CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 773, 7 February 1871, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

The election in Charleston was characterised by excitement on both sides. As soon as the doors of the polling booth were opened, a crush of electors for each of the candidates (Mr candidature being too unimportant to require any reference) filled the entrance and the approaches to the Court-house. For the first few hours the polling appeared to be decidedly in favor of Mr Donne, but as the afternoon advanced, numbers of men,apparentlystrangers to the district, appeared on the scene,~"rmd the superiority obtained in the early part of the day was speedily diminished. The result of the polling is given above. In the evening Mr Donne addressed the electors from the balcony of the Melbourne Hotel. He said: Gentlemen, although the final result of the present contest is not yet known, I feel it would be ungrateful and improper in me to permit the many gentlemen who have assembled here to-day to disperse without first addressing a few words to them. I am deeply grateful to the 273 gentlemen who have voted for me, and so nobly supported me here to-day. The action of those gentlemen, whatever the result of the present election may be, will have its moral effect hereafter, as I feel it has been influenced solely by those broad considerations which only, in my opinion, should be allowed to have weight on such occasions. (Cheers). I regret I cannot say as much for the other side. (Groans and cheers). We will have the satisfaction of feeling, gentlemen, if defeated that we are not disgraced. There has been no sacrifice of principle, no bidding

for votes on my part during the campaign, as all must acknowledge. The election has been a trial of strength. (A voice: Yon know you are cooked Geordie). If my opponents, who have not veiy much to crow over after all, really think so, they can the better afford to be generous. I would have preferred that all those who voted against me today had done so in the exercise of an unrestrained will. This, however, was not to be, and what I openly deprecated, and to some extent anticipated, has happened. (A voice . What about Irishmen now). Well, I had claims upon many of them both political and otherwise, which have been unceremoniously ignored. The ballot, which is an admirable institution, affords no protection in such cases. I can, however, bear defeat like a man, and I can in all good conscience assure those who are present, that if I should hereafter have occasion to experience any regret, it will not be upon personal grounds, but purely on account of those who have so warmly supported me at the present election. (Cheers). I feel that the election, though fought good humoredly here to-day, thanks to the ballot, has not been fought out upon its merits (A voice: You have much to thank Irishmen for). I have not questioned that, and as you are supposed to be the judges on such occasions, and have got your man, 1 can only wish you luck with him. Coriolanus. when turning his back on ancient Home, had occasion to rej rove that indiscrimination, " which finds not till it feels." Possibly some of you may yet see occasion to regret the course you have taken to-day, as for myself, it makes but little difference —"there is a world elsewhere." In again thanking those gentlemen who supported me, and the committee who have worked for me, I have only to state that I shall contiuue in another place to devote myself to the public interest as though the election, whatever its result, had never happened. (Cheers).