The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-06-13
S. G.
Tursday Morning. June l3, 1872.
Tho "Forco Bill"

Government, OF power to control and
supervise elections. The rights OF the
States to manage the elections within
their limits is most important one, in
enabling them to maintain theil proper
degree OF independence toward the
General Government, and to check that
tendency to Capitalization, which was a
matter of the gravest concern to the
founders of this Republic. The passions
aud the exigencies of war, lust of power
and fanatical devotion to party by the
Radicals, have greatly weakened the
wholesome restraints of the Constitution,
and thrown our Government headlong
in the direction Of Capitalization. This
force bill intermeddling with and super
oeding the authority Of the States in
managing elections. is one of the most
daring and appalling enoroachments
upon the reserved rights of the States.
But it is nc m unmixed evil. It will be
sslutary in some respects. It is good
thing done in an improper manner.
Congress has, by the use OF unconstitu-
tional and usurped power, undertaken to
do that which, if done by the proper
authority, would be highly oommenda-
BILE. The force bill is, unquestionably,
wrong in principle and dangerous as
precedent, and we do not like to give it
even o qualified approval; but there is no
doubt that, as amended, it will be of
benefit in this State and in others where
the local officials are dishonest and un-
scrupulous. It does not, as we under
stand the amendments as reported in
our telegraphic dispatches of Tuesday,
give the control of the elections to the
President or to any of his dependents or
subordinate officials. The Circuit and
District Judges, who, as rule, are gen
tlemen of high character, and not such
as can be used as corrupt partisan tools,
are invested with the power of appoint
ing the supervisors of election. This
they are to do upon application OF ten or
more voters, at least ten days prior to an
election or registration.
The supervisors in number-are
to be selected one from each political
party. which Is of itself the best qua.
ran.ee we can have that the voting or
registration will be conducted honestly
and fairly. At our last State and Con-
gressional elections, the most Wholesale
frauds were perpetrated. The ballot
boxes at many precincts were stuffed,
and thousands of colored boys under
age wore allowed to vote. In Newberry
County alone, it is said by those who
should know, and of whose judgment
and veraoity there is no question, that
at least 500 colored boys under twenty
one years Of age voted the Radical
ticket, and it is estimated that at least
10000 or $4,000 fraudulent votes we're
polled. This was done under the ma
nagers appointed by Gov. Scott, himself
candidate for reelection. With ma
nagers or supervisors of both political
parties. whatever these parties may be,
appointed by Judge Bryan, such rascali-
ties cannot be repeated, and we will
have, perhaps, the best possible security
that no illegal votes will be received,
and that there will be no stuffing the
boxes, nor over-count in any way.
The election laws Of this State seemed
framed solely with view to fraud.
There was an apparent effort made at
the last session to amend them, and
some alterations were made. The i'm
provements, however, if any at all, were
very slight, and the General Assembly
showed. by striking ont all those provi-
sions which most effeotually guard
against fraud, and which could not pos
sibly have resulted in harm to any
honest candidate or party, that fair
election was to them minor oonsidera-
tion to party success.
GRANT Stock DECLINING. Beau