The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-09-09
Veto Message.

The following message from the Cover
nor, vetoing the billin relation to the nun
cipal election in Charleston, explains itself:
herewith return to your honorable
body can Act to amend all Act to alter
and amend the charter of the city of Char
lestou,n and for other purposes, together
with the reasons form disapproval of the
same 1t is not only inconsistent with the
genius of Republican form of Government,
but with tic spirit ofour own Constitution
recently adopted, that valuable interests
ofa community shall be unnecessarily plac,
ed in jeopardy by legislation, however we'll
it may be intended. Hence the Act is OBJ
iectionable 1t does not throw around the
ballot-box that protection against fraud,
which it is unquestionably the duty Of the
Legislature to secure, and which people
have right to expect. While the Con-
stitution is definite as to the qualifications
of a. County voter, the intent of that in.
strumcnt-has not been carried out by the
General Assembly, inasmuch as the Act
ehonld provide that every elector shall
have a fixed residence, without any present
intention of changing the same in the ward
or polling precinct where he claims the
right TO vote. Otherwise, abuses of the
elective franchise must occur, and the
ballot-box will cease to bc the medium for
fair and impartial expression of the will
of the people.
If temporary residence constitutes the
only claim ola voter to exercise that right,
how easy would 1T be for interested parties
to secure the presence in any part of one
County of persons from another locality in
the same County, and control the election,
thus thwarting the honest purposes ofthose
who are most vitally concerned in the re-
suit. AS part of your legislation, there
fore, it is desirable that stringent law be
passed, defining beyond peradventure, the
character of residence, SO that a mere So
journer in any locality shall not be allow
ed to exercise elective privileges which
appertain to citizen, and thus force upon
that community officials who may be OBJ
iectionable, or measuresShat may be op-
pressive, while he will not himselfb afec-
ted by the misfortunes which will be
brought upon others.
In the second place, l disapprove OF the
Act, because it makes a special exception,
in favor of Charleston, to the general nee
essity, which demands an election of Off
GERS throughout the State. AS yet, no law
has been passed, in regard to the election
of district attorneys and justices of the
peace-each class of vital Importance to
the people-nor has any law been passed
which will apply to all State, County and
municipal elections. TO exhibit partiality
in favor of Charleston, ..therefore, when
there is no pressing need of immediate
change, because all officers provided for by
the charter are discharging their duties at
this time, is to establish a precedent on
which similar legislation may be specially
demanded by any municipality in the State.
In the third place, it is, in my Judgment,
mpolitlc to hold municipal election in
Charleston or elsewhere, anterior to the
general election, to be held on the Sd of
November If there were no other consid-
erations of graver character to be urged,
the facts that the public mind is already
deeply excited; business and labor will be
necessarily interrupted, additional expen-
ses will be entaied on citizens by special
registration and election, thereby giving
just cause Of complaint on the part those
affected by the Act; that, in reality, moth,
ing would be gained by holding the muni-
cipal election thirty days in advance of the
general election, would themselves demon
strate the impropriety of ratifying the Act
which has been submitted to the Execu-
tive. ] believe sound public policy de
mands the course have felt it my duty
to adopt, in returning the Act with my
disapprova.