The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-01
VETO MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR SCOTT.
ARMED ORGANIZATIONS.
THE RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH AND THE
PRESENTATION OF ORDER.
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
&C, SC. 60.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO The DAILY NEws.]

Gan act to amend an act TO alter and amend
the Charter Of the City Of Charleston and for
other purposes" with his objections thereto.
The veto message is as follows:
10 the House Of Representatives.
I herewith return to your honorable body
the act to amend an act to alter and amend
the Charter OF the City Of Charleston, and for
other purposes, with the reasons for my dis
approval of the same. 1t is not only inconsls-
tent>Sith the genius Of q republican form Oh
government, but with the spirit of our own con-
stiturion recently adopted, that the valuable
interests Of community shall be unnecessa
rily placed in jeopardy by legislation however
well intended. Hence the act is Objectionable.
1t does not throw around the ballot box that
protection against fraud which it is unques-
tionAbly the duty of the Legislature to secure,
and which the people have right to expect.
While the constitution is definite as to the
qualifications of county voter, the intent of
that instrument has not been carried out by
the General Assembly, inasmuch as this act
should provide that every elector shall have
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 be
the medium for q fair and impartial expression
of the will Of the people. II temporary resi-
dence constitutes the only claim OF the voter
to exercise his right, how easy would it be
for interested parties to secure the presence
in any part Of one county Ct persons from an
other locality in the same county and control
the election, thus thwarting the honest pur-
poses Of those most vitality concerned in the
result. AS part Of your legislation, therefore,
it is desirable that stringent law shall be
passed defining beyond peradventure the char
acter Of residence" so that the mere 30
journer in any locality shall not be allowed to
exercise the elective privileges which appertain
to the citizen, and thus force upon that COM
munity an official who may be Objectionable or
measures that may be oppressive, while not
himself affected by the misfortunes which he
has brought upon others.
In the second place, I disapprove' of the act
because 1t makes special exception in favor
of Charleston to the general necessity which
demands an election of officers throughout
the State. As yet no law has been passed for
the election of district attorneys or justices Of
the peace, each class Of public officers 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,
where there is no pressing need of an immedi-
ate change, because al the officers provided
for by the charter are discharging their duties
at this time, is to establish precedent on
which similsr legislation may be specially de-
manaed by any municipality in the State.
In the third place, it is, in my judgment, i'm
polite to hold municipal election in Charles
ton, or elsewhere, anterior to the general elec-
ton on the third of November. If there were
no other considerations Of The gravest charac-
ter 10 be urged, the facts that the public mind
is already deeply excited; that business and
labor would necessarily be interrupted; that an
additional expense would be entailed upon the
citizens by special registration and election,
thereby giving just cause of complaint on the
part Of those affected by the act; and that in
reality nothing would be gained by holding
this municipal election thirty days in advance
OF the general election, would themselves de-
monstrate the improperly Of rati ying the act
which has been submitted to the Executive.
believe that sound public policy demands
the course which have felt it my duty to
adopt in returning the act with my disap-
proval. II. 4. SCOTT,
Governor OF South Carolina.
The Governor to-day issued the following
proclamation
PROCLAMATION,
Bv the Governor of the State of South Carolina.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
COLUMBIA, 8. O., August 81, 1868.
Information having been communicated to
this department Of proceedings calculated to
disturb the tranquility Of the State, deem it
my duty to earnestly appeal to my fellow-citi-
zens to refrain from and discountsnance all
demonstrations whereby the public peace may
be endang cred.
tits alleged that armed organizations exist,
which are regularly oficered and drilled, and
pretend to act by authority. There is not only
no authority for armed or military organiza-
tons in South Carolina, but they are in direct
violation OF the laws Of the United States.
They must, therefore, be at once disbanded.
have also been informed Of the surrepti-
tious introduction into the State OF firearms
and ammunit on Of the most improved descrip-
ton, which, it, is reported, are to be used for
partisan purposes. Although not 30 openly IN
conflict with the laws, this is equally danger
GUS and threatening to the public peace. Deadly
weapons in the hands of inconsiderate persons,
infamed by political excitement, may lead to
the most depIorable results, and all good citl-
zens who can foresee the frightful consequences
Of collision should earnestly and promptly
throw the whole weight Of their moral infu-
ence against policy which would place life
and property at the mercy of mob.
The right of every political party to assemble
and deliberate for the common good is undeni-
able, and any interruption of such proceedings
or molestation Of individuals in attendance is
utterly unjustifable. Inhammatory and threat
ening language at public meetings and in the
nevsnaoers should be avoided and discounte-
nanced, because it unnecessarily aggravates
the excitement incident to the present political
canvass. The right Of every voter to advocate
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