr.. Murray
expressed great doubt OF his ability 10
get II into shape in time to be effective
| senator lloar chairman OF the Com
| mlttee on the judiciary. declined to ex-
press In directsterms his opinion Of the
! rol!cy Of making the proposed protest.
| 'Fhe act Of Feb. B. 1887, he said, pre-
scrlbcu very clearly the method Of BRO
ccc'!lnG when objection Is made TO
counting the vote OF any State, and al
| ihoughtit had never yet been tested, he
| believed 1t would work out all right.
SO far as could be learned this after
noon Murray has no support from Re
Puhilcan Congressman Of the South
MIR. Mccall. of Tennessee, said thai
| he never heard OF the pronnsition 10
contest the vote Of South Carolina untii
he saw tho publication to-day. He did
| not believe that any of his colleagues
| from that section Of the country would
advise such step. ana lie himself dis
claimed any Intention of doing 80.