The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-11-09
THE PROsPReT BBFORE Us.

refused 10 give.
= THE PROSPECT BBFORE Us.
The election struggle in South Caro-
lima is over, and as the din and oonfu-
sion incident thereto subsidies, We arc
permitted clearer view of the prospect
presented.
The issue at the ballot box, conducts
cd in and by the interest Of: the party
in power, presents scene Of corruption
bribery, fraud, intimidation and vio-
lcnce-to which the history of our
civilization presents no parallel.
The party in power frame an election
law, the uudisguised operations Of which
not only put the whole machinery of the
ballot into the hands of it's own partizans,
but actually aNo,os and provides for ex.
traordinary privileges in time and OPP
portunty for tampering with the votes,
and changing the high and solemn
utterances of the people, as thereby
expressed. Aud, trom one side of the
State to the other, comes the evidence,
with tho voice and power Of invincible
truth, that the provisions of tile law
have been responded TO, and that the
Infamous mauipulatious, appreheuded,
have been employed aud the grossest
frauds, in other respects, perpetrated.
In some instances, in single county, a
thousand more colorcd votcs have Jcen
counted than the latest registration
shows there were colored voters in said
county. Aud this has been the case, to
a creator or less extent, throughout the
State.
In other instances, Gas in Chester"
ield) where the Reform Party was in
thorough organization and efficient ser.
vice, aud where an accurate list Of
votes on each side was kept and obtained
by committees at the polls, the count
has changed tho number of votes actu.
ally polled, and turned definitely as.
certained Reform majority into large
majority against US.
From this aspect of the situation we
turn with scusibilities shocked and
the boosted idea OF the arbitrament of
the ballot box, as eliminated by Amer
lean civilization, fallen to the dust, aud
covered with shame and rottenncss.-
With the eusanple before us, it is
no longer cure for the ills and solu-
tion of the difficulties of the body poll.
tic. 1t becomes rather promoter Of
disquiet and dissatisfaction to the pub
lie mind, aud tends to confusion aud
anarchy. For, when people, conscious
Of their high aims and integrity, and of
their honest and determined purpose to
maintain their standard of social purity
and good government, no longer find in
the ballot box medium through which
those grand objects may be subscrvcd.
or even the will Of the people expressed,
desperation not unfrequen,ly ensues,
and bloody revolutions follow And,
to this, VIC apprehcnd, We are rapidly
tcuding, not only in South Carolina,
but throughout the country. This is
our fear, whilst our hope is that God,
in His Almighty Power and Mercy, may
avert such an issue, and give to us in.
ternal concord and peace rather than
internccinc strife aud blood.
With reference TO the colored man,
We must declare that the hope Of the
honest white citizens of the State has
been disappointed and we do not be-
lieve that another such effort will ever
be made in South Carolina. And whilst
VIC distinctly assert that we do not 90
back on the position of the Press Con
fcren &C, on tho plutlorm or tho Reform
Party, and express our high apprccia
tioD of the honest colorod men through.
out the State who stepped forth to re-
ccive our extended hand. aud withstood
to the end, the terrible ordeal of threat
and intimidation TO which they were
subjected, casting their ballots with US
for an honest go,crnmcnt wo feel that
the time has como for the white people
Of the State to take counsel together for
their protection, and for the mainto.
nance Of those Gcd-given rights and in.
stincts which they never can and never
will surrender. Thoy can aud will take
caro- Of themselves, maintaining at the
Same time hat purity and elevation Of
social rank, which belongs to their race,
and which is the oongouial element Of
virtue and Intelligence.
ELECTIONS.
Yesterday. elections woro hold in the
following Sta.os: New York, Now Jer-
soy, Rhode Island, Tennessee Delaware,
Keatucky, Maryland, Miohicau, Mis-
sonri, Kansas, Nevada, Wisconsin,
! Illinois Aluhatnn md Elor;Jo Ti,