Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-10-07
For the Advertiser.

Mr.. EDIT0R.-lt IS not Deyonu tne fhu8e Vi
possibilities that tho Electoral Vote of South
Carolina muy decide the Presidential election.
The boasters" of the Republican party e1nlt in
Tho idea that Grant will carry every Union State
except kentucky and Maryland, whilst The more
-sanguine Democrats claim Seymour's election by
a majority of 40 OF. SO ELECTORAL votes. The
probabilities are, that unless some groat reaction
takes place witiin the next fow weeks, thatit
will;be q closely contested election, si -9g.
/ Itappears to us that the following is fair e1i
hbit Of the relative strength of the two parties,
promising that exchanges, which. will balance
each other, may be made in the doubtful list As
comparatively certain for Seymour may be claim,
ed (: California S, Delaware 8, Kentucky II,
Maryland z, New Jersey Z, New York 3s, Oregon
3. Making a.total of's9 votes.
Georgia 9, Alabama 8, and Arkansa, S, may
also we'll be counted as certainly Democratic, if
fair play is allowed. Making 9lvotes.
The Republicans can count on Iowa s, Maine,
q. Massachusetts, II. Michigan S, Minnesota a,
Nebraska 8, Nevada 3, Rhode Island4 Tennessee
10, Vermont 5, New Hampshire S, and Wisconsin
s. Also, North Carolina o, Floridai3, and Louisi
ana T. Making total.of 96. '
The States which nre, doubtful, but in which
the probabilities favor the Democrats, Ore rs fol-
lows: Indiana 49, Pennsylvania rs, Connecticut
6, Kansas 8, and West Virginia s.; amounting to
So electoral votes, which, with the 81 before men,
toned, would make144.i*
n. u o1o al
cd by the Republicans, and their votes, added 10
those certain for Grant, would make LIZ.
In case like this, the six votes of South Caro-,
lima would elect either Seymour orGrant asthe
case might be, for Mississippi and Virginia,
being gtlnreconstructed, ere not allowed to vote.
/ The Republicans carried % of the rs States
which voted for q President in 1854, giving q.
popular majority of 4ll,2s1. Since then how
ever the Democrats have beon steadily ginning.
At the last general election Of these same States,
the Republicans carried but To- whilst the Demo.
Gratis carried TO- insteud of 3, and the popular
majorty was only 46,9lO, or a;little more than
one tenth of what it was in '64.
Grants personal popularity will undoubtedly
add to the strength of his party. In this view the
question arises, What chance have We for carry
ing South Carolna?- The relative portion Of
Blacks to Whites in the State. is about 4 to g.
According to the Registration lists last spring,
uudor the Reconstruction Acts, so,55O Black,
and 4G;SS2 Whitee are entered. It is estimated
That ct least $4,000 Whites we're disfranchised or
neglected to enter their names. 6s,4ls negroes
and 1850 whites voted Tor n Convention, and
7O,75s votes were cast in favor of Ratifying5 the
Constitution. :,
At the the time of those elections the Demo
cratic party was not organized, and in many Of
the Districts little or no effort was made to in
auence the election. Now there is a different
state of sffairs. Democratic Clubs have been Or
yanizcd in every District large and enthusiastic
Mass Meetings hive been held, and addresses:
xrging tho people to work, have boon made by
tp-ouanent t men.
If tho white mon do their duty, this Stlte can
be carried for Seymour & Blair, but if each one
waits for else to do the work, ,riihen the
Republicans con walk over the track rs they did
at the,previ6us elections, Lett ,nOtsbe said that
Let every citizen act as if the contest depended
on his Individual excrtions.> Sec toit that your.
friends and neighbors do their part. Inspire
them with hope and courage. Have, proper bal
lots printed for distribution. Watch the polls
that tho men are not allowed to r"'' moro than
once Guard the Ballot Box 2 nat it cannol
bo tampered with. Send con- yances to bring in
those Who may be unable to 60 to tho polsj or
who aro indifferent on the subject.
If there was no object to be gsined, other thar
showing the Northern Radicals that South Carol
liuulthe State they hntc worse than, any other,
and which has thGlarges. proportion Of Blacks Of
my of the Strtes-cann"t be tranlinced By their.
so called Reconstruction ,Acta, and now in spite
of MI their efforts to the contrary, assists in lheir
overthrow, this alone should be sufficient to nerve
every man in the State to make tho effort.
- - -fil.s .;i.S w.