The Lincoln County herald., 1870-11-17
The South Carolina EleciiOn.

If there is any truth iD the following
account OF the ~ tn Carolina election,
from the Charleston Courier, then indeed
was that atfair serious farce. Whites
were driven from the polls and negro
women and minors were allowed to vote I;
but, read the Courier s account:
Every day there reaches US r esh iutelli.
gonce Of the fraudulent manner by which
the recent election has been carried. These
arc fragrant and sufficient to set aside the
whole election, il there was any tribunal
to which justice anu right could make
its appeal. In this county alone, outside
the city, armed colored bands, styling
themselves the militia" surrounded the
polls and insisted on inspecting the
tickets of the voters, and thus, to a
great extent, either drove off those Of the
colored race who wished to vote tho
Reform ticket, or intimidated them into
tho support Of the Radical nominee.
The few white men present we're power
less. They voted in peril. In some
cases they were not permitted to vote at
all. This was the case with the Wappa.
taw church poll. And SO with others.
Colored women in some parts of tho State
were allowed to vote for their sick hus.
bands. Iu many portions neither man
ayers nor voters were sworn. In some
counties more votes were cast than males
over twenty ono years Of age, as taken
by the recent United States census. And
we doubt not when tho returns are ali in,
it will be found that where the Radicals
had the suprtmacy, to produce the result,
nearly every colorcd person over seven
teen years OF age was permitted to vote.
Thus, with intimidation on the one hand
and the utmost license aud fraud, it is not
astonishing that the reform party should
have been defeated. No movement can
ever be successful where there is not
permitted fair free and unbiased elcc
ton. For instance, what would be
thought of an election in New York,
where the Radical party alone should be
allowed to so armed to the polls where
they demanded the inspection Of votes
where they charged aud destroyed obnox
lous ballot boxes; where they voted
minors and women; where those Of the
opposite party had their tickets destroyed
and their voters in.imidated, or exercis
ing their right in the presence Of an armed
mob? Whoever, heard, in the history ci
free election before, of the managers
and commissioners Of elections being al
appointed by the chief candidate for office
himself, all oe one party, many of them
candidates for Office, and Of their having
the custody and the counting Of the vote.
in an election in which they were person
ally interested? We will venture to say
that such an election, where there has
been the slightest pretcuse TO the right Of
ballot, is without parallel. In the pas,
the intelligence and the real voice Of
South Carolina have had no audience al
the North. Its appeals to candor, justice
and right have been unheeded. Its
statement Of the real condition of affairs
and its just demands against oppression
under the forms of law, the worst Of
tyranny, and for honest government have
been in vain. The car of the North is
eago.,, i--. - .,.~.. 49, 49, A-'..nu,. vi
the State, and who have trampled under
foot every vestige Of liberty, violated
every sentiment of right and brought the
State to the very verge Of ruin and desc
| latiou,