New-York tribune., 1878-12-05
SOUrH c4RoLISA Suffrage.


RErURNs-wHAr BECAME OF THE REPUBLICAN,
MAIoRrTIEs.
political miracles" says The Charleston News and
Courier, ''are as possible IN the South as in New
| England, and more probable being more neces-
saTy' But the official report Of the recent election
| does not show that the colOred people
| helped to perform any miracle by yot.
! ing for the Democratic ticket. The curion,
features of the reported vote cannot be explained in
| that way. There was no opposition to the STATE
ticket. aud Governor Hampton is credited with
majority Of 110, ,337 Of total of 119 763 vote,
| while Leutenant-GOvernOr Simpson has a majority
of 119,0si ont of total Of 110,1Oi votes Cover.
nor Hamptons vote is larger 10y 1881 votes and
Lcutenant-Goyemor Simpsons by 2,175 votes,
than the total Democratic vote FOR Congressman.
In the counties where the whito population is
largely in the majority the reported vote does not
contain any evidence Of fraud. In Chesterfield,
Greenville, Horny, OcOBee and Pckens the Demo-
cratic maiOrities about the same as in 1915, OF
n little smaller, the most marked change being an
increase of $50 in the majority in GreenyiIe
County, as compared with the vote for Congress-
man in 1876.
But in the counties where the Democrats were
largely in the minority, the reported vote is Pc
cuar and it gives support TO the assertion that
the colored people generally voted the Democratic
ticket This fact is Illustrated by some returns
from the Ist Congressional District
In 1870, the colored people formed more than two
thirds Of the population of Sumter County, their
number exceeding that of the whites by 1882. In
1876, the Republicans had majority Of 1,5i1 for
President, 1,477 for Governor and 1,f6O
for Congressman. THIS year, when the
Congressional candidates of 1876 vera
again in the field, the vote reported 10
D,.1,, NJ
Joseph H. Rainev (Rep.l 2,940-a Democratic gam
Of 1894, and a Republican loss Of go since 1876
This change in a county where the Republicans ex-
pected a majority Of about 1000 is explained by
the fact that at the pollng-places where the
vote was found to be greater than the registered
number Of voters, the Democratic votes and
"kiss-joke" ballots were returned TO the boxes
first, so that the Republican vote was drawn upon
for almost if not quite all Of the excess.
About two-tbrds of the population Of Williams
burg County Is colored and the Republican vote at
recent elections has ranged from 1900 TO 2400,
while the Democrats have polled from 1,50O 10
l 700 votes. In 1876 the Republicans had TO6 ma
iority for President, sos for Congressman and CSC
for Governor. This year the vote is reported as
follows: Richardson Dem.l, 3,037 Haiuey tIIepJ,
e19J-a Republican loss Of about 2iO vor es. and a
Democratic gain of 1880. This is the county in
States Supervisor Hanna and his father and others
were thrown into Jail, accused of PERJURY, for max
ing charges of balot-box stuiiing against the cleo.
tlon managers.
In 1876 Darlington Comfy ttwo-fhirds Of the
population of which is cOlorcdl gave a Republican
majority of 7S4 for President, 760 for Congress
man, and 755 for Governor. THIS year Demo-
cratic majority of 137 is reported the vote being
given as follows: Richardson lDem. 1910;
Rainey Repl 2,773-a Republican loss Of 74S, and
Democratic gain of ], 1JS since 1876.
In Marlboro County the vote is said 10 have been
2,5s3 for the Democrats, and ,232 for the Repub-
licans-a Republican loss of 3Sj votes aud a Demo-
cratic gam of 638. In this county more than one
half Of the population is cOlored In 1876 the vote
for President was: Republican, 1.G17; Democratic.
1042. For Governor the vote was: Republican.
1,GOs; Democratic, 1915. The Democratic ma
jority for Congressman in the same year was 332.
The coored population Of Georgetown is about
fire tnl-s as large as the white population and IN
1876 the Republican majorites were as follows:
736 for President 500 for Governor. md 1,J32 for
Congressman. his year a Democratic majority is
reported, the vote standing Richardson lDem.
1,4Gs Rainey CRep.), 1907 This IS an apparent
loss of 14s2 votes for the Republicans, and gain
Of 40 for the Democrats. The cOlOred people may
have staid away from the polls been denied ac-
tua suffrage, but they did not vote the Democratic
ticket.
In Marion County, where the two races are nearly
equal tine changes since 1876 are not 50 marked as
in the other counties. Tho Democratic majOrites
ranged from 63S for Congressman to G57 for
Governor IN 1876. This year the Democrats claim
1,4O2 majority, the vote being reported as follows:
Democratic $3.50; Republican. 2,23s-a Repubh-
can loss of 26i votes, and Democratic gain of 49i
votes since 1876.
Chesterfield County reports l ,545 Democratic anl
0s5 Republican votes, being a Democratic loss Of
SO votes since 1876 but no change in the Republi-
can vote. Horny reports 1,74S Democratic and
426 Republican yOtes--a Democratic loss OF 1876,
and Republican less of 16s votes. TIE ID, mo-
cratic majority in 1876 was 1929 this year 1t Is
1892.
The total vote Of the District shows an apparent
increase of 6 0l6 Democratic votes and a Republl'
can loss of OS4 votes since 1876 comparing With
the vote for Congressman in that year.