The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-08

OpeEdLGouo 1uoA0 "
checks and balances sort of regu
lating power-which would protec
to some extent the humblest citize'
and the largest taxpayer.
Because It would, at least in part
have given the whites that repre- e'en
tation which their intelligence an'
property demanded. :.
Because tn. colored people, il
;ustice. ought to have accorded tina
much to the taxpayers.
Because I saw that the time wa
8 near when the colored men coult
have and retain their just share o
representation only through sucf
system. ,oooo
harmony aud good will between tint
races and secure to each certain
ratio Of influence and voice in State
Because the taxpayers of the
State. in two conventions, had
asked for it, and it was acceptable
even to the most extreme Demo
Gratis. "ss a half loaf was better
than no bread" Governor Scott
recommended it. Governor Cnam, !;
herIain. while Attorney General and
Carsrnor favored it.
:. As Il was new system, my judg-
ment led me to try it in the govern
msnt of towns and villages tirst.
Tsnce 1 I introduced ga Bill to
amend the charter of the town of
Anderson" House Journal s:;, ses,
sion 1928, page 1881 The Bill
was was acted upon favorably by both
houses and approved by Governor
Noses Moses, March IA, 1874. Among
other things, this Act provided that
in the election of Councilmen the
voters u n should be allowed, if, they
chose. to vote under the cumulative
system. At the first and second elec'
tIons under this Act the Democrats
of I Anderson, so far as I know, did
not object, but seemed rather pleased
with the plan. feel confident that
GOOD resulted from its adoption:
Alter nv election to the Senate l /
endeavored to enlarge this system ea OF :
voting. and for that purpose offered
> Bill i, extend it to other towns
and villages in the State: Governor
Chamberlain, in his annual message
1875-76, spoke of this system and
Bill as follows:
- ..,T commend TO the consideration OF the
Ganerai Assembly the question OF enactlnsa
iaw Snnlyinv the system Of voting known as
scmmniatiye voting or minority represents
Y tion' 10 the elections OF incorporates casaes s
and towns in the State. do 5otieel psepItlSu sto,
he tried on q small scale at present. AS a mat.
tsr NJ theory the system promises tne oest
resuits. but I think our policy respecting Il
: shonId be tentative at first. II its praotlcal
results are satsaStSSTiy wsan sustain
;ss anniication to other elections. A Bill lntro-
dncad hv Senator Cochran, of Anderson IS now
I before the Senate, which embraces TINS Isa
ture among its provisions, and l eommena II
to the favorable action OF the 0ens'a' A'''DA
i also moved to extend it to
the election Of County Commission
ers, but failed to succeed in both
efforts. If, the members Of the
House of Representatives, County
COMMISSIONERS, city and town officers
had been elected in this mode, the
State would have been spared much
that occurred in the canvasses OF,
1876 and 1878, and the whole
people might have been benefited
by avoiding so sudden 8 change.
In this connection, permit me to
refer to other Bills introduced by
me looking to minority represents.
tion. AS is well known, the Act
of 1872 dividing the State into five
Congressional Districts was gerry.
wandered, not in the interests OF
the people, but for partisan pur-
poses, without sny regard to popu-
lation, and in plain violation Of the
law of Congress requiring Counties
to be composed of contiguous ter
ritory. To remedy this defect,
and to give the minority a voice
in Congress, [see Senate Journal,
session of 1S75-76, page SOL l
presented ga Bill to divide the
State into FIVE Congressional Dis
tricts," which failed by reason
of the Committee not reporting
upon it. I introduced the same
Bill during the session, [see Senate
Journal, page $685. which was re.
ported upon faverably, and passed
the Senate after much opposition.
When it reached the House, it was
SO amended as to defeat the object
for which it was intended, through
the efforts Of an aspiring carpet.
bagger.
Tne House amendments secured a
.colored majority in every Congress
sional District, thereby establishing
the color line to be the policy
through which partisans, who had
no interest in the State except
stealage, expected to obtain posi-
ton. The Senate, by close vote
concur.ed in these amendments
At the time this original Bill was
being considered / am convinced
that the Democrats looked upon il