Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-09-27

should be both equally represented, SO thu
the ole cannot lcgis.ate to the injury Of I'll
other.
In considering Tie question Of population
it is proper that the =" freedmen who TAX
the places of white men in the lower country
and also in the upper country, in q less pr9
portion, should, in some way and to SOM
extent, be counted. This is due the lowe
country, where there is snch q large prepon
dsrapce of that class of persons. The Fed
eral basis OF representation in Congress
couuting three fifihs Of tho negroes, woult
seem to b. just and right. it was the com
promise agreed on by the trainers OF .h'
Federal Constitution, and no doubt founded
in wisdom.
The question of suffrage, and who shal
exercise the right Of voting in South Carroll
M, is once OF grave importance, and must bt
settled BY you in Jour lsw Constitution. du
1870, the StLte Constitution declared that nc
one should be allowed TO vote unless hc was
freebooter or taxpayer aad free white
man of the are Of twenty one years. In
1910, the right Of suffrage was extended u
all free wLite men of the ago Of twenty-one,
who were residents Of thel State TWO years.
and of the Election District six months, pre-
vious to voting. Tue qualification of n free
hold or the payment OF tax was no longer
required. IL was thought proper at that pc
riOu that free white man who had to serve
In the militia, do patrol duty, work on the
roads, and defend lis country IN time OF war,
should be allowed to vote for mctnberS of the
Legislature and other officers ef tue State,
without the ownership OF freehold or the
paylnert of ,ax-s TU extend this universal
suffrage to the 4 freedmen in their present
ignorant and degraded condition, would be
little less tr;.n lilly and madness. Il wuu,d
he giving to the man of wealth aud large
landed POSSESSIONS i'll the State nian,
undue influence in all elections. lie would
bs enabled TO march to the polls, with his
two or three hundred freedmen" as en-,
ployees, voting as he directed, and control
all eec.ious The poor white men in the
Election Districts would have no influence.
or their influence would be oyerpowered by
one man OF large landed estate. In Con
necticut, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, ami several
other r-slaveholcng States, as the North,
free negroes and coloycd persous are entirely
excluded from voting. In most Of the North
crn States there Is a property justification
required of ali voters, which excludes them.
Ii lne New York qu4Ehcatioi, oi Il freehold
tor person OF color voting We're adopted in
South Carolina very Jew Of the frecduen il
this State would ever he able TO EXERCISE tue
right of suffrage. La North Carolina, Tea
ne see, and perhaps other siavehoiding States.
lrcs negroes formerly were entitled 10 votc,
eat it is understood laaI ti.ey seldom SAW
proper TO exercise this franchise.
The radical Rtpublican party North are
looking with great interest to the @clion oi
the Southern Sta.cs in reference 70 negro
suffrage, and whilst they admit that - man
suoulu 'be able to read aud write and have "a
property qualification in order to vote, YET
they contend that there should be no dis;iuc
lion between voters on account OF color.
Thev forget that this is a white uan's gov
.rumeot aud intended lpr while ui:,l onlyy
s,.d hat th. Supreme Court Of! tie United
States has decid.d nat the negro is not an
American citizen ui.ttar tie Federal Con-litu.
ton. That each aud every State of the
Union has the uno1 STONED right OF deciding
for herself who si,aii exercise the right OF
suffrage, is beyond Ill dispute. YOU vii!
settle this grave question rs tho ia!elest au@
honor Of the State d.mar.l.
South Carolina is the OILY State in tie tn
ION where the Chief Masis,iatc is not cie"ted
by the peoplr. This should NO logger be- thc
case 1t is q Fundamental principle ul THE
republican creed, that lhc people, ia whom
ali so=eseignty is inherent, suould scleci Ih-;r
own raj, rs and representatives. Those pow
ers oa!y are delegated wnlch cannot be prop
erly exercised by the lcopis.. 1T is euiinenty
wise anI proper that the Covcrnorofa State
should derive his authority and election i'm
uIdiately from the so7eresa power uf the
State. The people should elect their Chiei
Magis;rat,s, membcrs uf Congress and mem.
he1s Of tie Legislature. Having done this,
Tie miner offices might oc filled By appoint
meat aad Inc people relieved Of the bic,
loss OF ti;ae,a decentralization in making
these pretty elections. Wien the Guvenor
has bcea elected by the ei'copls, te might safe
~ be entrusted with N IRE power than he has
ever exercised in South Carolina. lie should
he made re-elisibe, OF elected for a lol ger
terE ttan two years H should be required
10 live ~ the seat Of Govenmcat, aud shcnld
receive salary suflieieot lc delray all his
necessary Expenses.
The General Assembly of South Carolina
* IN Electoral College f.r the State ;s-sel
as q f'~g,sia:iye body. They have the electio,.
Of Gnverno,, Electors OF l4esidant and Vice
President: lie1te~snt Governor, United States
Sena'ors, Judges adffosancel,ors, all State
officers, Magistrates, Conilns.iouersoi Roads
and Bridges, Poor aud Free Schou's:- -ov,,-
niissioners and Masters in Equity, and dvsri-
Gus other officers. This enbarissses iesisla-
ton, occupies great deal Of the time Of
members, aud is productive of evil coaae.
queuces. TIE most Of these elections and
appointment. should be taken lram the Leg
lsalurc.
The election of Prcsident:,.l Elcctor, by tie
Legislature is clearly usurra ion ON The pr!
OF that body, and which no other State il the
Union tolcra;cs at the pr sent tine. The
Federal Constitution declares that. ''eacII
Safe shall cppcint in suc!. n@aasr as tho
Legislature thereof may direct. Electors ol
rrss'd,n, and ylce-Presideat. Tha State and
not ;;i heyislaturei is to "apooiH!" Electors
The L-yistata1c is to ctirect' the = maaae''
Of appointing oaly. The pnople are the Stat
and suuu!d appoint" No alie will coutent
thai the Legislature, which represents tbt
|. S!a!e, is thc Sale itself. This gross error