MR. HENNELLY'S SPEECH AT CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 583, 20 November 1869, Page 2

MR. HENNELLY'S SPEECH AT CHARLESTON.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sir, —Tour report of the election proceedings here lost half its effect by the omitting of the defeated candidate's speech, which should not have been omitted, as it was strictly true, and could be testified to by every elector present. Many persons are dissatisfied that the Westport Times should have acted so, as a truthful statement of events was looked foi at least in its columns.—Tours, &c, Truth. {To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sir, —Tou would do well to put a greater degree of confidence in your Charleston correspondent. Had you suppressed the publication of Mr Hennelly's sparkling declamation without comment, the public could not call you to account for so doing; but, because you doubted the accuracy of the report, and consequently the honesty of the reporter, the public, I, or any man, have a perfect right to demand publication for the suppressed oration—because it will exonerate an innocent man from the implied charge of misrepresentation. Aides" Doyle. P.S.—Tou may publish this note if you feel so disposed. (To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sir, —Considerable disappointment is felt here, that an otherwise tolerably accurate report of the Election proceedings should have been spoiled by a suppression of Mr Hennelly's un-

parallelled exhibition on the occasion of the official declaration of the poll on Monday night. It is thought the Westport Times is disposed to screen the individual. For my own part, I scarcely wonder the conductor of the Westport Times should have hesitated to publish it in the absence of something like verification. In venturing my own testimony, I can only remark that I am of opinion it would be scarcely possible for your reporter to exaggerate at all.—l remain yours, &c, A "Witness.

[The circumstances under which the report of Mr Hennelly's remarks was suppressed are very soon told. The . report was in type when it came under editorial notice—at a late hour at night. There was then no opportunity of telegraphing to Charleston to be perfectly assured of its accuracy, about which we hesitated, not on account of any misgivings as to our own correspondent's usual correctness, but from a fear that the report might be a furnished one to him, from some less reliable source. We were fain to believe also that the ebullition of temper on Mr Hennelly's part might havebeen exaggerated, or misrepresented, even though not intentionally, and we considered that, under such circumstances, having a due regard to the law of libel, we were not justified in at once publishing the report. Assured as we are, both directly and indirectly, of the accuracy of the report, we cannot lie open to the charge of suppressing public proceedings, and we give below the part of the report which, under these circumstances, and not without careful consideration, we omitted:] — Mr Hennellt : Mr Eeturning Officer and Gentlemen—l appear before you in the character of a defeated candidate. I cannot say I am a worse man on that account. I am aware that I have lost the confidence of the electoi's, because I joined the loyal demonstration. I am a true Irishman, and what I have done I am not sorry for. (Loud booing, and cries of dissatisfaction.) A society has been formed to overthrow my election. (Cries of " No, no, the Oddfellows will get you in.") During my absence the Licensed Victuallers' Association had been formed ; they had gone in to support Mr Donne, (cries of " False,") they will never get what they sought for in Charleston. ("Question.") I have to thank those 171 gentlemen who voted for me; they were the only intelligent men. (Great expression of disapproval.) Those who voted against me were the scum of the earth—yahoos who could not write their names. If such persons had eleeted me I would resign to-morrow ; those who have turned their coats against mo will be no better in a twelve month.—(Cry of " Prove how they will be worse.") Mr Walsh used bad French, and said I think jogger would be better understood by him. He had no right to come here to interfere with our election. I have more influence out of the Council than Mr Donne has in.—(Disapproval.) I know that there is not a respectable man in the crowd who w r ould turn his back on me.—(Considerable disturbance.) I have not fallen back on Jews and Gentiles for my election.—(Shouts of derision.) I trust if on a future occasion I come before you, which I don't suppose I shall.—(Cries of Hennelly you never will.") (The rest of this remark your reporter could non catch.) My own countrymen who voted against me are of the most ignorant class.—(Continual groans and excitement.) Mr Hennclly persisted in continuing his address, the crowd assembled evincing symptoms of disturbance. At last being unable to secure the attention of the electors, he subsided.