The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-12-01

By Hugh Wilson and n. T. Wardlaw
Wednesday, Dec. I. 1880.
Our Legislators and q Political Consti
tuition.
We reprint from the Neus and Cotrfer SOM
st'tcn,ents Of opinion as uttered by OH
Representatives In the General Assembly
These remarks will be found interesting
while they furnish proof conclusive Of tn
correctness OF our position in opposition t
the calling Of the State Convention. Anon!
that great crowd Of wise men there seems Il
be u noticeable lack Of practical suggestions
Quite q number think 1t necessary TO call
convention, but these gentlemen. like nrarl!
all who have expressed that opinion. Civ
very vague ideas rs to the necessity OF such
convention. The idea OF restricting the fran
chise on an educational qualification Is to'
preposterous to be seriously entertained
Would these men deny the right Of suffrag
TO the Red Shirts md the Democratic coloret
$ men, by whose help we redeemed the State
Admit that their sense OF gratitude woult
~ ~ S~NS 80" - 80 SNSA 50
action based upon good policy and practica
common jus,ice7 We think not. Some O
the best white men in Abbcville could no
stand the test OF An educational qualification
Some OF these mtn are large tax payers. Shall
they be DISTINGUISHED that educated mel
may exercise the exclusive right to VOC
In 1876 nine-tenths Of the colored men wht
voted the Democratic ticket could not stane
the test OF the educational qualification
while the leading Radical negroes could pas'
muster on that score. VIII these learned
Legislators disfranchIse good Democratic
colored men. In order that the Radical negroe.
o. the State may do the voting7
Quite q number have talked OF q registration
law. On this point we think the conservative
sentiment Of the county Is in serious doubt
None, or at least very few, of US have seen the
practical workings OF such o law, and 1t ID
only guess work as to is results. For oui
part. we fear 10 make the change.
We think there Is good reason for having
the State aud Federal elections on dineren
days. 1t Is only necessary TO mention q hct
or two 10 convince any one on this point. In
South Carolina, every man who has an eye
single to the welfare OF the State, whether
white or black, must be in OF having The
State remain under Democratic rule, but
there Is 40 good reason why he white people.
as we'll rs the negroes, should not divide on
National politics. When two good men arc
nominated for President let every man act
freely In choosing his candidate. But with
the elections on the same lay, 1t II hard to
separate State and National politics, and the
parry lash will will be brought 10 bear against
any OF our citizens who may prefer 10 vote
the National Republican ticket. By having
separate elections, each citizen will vote Mt
the National election as he pleases. while as q
matter OF course good and Intelligent citizens
government At home.
In our opinion Nr. Murray, OF Anderson,
struck the key-no,e to our future security, a.
aparty, when he said: "The people OF Tho
Estate should pursue 4 liberal policy toward
".all classes OF c~itizens. and render tho gov
I" ernneot as acceptable TO all as possible, aud
eli this way remove any ipducemen: upon
"tle par tof honest ~citixens 70 US" :.
This is Just as true as Holy Writ and In
his connection we would commend lie
sensible and practical suggestion OF Mr.. ]. J.
Hemph!ll, OF Chester, that q commission
DO appointed 10 prepare the proposed
amendments to the constitution. Let our
Legislators strive to make the party worthy,
o: perpetuaiion. Let US by solid facts, and
not by 3aId assertion prove hat We are dis
posed to treat .he colored lace with fairness
and due consideration. Let ihcse gentlemen
who ale 50 DESTROYS q perpetuntinE "ssod
and honest government" and securing q
fsQa Ia AAt md fata A1s,n ~ go -
ccrrectscrae OF the evils whichbhe Democratic
E"veianheatisnow pespctra;ingsa The oololed
man. The Law which makes The stealing OF
m car o. corn from the field q peniteniia'y
offence, with consequent forfeiture OF Citizen
sIi2. in that eonvic.io lon for such an offence
dep-SpeS him OF the rlgat 10 testify IN court
eherE ITO vote. and the right to hold: ofite,
ibe6aes i1fictins the further pcnaiLy
tf servjtude At hard labor in fhs PEN
ssa.ary for not less Than one year. beass
especially upon the co;ored race, a. hat is
the class OF sins to which they are addicted.
Last Fall a woman in this county was in.
dicSed for stealing len ears or corn from. lie
Detd. The proof was clear, but az The woman
had lain IN Jail for n long time, waiting
raj, the Solicitor refused to ~perpet-ate an
0zs 1sge under tho soms Of Law, aud in tho
soie ca ious discharge 81 iis duIy, set her
sSl.beriy. Ordinarily such cases are pressed
* .he bitter end, and our judges loo often
IA aiet punishment with au unrelenting hand.
II these Legislators would perpetuaie
the Democratic pa, ~ by proper legislation,
Jet them institute a court OF inquiry and ind
mt Row many negroes are now confined In
tue penitentiary for long terms OF service, say
Gom three to ien years, for petty larceny.
Old Bob Farrow OF ,a;s county was sent there
for ten years for stealing q basket or co. n,
and but for the effort OF the man from whom
he stole 1t, he Would be there nov. -
II our people needed any warning against
too evils OF q constitutional convention We
f,:nk the gen .lemen OF .1e Geae,nl Aste.:'h,.y
h:ye given It. b suggestion to rere. tle
Jaw ipnictiag penalty for non-'aymentoi t,e
roil INK will, We think. meet the approval o.
no one when It 10 remembered thAt such an
act would rob the School Fund In this State
OF perhaps q hundred thousand dollars. Tie
polls In this county amount to about seven
thousand dollars, or about two-thirds OF the
whole Of the school fun6. %
Quite o number or the interviewed gentle
men speak OF fraud In The elections. Lot
them remedy 1t by deyising some means by
which the managers OF election shall be re-
quired TO make o fair count.
8 We would propose a. o compromise with
those who favor q registration law, that the
Legislature pass a law requiring every voter
70 vote within his own township. This
would prevent fraud by repeating.
->~>--
JEFF David's Case-Interesting Question
Of Practice.