The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-12-31
COLITMDIA,S S. c.
Thursday Morning, December 81, 1874
A Registry Law.


terms of residence, and with certain
exceptions of disability aud unsound.
ness Of mind, imposes upon the Gene
raj Assembly "the duty to provide,
from time to time. for the registration
OF all electors" This duty is just as
Imperative and binding in the one case
as the privilege is valuable in the
other. But since the adoption OF the
Constitution. the privilege and right
have been exercised without any re-
straint upon the exoesses to which
they naturally lead from the enforce.
ment of the registration. This evil
has been apparent to all for several
years, and efforts have been repeatedly
made to have the constitutional proyi-
sicn pu. into force. But for reasons
just as apparent. it has boen con.
stantly refused. At last, we have the
demand made by the present Governor
that it shall no longer be evaded, and
we believe there are bills now before
the General Assembly which provide
Tor registration. Suoh law, to be of
any use, ought to require the voter to
register in his own precinct, that al
alphabetical list of the registered
voters be made out for the use of
managers at every precinct, and that
voters be required to vote at the pre-
oinot in which he lives. and not to
vote elsewhere. A law like this works
~ell and to the satisfaction of all in
North Carolina, and has been pro-
posed IN other Southern States. II
anything can, it would make the suf-
frage fair and just expression of the
power and will Of those who have
oIear title to examine it. It abridges
no oae's right in any particular. I.
SECURES it in way which will tend to
exclude fraud and repeating. That
there sillsbe more or Less frauds in
elections under any aud ali circum-
stances, perhaps, cannot be denied,
but every effort of Legislation to- pre-
serve the purity Of the ballot.bo1
shouldibe fairly tried, and the trainers
OF the Constitution Justly thought,re-
gissratioE ther best' and experience
confirms the soundness OF their views.
We observe that a. membe. of
Congress- from Alabama (Mr. White)
has introduced a bill which seems to
have for object to legalize repeating.
The experience of the recent elections
has shown that the coiored people
begin to think for themselves, and
have dared to differ from their political
guides, and vote for whom they please.
They show tendency which Is re-
garded ns fatal to the policy which has
so long kept them in leading strings.
This independence of spirit, if not
checked, might result in oonsid erable
changes in that vote. 1t tappears to be
thought necessary to counteract it by
general law which will prevent the
detection OF election frauds. and make
their punishment difficult or impossi-
Bile. The following clause in the bill
referred to, fairly construed, has lust
this meaning and purpose: "And any
such citizen may vote at any precinct
or place for voting, fixed by law in the
County or Parish in which he may re-
side at the time of the election. any
law OF any State to the contrary not
withstunding," SO. Why not contine
hlmito his own precinct, where he is
known and registered aud can be
identified if lie attempts the wrong of
voting more than once? The object is
palpable that it is meant to give him
the opportunity and afford him the in
centlve of impunity to vote as often
ana III az many places as he can or
may please. It IL to be hoped thut no
such tampering with wrong, no such
arrangement and preparation Of fraud.
can pass the American Congress-. And
1t Is further to be hoped that our Le-
glslature will have Il sufficient element
OF honesty aud fair dealing, when it
again cSaTcncs. lis 10 puss IL proper
law upon thia subject, by which, when
elections come round, q freer, fairer.