The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-01-30
The Election Law.

manner of conducting elections is dis
grace to The statute book Of any free
aud civilized people. Itis so admitted
even by the leads 10 and influential mem
bers of tho Radical party; and yet, a.
though a:bill to amend it and expunge it's
most Objectionable features was intro.
duced and favorably reported upon by
the Committee on Elections, and it's ne.
cessity and propriety clearly demon
stratsa. in debate at the session Of
1870-71, itasill oymhers the calendar Of
the Senate. or il, stuck in some pigeon.
hole OF q committee. and is likely to re-
main thete. The prominent objections
to the law. as it now stands, are, frat,
the Unlimited and dangerous power
given the Governor, in the appointment
OF the commissioners Of election, and
consequent control OF the managers;
and, second. the unusual length Of time
in which the managers are allowed to
count the votes and make their return to
the commissioners.
The Governor. by oonfning his ap-
pointments to his own particular satel-
lites, can secure hia own election and
whatever Of the other candidates may
be acceptable to him. without any re-
gard to the ballots of the people. But
even should the Governor be above the
employment Of such fraudulent mea-
sures to accomplish his ends, the people
are left to ths tender .meroies Of the
managers themselves. who. if they are
so disposed: can stuff the boxes to their
hearts content, to aid the election Of
their spscial fayorites.
The bill referred to above, as amenda.
tory Of the ACT now i'll force, provides
for the Immediate counting of the votes
after the closing Of tho polls, as was the
old custo' in our State, and further re-
quires thn each political party in the
field be represented upon the board of
managers and the board of ,oommis-
sio, RS Of election, il there are not moro
THAI three parties. The opposition to
the new bill, urged last winter, was the
flimsy pretext TINT the appointment OF
Democrats to take share of the ma
nagement and supervision OF the elec-
tions, was an act OF justice that would not
be accorded the Republicans were
the Democrats in the ascendancy.
In othcr words, the great "God and
morality" party should, according to
these solons. adopt as the rule OF their
conduct the very iniquities which they
charge against their political enemies.
But even this ground of excuse. untena-
BILE and self.contradiotory as it is under
any circumstances, cannot be II aintained
now. The Indications are, n;.. we feel
justified i'll saying with certainty, that
the Democracy of South Carolina will
not make nominations or support party
candidates at the approaching elec-
tions. The field will be left to the Re-
pnbIicans entirely. and the contest will
be between rival factions of that party.
The Democrats will look quietly on; try
TO run in such good men US they can for
SCUoCy OAASOoS anu 40 luz Luo OCuoESs
seek for the least dishonest Radicals,
aud vote for them. In view of this con-
dition of things, it may be we'll for the
opponents OF Scott and the present COR
rupt administration in the Legislature,
I've mean the Republicans.) to see to it
that the election Law be go amended, be-
fore adjournment, as to secure fair
election, and preclude those opportuni-
ties for frauds which characterized the
elections in 1858 in every County where
there was the Smallest apprehension OF a
closely contested race. II R. K. Scott
becomes again candidate for re-elec-
ton to the gubernntorial chair, all efforts
to defeat him, even by majority of his
own political party, will prove utterly
futile, if the election laws remain as they
now are. If he does not have himself
elected. it will be because he is too
honorable. pure and chivalrous to prac-
tice fraud when the way is clear and
every temptation before him, Of unholy
l IL