The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-10
The Joint Election Committees.

The Joint Election Committees.
Mr.. Seibels, the Secretary OF the Execu.
tive Committee of the Union Reform Party,
prints statement that 'the efforts on the
"part of the committee to secure fair play
sin the coming election have been fruit.
'less;" also, that "the Governor and Mr..
"Ransier. ore very profuse in their expires,
'ssions of's desire for US to have feir play,
shut when You come to reduce this matter
''to something tangible and practicable, it
''ls explained away 30 you can't find it. y
Commenting upon this, the Columbia Phe,
nix says sThe assurances given in profuse
'terms by Governor Scott and his colleague,
Mr.. Ransier, as to their disposition to pro-
''vide for fair and satisfactory election are
''now declared to be worth nothing practi-
zeal"
We do not know what was the nature OF
sthe efforts" whose failure Mr.. Seibels re-
lates, but we are disnclined to believe that
Mr.. Ransier has in any wise receded from
The proposition contained in his letter to
General Kershaw. From the beginning, it
was distinctly understood that neither MIR.
Ransier nor General Kershaw, nor both OF
them, could compel the Commissioners OF
Elections to allow an independent joint COM
mittee to witness their proceedings and re-
main with the ballot boxes from the opening
OF the polls until the final canvass. There
was doubt and uneasiness, however, in the
minds OF all good citizens, and it was con-
ceived that if the commissioners intended to
act fairly they would not object to the super
vision of committee which, without ham,
pering their movements in any way, would
give TO both political parties the security so
generally desired These views were sub
mitted to Mr.. Ranser, who, without q mo.
ment's hesitation, said that he would use oil
his personal and official influence to bring
about the appointment of the joint commit
tees referred to. This was reiterated in his
letter To General Kershaw, who at once
agreed to the plan as one which was certainly
of great moment TO the Reform party. The
next step it seems to US, should have been to
draw up brief circular, recapitulating the
agreement between the representatives OF
the two parties and urg ing the Commission
ers of Elections to consent to the appoint
ment OF the Joint Committee in every elec-
tion precinct. This circular, signed by both
General kershaw and Mr.. Ransier, would
have secured the active cooperation OF the
large majority Of the Commissioners OF Elec-
tions, while the minority, giving cause for
suspicion and dislrust, would be watched
throughout with scrupulous care by at least
the Reform party. This was the plain and
simple way OF giving practical effect 10 the
plan proposed, anil unless Mr.. Ransier has
positively declined to sign such q joint c!rcu-
lar as we have Sketched out, we must de-
cline to admit that, in this instance, tn
Radical leaders have shown bad faith or in
sincerity.
1t is time that something should be done.
We, therefore, beg the Reform committees in
each county to wait at once upon the several
Commissioners OF Elections, and ascertain
whether they will agree to the appointment
of Joint committees as explained in the
Kershaw-Ransier letters. Where the Com
missioners OF Elections refuse to do what is
only reasonable aud right let them be
watched with slcepless vigilance: Where
they consent, Il conference between the Radi'
cal and Reform Committees will enable the
selection OF committees who are trusted by
both sides and will do their work well. Each
county should at once, take this matter in
hand, and make the best arrangements ii
Cal for insurjng a fair and peaceful election.
| GENERAL BoNHAM had an enthusiastic
welcome at Nincty-Six on Wednesday. In
his speech he pledged both hand anu heart in
the cause of Reform, and protested that he
yielded to none in ardent hope and steadfast
devotion. After vindicating the principles
of Reform and tic character OF the Reform
candidates he declared that mo white man
''of the South could hesitate upon the issue
''presented or fail To do his duty at the polls.