The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-03
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.

It will be remembered that last winter
the most popular measure of reform, in
regard to the conduct of elections, was
the registration of voters prescribed by
the Constitution of this State, and a large
number of bills were introduced into the
the. General Assembly for that purpose.
Not one of the bills had the ghost of q
chance among the scheming politicians
who control the Legislature, and this
measure of precaution to secure a fair
and honest expression ofpublic opinion
at the ballot-box has faded away from
the mind of the average legislator, who
is more intent upon the success of the
Radical party than upon. guaranteeing
fairness, freedom and honesty in the man
agen,ent of elections. The Greenville
Neo, makes suggestion, however, which
deserves serious consideration at this time.
It points to an investigation by Congress,
80 far as the choice of Federal officers is
concerned, into the legality fan election
which is conducted in direct contraven-
ton to the mandates of the State Consti-
tuition. The Radicals overreached them
selves in carving out the State into Con-
gressional Districts, whereby a law of
Congress was violated and disregarded,
and the present General Assembly has
made miserable effort to repair this IA
tai mistake. In case the plain provision
of theState Constitution upon registra-
ton is again disregarded, it would be ad-
visable to urge this point upon the atten-
tion of Congress, and in truth we believe
that the argument will hold good before
the State Supreme Court as regards the
entire election in South Carolina, without
registration laws in force. If an election
for members of Congress is declared null
and void, for want of compliance with the
State Constitution as to the legal qualif-
cations of electors, it would appear most
reasonable that any election under such
circumstances would be set aside for the
same reason. Without enlarging upon
this feature, however, we append the re-
marks of the Greenville Me,os:
The Constitution of South Carolina
requires that there should be a reglstra-
ton of voters. The South Carolina Leg
islature, in a revolutionary and tyranni-
calmsnner, has refused to obey this pre-
cept for corrupt party purposes, so as to
enable colored voters to repeat. Now is
sn unregistered voter, under this supreme
law Of the State, legal voter; and If
not, is not Congress bound to- regard this
requirement. of the supreme law of the
State, and to refupe all elections of Fed
eral representatives, as illegal, which are
had in violation of this law? Let us
see,
The State Constitution provides, that
all male citizens, q years age, shall be
entitled to exercise the suffrage. Sup
pose the Legislature should, by law, re-
quire the managers of election to receive
only the votes of persons paying $1OO
taxes per annum, and this constituency,
so Illegally raised, should elect members
of Congress would it not be competent
for Congress to refuse such persons, 80
elected, admission7 And why? Because
the constituency was illegal And way
illegal Because not in conformity with
the express and plain requirements of
the Constitution of the State.
A State Legislature can not make a
constituency. The organic law alone
can make it, and alone can qualify it.
When it makes, and when it qualities, it
is binding in all questions touching
legal constituency. Now the Constitu-
ton of the United States refers the elec-
ton ef Congressional representatives to
the State constituency, and enjoins upon
the United States and the several States
full recognition of the constitution and
laws of each State. A failure to conform
to the Constitution of South Carolina,
then in this regard, is a failure to conform
to the Constitution of the United States.
For the Constitution of the United States
puts the constituency where the Constitu-
ton of the State pnts it, and so leaves it
beyond the reach of the State Legisla-
ture or Congress; they both must obey
and enforce the supreme law ruling the
case.