Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-05-06


The late Election-Causes Of the Defeat Of the
Conserpative Ticket-Fraud Practiced by the
Radicals-Threats used to make the Freedmen
Vote for the Radicals. ",7
At the late election held by orders kromZGen.
CAsBY, the Radical Ticket was elected, by q
large majority, in this District. This was owing
to several causes. Most of the white voters hav-
ing made up their minds, since the close of the
late war, to abstain from voting the balance of
their lives; while others did not register, and q
portion of those who did, put Off voting until the
last day, when they were prevented by high water.
There wero over $500 white mon registered in
Edgefleld District; more than 200 more could
have registered if they had made IN effort to do
SO; 500 white men voted the Conservative Ticket /;
near rs whites voted the Radical Ticket. One or two
whites voted for the Radicals at this place, s,me
at Graniteville, and some at Hamburg. and q few
scattering at other Boxes. At least 100 eolored
third of the registered whites voted the remain
ing two-thirds, from indifference and othor canses,
remained away from the polls; and the result
was as above stated.
1t is true that the election notice was not pub
lished by the Managers, and that many Of the
nhite people did not know at what places the
election would be held; and they are somewhat
excusablo on that ground. But the election could
easily have been carried by the Conservative
Party if proper steps had been taken in time. II
the white voters had turned out at the polls, and
every man had voted, and controlled one vota
each, (and what Iaan could not have controlled
one colored voter if he had tried y mach more
might have been accomplished. There wore
seven voters on my place, only four of whom
voted the Radical ticket; and with little we'll.
directed e1ertion every white man might have
been able to say the same thing. Our people
failed to do their duty, ns they should have done
and as the interest of the State required at theil
hands. I know it is too late now to lament over
our defeat, but cannot We, by being warned in
time, turn our experience 10 some account in
the future2
A like indifference as to who controls the Bal
lot Box in future, will soon cause you to rue the
day you vowed never to vote again in South Caro-
linz. Your Taxes will soon have to be levied By
these negroes aud rcalawags in the Legislature
and you will have them to pay, while the Law
Makers themselves own no property. Itis vel
known fact that the negroes will be screened from
paying Tax, as but few of them yet own land
and under the new Constitution imprisonment fol
Taxes or Debt is abolished.
Distric. officers will soon have to be elected
and it is your duty to make m effort at once il
this matter. Take warning from the past 1
you refuse to vote and to use your influence a
the Ballot Box, can you expect anything bette
than to be ruled by negroes and mean, unprinci
pled white men, who 60 with the negroes, ant
are making every effort to sink themselves below
tho negroes.
Now desire to call your attention to few
the acts committed by the negroes, scalawags
and somc of the managers Of the late election
which acts were the cause Of their ticket being
elected. Word was sent to every freedman
quarter in Edgefcld District that he must be at :
specified place on Tuesday the 18th April; ths
ihey were all required and ordered to ho at tn
polls on that day without full ; and that if they
refused, severe puuishment would be inflicted
upon each and every one Of them. These pcremp
ftery-orders from In. Loyal E..es-., v4i'ie'
to every negro quarter, and obeyod to the letter
Some of the managers Of the election were Yery
busy in carrying out these orders, and further in
structions which they had from the leaders of th
Loyal League. The Freedmen were told tina
they would yet receive the promised 40 Acres o
land, and two mules; and in addition $500 il
money, for having had to wait so long for theil
lands. That surveyor would be sent to survey
and parcel out the land just as soon as the LegiS
lature met. That If they voted for the white
man party they would, without doubt, be pu
hack into slavery. And if they voted for tbs
Radicals, they would not have TO pay nny Taxes
Most of the Freedmen believed or pretended tt
believe, all of these reports and said they stood
in great fear of the Loyal League.
IF there was ever more low. down, under handed
unprinciplcd work done to carry an election, than
was done in Edgeieli District, I never have heard
or rend of it. Now is it not fair, and is it moi
proper, and is it not duty, to try to use these
voters in future? By fuir means make the effort
It will cost you but little trouble to make this
effort; and you may succeed. believe we can
control this District if the white people will d"
their duty, and if we succeed, we will accomplish
much. oLlfhH.
For the Advertiser.