The News And Herald

Matters in Columbia.

There have been but few items of news from Columbia during the past week. The Congressional sub-committee--from the House--has finished its labors, and returned to Washington, where the entire committee sent to the South will sit, collate the evidence taken, and submit their final report. The result of the committee's inquiries in this State is given in the following dispatch to the News and Courier, from its special reporter, dated December 28, 1876:--

The House Congressional Sub-Committee spent the day in examining witnesses, white and colored, relative to the alleged intimidation of Republican voters, and adjourned this evening sine die. This committee, composed of Mr. Sayler, chairman, and Judges Lawrence and Abbott, give it as their conclusion, after a most careful examination lasting three weeks, that they believe that a majority of the votes actually cast by the voters of the State are for the Hayes and Wheeler Electors, as shown by the precinct managers' returns, and that the majority runs from 600 to 800, without questioning any of the returns. If this was anything but a great national question and was to be decided upon more technical points, there are probably precincts enough where the vote was marked by fatal irregularities to overturn this result. I asked as to the result in regard to the State ticket. My informant (Mr. Sayler) replied: "So far as the State election is concerned, there is no doubt that Hampton is elected by eleven hundred majority, and, in my judgment, the balance of the Democratic State ticket is also elected." I asked if the investigation was concluded. He said it was, as the work of the sub-committee is done and it will not assemble here again. The Charleston committee will probably be detained there until Sunday or Monday. Mr. Sayler also stated that the Robbins box was the only one thrown out, as it was not claimed, even by the Republicans. As the box was open only from about 2 to 6 o'clock, it would have required six men to the minute to be sworn and voted to make up the number claimed to have legally voted there. In regard to the testimony of the United States officers, Mr. Sayler said: "The testimony of those gentlemen entirely set aside that of the negroes as to intimidation at the polls, and these officers were brought in to testify without any reference to their politics, for the purpose of getting an important and unbiased statement upon this head." In reference to the Ellenton Riot he said that it had no political significance, and was not regarded by the committee at all, even by the Republican members. In conclusion Mr. Sayler said: "I think Hampton will be governor of this State. He is elected and ought to be. There is no question about his election, in my judgment. If the returns indicate the election of Hayes, as no doubt they do, much more do they indicate the election of Hampton; and I say without any mental reservation whatever, that I think that Hayes and Wheeler, and Hampton and the entire Democratic State ticket have been elected by a decisive majority."