The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-10
COLUMBIA. s. G..
RegIstrAtion,

Rogistration.
There ese ,ss--S bill: rev heso-s the
Legislature to amend our present defect.
i've and iaiquitous election lsw. The
one introduced into. the Senate by Mr..
Arnim, on the 31st ult., we have had the
opportunity to look over and examine
carefully. A copy Of the other, OF which
Mr.. Whittemore was the originator, and
which passed the Senate yesterday, we
have not been able to get; but from q
hurried glance which was permitted us
OF the original bill, it seems to be in
tended merely to make certain regula-
tions in the manner OF counting the
votes. declaring the results Of the elep-
tions, &c.. It is unobjeotionable appa-
reatly, but doesn't reach the root of the
evil which it is designed to correct. The
bill OF Mr, Arnim, which, we under
stand, is now before the judiciary Com
mittee Of the Senate. is better. and, in
fact, 70 admirable 30 far as it goes, It
provides, f1rst, thst at least one Of the
three Commissioner Of Election for each
County shalt belong to party or orga-
nizaliop OPPOSED to the party in power,
and mAkes'a similar provision in the ap-
pointmept of the three managers Of the
polls The various election precincts.
AS the law now stands, the Governor
appoints hid .shree commissioners of
Election torthe several Counties; they,
in, their turn, appoint all the managers
for; different precincts in their respective
Counties. and thus it is arranged that the
Governor, practically. has entire ma
nagemsnt aud control of the eleotions-
and, when SO ,disposed. will not fail to
have the result .announoed as may suit
his views. The plsping of one man np9n
the board of: tha opposite political party
or'ofganizatibh, can work no WRONG to
the aaitY In. power, but will serya,only
as Q safeguard against fraudulent voting
and false returns, so frequently charged
and, IN mary instances: proved In, our
last elsotiops; and. indeed. in, the. alb.
sence Of saoh charges. is. but q iust and
fair regulation such as must commend
itself to the favor Of every member of
the Legislature who is not Influenced
solely by partisan aims.
The second amendment proposed by
Mr.. Arnim is 70 the effect that the ma.
nagers Of the polls shall. Immediately
after the voting is over. proceed publicly
to count the votes and prepare state.
ment OF the result in detail, to be hand
ed to the Commissioners OF Election,
and duplicate flied with the Clerk of
the Court and anothet forwarded to the
Secretary Of State.
The bill furthermore provides that the
County Commissioners OF Election in
making out their statement for the State
Board Of Oanvassers shall declare the re-
suit "as returned by the managers of
the several election precincts. All OF
these proposed alterations are anex.
oeptionable. and carry their commenda-
tion in their very terms. But there is
one point which the bill does not touch,
and which escaped our mind, also. when
We called attention to this subject OF the
election law sometime since. We refer
to registration. One of the greatest
abuses of the elective franchise in South
Carolina, since theRadical party assumed
the reins Of government. has been in
over-0ealous rs-''repeating," as it
is termed, or voting more than once at
the same election.
In some Of the Counties of the State
it is authentatively stated that more
votes we're returned by the Commission
ers OF Election than there were voters
in the County. This is an abuse, that
only registration can affeotively remedy,
and We hope that such on amendment
may be appended to whatever bill may
be passed by the Legislature, to amend
the election Law, or that special ACT
may be passed as will require registration
before the fall election. It is not only
proper thing to be done by the Legis-
lature, but the Constitution Of the
State (Artiole 8, Section 81 expressly