The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-13
THE cn1RLEsrox Rtxo,s PLor.
Peculiar Phnscs Of the Contest for the Nav
ornItv Gen. John A. WAGNER tue Fn-
Voritr Candidate of the Conservatives.

oiuItN tsfns JOhn A. Nngtuer tut h"-
VOritC Candidate of the Conservative.
CHARLESTON, s. C., Sept. 10.-The primary
question Of this Radical Ring conspiracy in
South Cnrolini was tried yesterd IN the cleo
tious held for DELEGATES 20 the Conservative
Convention Of Charleston for the approaching
election II Mayor. The Conservative candidate,
without any open opposition, was Gen. John A.
WAGNER. lie Is German, and was elected IN
1871 ~ large majority over Gilbert lilsbury,
the Radical incumbent. lie Wa then supported
10y all the white people aud large class ~
the negroes, who wished to i've with and
live Ike the whites During his administra-
ton he was fair to the colorcd peoue,
ana concliatcd them to such an extent that II
became alarming to the Radical party in the
state Accordingly, AZ the next session Of the
Legislature, they changed the Election law as
to Charleston. The act Of 1sCs was general,
governing all elections in every municipality In
the State. II required strict registration Of
voters. IN the session Of ls12-3, the Leaisla-
ture, perceiving that Charleston could not be
retained for the Radical party under the Regis
tration law, passed a new act which pretended
to repeal registration for the city. by means of
that law all the country preserves OF sher
irs Mackey and Bowen upon the sea
islsnds surrounding Charleston could be
ransacked. and their voters brought In
10 dUttL tUe lntTtsls Oh lnt tlANs iHt WV
ernor had the appointing power Of Commits
sioners Of Election, who had right TO decide
all questions without appeal Accordingly at
the ensuing election In 1si3. Mayor WAGNER
who was a candidate for reelection, was ruled
out. and his Radical opponent, Mr.. Cunningham,
was put In his place. A greater farce never was
PLAYED than that election. MIR. Cunningham re-
ceiyed a very small legal vote In comparison
with the united ballots Of whites and blacks
| which Gcu WAGNER polled. Hut steamboats,,
vessel. and canoes were engaged all day IN land
! ing voters from James Island, Edisto Island, aud
| the other portions Of the county. More votes
were polied than Charleston will have for many
years to come. and the Cunningham Commis-
siuncrs di ! the rest Of the work by counting In
everybody they pleased.
This outrage upon civil liberty was 30 aHrant
that the legislature at its last session repealed
so much Of the lst act as permitted the outside
! voters coming into the city, but said nothing on
the subject of registration. Many good lawyers
are Of the opinion that the act II 1873 Icing a
special act, did not repeal the general provisions
II the act of lsts, requiring general registration,
Notwithstanding ITS general repeating clause,
because 10 did not specially conflict or repeal
rclistfaion. Among others, Gov. Chamberlain
was one" ~ that opinion. ard $50 was and is the
Oh llusucuot, Gen. Wilmot q Dcssausen. The
Broad street clique ruled differently, and ac-
quic-ced and sti do acquiesce IN the point.
But we met them Yesterday again. Mayor
Cunningham and his leader Mackey, the author
Of the law 81 1873, had obtained control OF the
only jlurnalin the city, and by its colorings Of
the ward meetings had made sentiment fof
him. The Germans were MT abasaed, and had
est bNshcl a paper also. The, are among ouI
best people In coming to Charleston they
usually establish themselves, by virtue OF an
socltion am ons them, In businessas grocors up
ON the corners OF squares. They purchase theiI
stocks weekly from their more fortunate predc
5cssors, who have become wholesale merchants
ana they deal almost entirely with III,
freedmen. The consequence Is that from
week to week they keep control Of large par
Of this population by supplying them with tn,
uecessaries # life. out ~ a voting population
according TO the last census. Of l2,UOO, the Ger
mans have vote of LOO. with such follow
ing they are almost invincible In q city election
The Broad street clique throw what they con
sldcred the deadly poison Of Bowen upon the
effort Of Gen Wagcner's friends. endeavored &
prejudice the people against the Wagenci
ticket. and threw their whole influence In be
half OF Cunningham. This, as the action OF op
pressed South Carolina Conservative citizens
NAV seem strange; but nevertheless. In the in
comprchensible study OF South Carolina pol
tiles, II Is So. They supported the Radica
usurpltion Of two years ago, against which
they so solemnly protested to the world. against
their old candidate. for whom they then voted
But it was all in VAN for them.
The primaries were a curious spectacle. They
were held In the open air between the hours OF
II NJ. and Z. NJ, in order that there might b,
none 81 the rowdyism incident to a me ting 10
"a small han. and that the two parties might bt
wei defined by combining them 20 only Nv,
tickets TIC Cunningham party had white cob
Orpd halll O.. Strange TO say. though they ~ II