The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-08-19
From the Charleston Courier.
Suffrage, and Who are Entitl,

AS the elections approach, which involve
the rights and liberties of our people, the
question naturally occurs as to who, under
the present condition of things, are entitled
to suffrage. 1t will readily be seen that no
more important question can be submitted.
And to this we propose clear and simple
answer
We propose first to consider this in the
light of the Acts of Congress, and then to
refer to the Constitution of this State,
adopted under what are known as the Re-
construction Acts.
Secretary Seward has declared the
Howard Constitutional Amendment as
adopted. AS words are important, we
cite the very language of the third Sec
ton:
SEC. 8. No person shall be Senator or
Representative in Congress, or Elector Of
President and Vice President, or hold any
office, civil or military, under the United
States, or under any State, who having
previously taken an oath as member Of
Congress, or as an officer of the United
States, or as member of any State Leg
islature, or as an Executive or Judicial
officer of any State, to support the Consti-
tuition of the United States, shall have en-
gagged in nsurrection or rebellion against
the same, or given aid or comfort to the
enemies thereof But Congress may by a
vote of two-thirds of each Honse, remove
such disabilities.
Two things, therefore, will be observed: :
First. That this amendment now declared
to be part of the Constitution OF the
United States diSqualJieS only from office
and not from, suffrage. Secondly, that the
Offices to which all, who, eithera members
of Congress, or as officers of the United
States, or as members of any State Legis-
lature, or as the executive or judicial Off
GERS Of any State, and who participated,
either By act, or in aid, the Confederate
States, are disqualified from holding or
enjoying office are:
/. Those Of Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress.
.. Electors for President and Vlce-Pres-
ident.
8. Any office, civil or military, under
the United States, or any State.
Itis apparent, therefore, that this amend
ment excludes 4 large and intelligent por-
tion of our citizens from any office whether
Federal or State And this disability re-
mains until removed by 4 twe-thirds vote
of each House of Congress.
But the important fact remains that
under this amendment no citi=en is eIclud-
ed from suffrage. Therefore, so far as this
is concerned. there is no restriction upon
the ballot, although there is as to office.
Is there, then, anything in the now al
legged Constitution of the State which
prohibits suffrage for past political opin-
ions?
We again refer to the text:
ARTICLE yIII.-RIGIiT OF SUFFRAGE.
SECTION. 2. Every male citizen of the
United States of the age of twentyone
and upwards, not laboring under the disa-
biities named III this Constitution, without
distinction Of race, color or former condi.
ton, who shall be resident Of this State
at the time of the adoption of this Consti-
tuition, or who shall thereafter reside in
this State one year, and in the county in
which he offers to vote sixty days next
preceding any election, shall be entitled to
vote for all officers that are now or hereaf.
ter may be elected by the people, and
upon all questions submitted to the elect
ors at any election; Provided, That no
person shall he allowed to rote or hold office
who is now or hereafter may be disquali-
fed therefor by the Constitution of the
United States, until snch disqualification
shall be removed by the Congress of the
United States; Procided further, That no
person while kept in any aims house or
asylum, or of unsound mind, or confined i'll
any public prison, shall be allowed to vote
or hold ohice
The words in which we are interested
are: "That no person shall be allowed to
vote or hold office, who is now or hereaf
ter may be disqualified therefor by the
Constitution Of the United States"
Now it has been seen that the Constitu-
tion of the United States disqualfes no one
from suffrage, therefore the State Constitution
disqualtfeS none.
1t follows, therefore, that whatever may
be the rule with regard to office, that in
relation TO suffrage, all male citizens of
the United State Of age, resident within
the State for one year, are entitled to cote,
except:
Q.) Those kept in any aims house or
asylum.
(2.) Those Of unsound mind.
e.. Those confined i'll any public pris,
on.
This it seems to us is the plain and in
evitable construction of the law.
-Klopstock, the Germanpoet, engraved
on the tombstone of his wife two sheaves
of wheat, thrown as it were, carelessly
together: eve shall ripen i'll heaven"
MIR. and Mrs. Thad Stevens unfinished
monument bears similar device, with
the words: owe shall be threslied in he''
but the sculptor has not left room for
"aven."