The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-09
CAN'T COUNT OUT CAROLINA.
MURRAY'S ELECTORAL COLLEGE
SCHEME ABANDONED.

lie Comes to the Conclusion That No
Good Would he Accomplished and
That Much Harm Might Result.
The Memorial Presented TO the
House and Sent 10 Grave in ~
Committee Room.
Washington, Feb. S.-There will be no
objection to the counting of the electoral
vote of South Carolina at the joint conven-
ton of congress on Wednesday. Repre-
sentative Murray, the colored representa-
tive from that state, who originated the
proposition, and who prepared the memo
rial upon which the objection was to be
based, to-day stated that he would not
make the proposed objection.
mo good would be accomplished by it,"
he said briefly. in explanation of his
changed purpose, land much harm might
result"
The memorial In the case reached Rep
| resentative Murray this morning and to-
day he presented it to the House through
the petition box, and it was referred to
the committee on the election of president
and vice president and representatives in
congress.
The memorial reads as follows: 1--WE,
| the undersigned citizens of the United
| States, and of the state of South Caro-
lima. do hereby memorialize and petition
your honorable bodies against the count
ing of what purports to be, but Is neither
in law nor in fact, the electoral vote of
South Carolina; and ask for an investga-
ton of the political affairs of the state,
which is truly without that form of gov
ernment guaranteed by the federal con-
stitution for the reasons which follow:
81. A vast majority of the legally quail
| fled voters of this state was prevented
| from expressing their choice for presi-
| Dental electors by, the enforcement, on
the part of the managers of elections, of
| Illegal and unconstitutional barriers.
"2. The so-called constitution of 1885,
under which the election was conducted,
| is Illegal both in its conception and exc
/ Cution, for the reason, first, that the vast
| majority of electors by a law twice de-
| clared unconstitutional by congress itself
| and every court which has passed upon its
| merits were prevented either from par
| ticipating in the election for calling said
/ so-called constitutional convention, or of
| electing delegates therefor; second, the
| so-called constitution of 1895, which has
| been involuntarily forced upon the people
! of the state by the military despotism IN
| control of the government is illegal, be-
| cause the delegates of which il was con-
| stttuted refused to take oath TO support
the constitution and laws of the United
| States REQUIRED by the federal constitu-
! ton beIore entering upon their alleged
| duties in said So-called convention, and,
| further, refused to submit the so-called
| constitution of 1895 to the electors of the
| state for ratification prior 20 it's enforce
| ment as the organic law of the state
| thereby oYerturning the precedents and
form of making, adopting and enforc-
| cling constitutions In order to establish a
| republican government, in vogue from the
| very foundation of our government; third
| the section of the suffrage clause which
| discriminates in favor of the eX-confeder-
| ate soldier in the matter of paying poll
| tax as prerequisite to vote violates both
! the 14th and 18th amendments to the con-
| stitution of the United States; fourth, be-
! cause said so-caled constitutional con-
vention of 1895, in so changing the qualih-
| cations to vote as to disfranchise a large
1 majority of the electors of the state, Vlo-
| lated the federal statutes al large. 1867 to
/ 1869, first, second and third sessions. 10th
| congress, which declares that the conSti-
| tuition of 1868 of this state by which IL re-
| sumed its status in the union, should new
/ er be so changed or amended as to dis
/ franchise any one who was enfranchised
/ by it except for crime of which he shall
| have been duly and lawfully tried and
| convicted.
"3 Your memoriaists 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 desDotism is in control of the
/ state government and that the people OF
i
| fulfillment to the state of South Carolina,
/ of the United States constitutional guaran-
| tee of a republican form of government
/ Your petitioners aver that the late cleo
| ton, in which more than 100000 electors
| were denied their right to express their
choice at the ballot box, while in all less
/ than 10000 votes were counted, was Illegal
| ly and fraudulently conducted.
| 1--WE, therefore, petition that your hon.
| orable bodies will take such action as may
| be necessary to restore a constitutional
| government TO this state and repair the
| breaches to the constitution of our coun-
| try"
The memorials are four in number and
| signed by r. p. Scott and thirty-six others
| of Florence, 5. c.. s. II. NIX and forty
| six others of Columbia; III. Stoker and 100
| others of Charleston, and Martin Fludd
| and fifty-three others of Charleston
Representative Murray said to-day that
he had accomplished what he wanted;
| that he desired to get the matter before
the country and had succeeded.
A great deal of pressure has been brought
on Representative Murray since Saturday
by republican leaders to drop his proposed
contest. II has been pointed out to him
that the law was against him, and that
he might bring on a bigger interruption
to the electoral count than he had tigur-
ed on Representative Murray also found
that he could not secure the backing he
had expected.