The New York herald., 1878-11-25
POLICY OF THE RADICAL DEMOCRACY
How Colored Men We're Prevented
from Voting.
PROTEST OF A. HAMPTON DEMOCRAT.

applying to the black country which made it impos-
sible for the full negro cast they rejected
proered alliance of the colored voters they repu-
dated the Hampton policy of conciliation and JUS
tice; they denounced all democrats who hesitated
act with them and it remains only to say that when
the election came they stuffed the ballot boxes
with fraudulent tickets and counted in their own men
in defiance Of law and justice.
The following is Mr. Campbells letter. He is
prominent lawyer Of Charleston. Of the highest
character and social standing. and though elected he
counted out because he chose stand up for JUS
tice and right
To THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS OF CHARLESTON COUNTY -
Ten days ago addressed you to announce myself .
made on the noor Of the Senate
year ago was put in nomination by my friends,
in the old fashioned way TO fill unexpired term in
the State Senate.
acquiesced and accepted the nomination
sional engagement ut Washington. During
my absence the Democratic County Conven-
ton met and unanimously ratified the nomination.
This was done without one word or sign from me to
induce it.
No pledge was required Of me to abide by its &C.
ton. 1t well understood and known that
would give and would act independently of the
Convention and committee in the matter of receiving
votes from any quarter that might offer to support
after had been put in nomination.
A to my opinions upon public affairs generally
and y M as 70 the policy & o. the party with re-
and for tina: reason suppose was not asked TO
make any pledges. They were open to be expressed
high or low. that should ask There was more
pronounced independent candidate than was when
the Convention adopted It's members knew it per-
fecty we'll There could not be representative
thoroughly independent of the open dictation
or the true inwardness Of tho close corpora
tion which at this day governs the democracy with
political tyranny unsurpassed and never before at
tempted in this State. was elected without opposi
tion. During the last session of the Legislature
bill came from the House reducing the number OF
voting precincts in this county. 1t came without
any notice to me sfrom it's promoters During its
reading my attention was called to SO much of it
HOW voTING WAS PREVENTED.
The number of precincts reduced about one
third in the city and about twothrs in the country
compelling the voter in some instances 10 make
twenty five and thirty miles, and in the greater num-
Der of from ve ten and fifteen miles. Most of
the voters are laboring men, poor and without
In ST. Andrews parish. consisting of james Island
and the main territory. the poll on the main was
abolished and that the island only retained with
navigable stream to cross, and bridge nor regu-
larly kept ferry Icalled the attention Of the Senate
to these omissions, and moved their restoration.
It was DONE and the amendments made without
objection or dissenting voice.
Upon further investigation found that the time
for keeping the polls, compared with the number of
voters made it next to impossible to receive all the
votes and quite easy for partisan managers to defeat
Thus the time allowed is TAO minutes On Johns
Island the number of voters In not less than one
thousand. Ihofe IL now out one precinct. two haV-
ing been abolished. The time therefor allowed to
each voter the required oath, statement Of name
residence, registration d for such questions any
or all OF the managers may please to ask. is less
than forsyv sucolias less than three-quartors OF
mi uuta.
IL any further explanation necessary? For the
honor OF Charleston hope not. Subsequently the
lill came bask lrom the House with the amendments
disagreed to.
representative of the Charleston democracy, ap-
pointed by the chairman OF your executive COM
mitte..
He announced that your chairman had instructed
him ~ say that your committee wished the bill to
pass without the amendments, and had asked him to
then denounced the measure a harcfaced viola
ton of the pledges made, and repeated again and
whole country.
l was not measured in the terms I used: they need
not be repeated Each one Of you according to his
value of tair play justice and good faith will fancy
what said. What do you say to such legislation
the wish for it? now say it is disgraccful to the
state and blot on its good name.
The Senate went with General Gary and the COM
mittee. Then II was that pledged myself to make
ssk whether You approve and stand such legisla-
tion or reject it. 1t is simply this aud nothing
else Does the democracy of Charleston TO dis
regard and break its pghtcd faith made before the
whole country? Tr
Your Convention gave it's Judgment and made the
time for trial when il rejected Its judgment il
now on appeal before you.
1t is not contest between two candidates. II it
there would bc contest. for would not be In
acter-I represent side. the committee and their
nominee the other side. You arc to give judgment.
no personal wishes in it, NV wishes for what
believe the policy Of tho democratic party of Chlres
ton and OF the State. have none other In this
matter.
My conflict is with the committee, not with tho
party 1t is within the party and before it.no with
the personnel OF the committee bt with its policy.
That there is deep-scnted and widespread di~ssts-
faction with the administration of party cannot
be successfully denied. The fact is pstent and well
moi kp nd nor IN
understand.
THE DEMocnATrc POLICIES
There are already two distinct and opposing poiti-
cal ideas pervatling the democracy throughout the
state
Upon idea rests the policy which those who
teach IL call "the aggressive policy. typcd by
forcible ntrusons into republican meetings claiming
to divide time and by the dsgracoful precincts law
have described II had its initial and historical Illus
trstion in tho at Hainburg-the Glencoe of
the nineteenth century-thc Drcas nut DoIor of South
Carolina may suit the taste of those who may con-
template It. The glory OF its paternity disputed
and do not venture to decide Its Jealous organ
Georgia newspaper which lately undertook TO sup
The result Of that adventure diminished the OF
its ambition. II poiscs its wings TO humber
tight. am its prospective victim AT all hazards.
The other idea was prom ugstcd by Governor
Hampton throughout the campaign of 1876. and
then. In his uttsranccs Charleston in February at
Blackville during the summer, and but just ut
Beaufort. The policy which rests upon that idea
may most properly be called Hampton's policy. Tho
real. but thus far concealed conflict is to be Deween
these two ideas.
The democratic organization of Charleston county
fsvors and endcavors to enforce the "nggrcssiyc'
policy. does enforce 1t upon It's candidates. The
substantial conservative material OF the Charleston
democracy adheres to the Hampton policy.
Another clomcnt not loss patriotic, but moro i'm
pusive, active, impatient and RESTLESS sdhcs TO tho
other policy. 1t is the power which to-day governs
Charleston.
am for and stand to Hamptons policy. am un-
compromising in my opposition to- the other policy.
That's my position 1t Is irreconcable ~ the prsc-
tice and power of the "aggressive policy" That
policy is founded in bad faith and hopeless OF good
in this county.
There In in Charleston county o numerical radical
majority of not less than from five thousand to six
thousand votes. No matter how much may dis
like To admit II. we cannot change the fact for we
have TO deal with Il II is This great majority
tains but limited number of persons who are by
education or ability At for qualified 70 bo represent
tativc men,
The consequence Of such state Of things Ia that
their votes have more than been offered and
pressed upon nominees of the Democratic conven.
tion.
Tho power that rules ue will not permit this. They