The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-10-27
Proposed Constitutions Amendmental.

"as our people viii soon have an opportuni-
ty at the approaching election, on tho 7ih of
next mouth, to vote on the proposed ame IA IN ents
to the Constitution of the State we give The fol-
owingsynopsis of the three JOINT Resolutions re-
spectiDg the same, that the voter may know the
nature of said amendments, and cast his ball OF
understandingly:
l. Joint Resolution to amend Section 8, Article
g. OF the Constitution, respecting the Disquali6-
cation of Electors.
1t is proposed that Sec. 8 Art. 6 be amended
by inserting therein after the word "murder'
the following words Burglary, Larceny, PERU
ry, Forgery or other infamous crime, so that the
Section when amended shall read rs follows ::
The General Assembly shall never pass any law
that will deprive any of the citizens of this State
of the right of suffrage, except for treason. mur
der, burglary, larceny, purjury, forgery. or any
other Infamous crime, or dueling, whereof the
person shall have been duly tried and convicted
Those in favor of this amendment shall deposit
| n ballot with the following words printed or
written thereon: constitutional Amendment"
Yes. If opposed. No.
The foregoing Joint Resolution was adopted
at the regular Session, Feb. g, and approved Feb.
9. 1882.
. Joint Resolution proposingan amendment
to Sec Ii Art. 2 Of the Constitution relating TO-
the time of holding elections.
The provision of this Resolution is to amend
the Constitution, Sec Art. y, to read as fol-
lows "Thc General Election for Senator and
Representatives shall be held in every second
year, in such manner Mt such time, and at
| such place, as the Legislature may provide"
Those in favor of the amendment will vote Yes.
Those opposed, No, as in the other case
Adopted and approved at extra Session, in
July, 1882.
3. Joint Resolution proposing an alteration
and amendment TO Sec 3, Art. 2, of the Con-
siitut,on, relating to the forming of new Coun
ties.
II is proposed to alter and amend the present
law torbidding the formation of new Counties OF
less than six hundred and twenty 6vc square
miles, 50 that new County may be formed
containing an area of only four hundred square
miles, and population Of the one. hundred and.
fourth part of the whole number of in
habitants Of the State. Those favoring the
formation o. new Counties will vote Ies. Tho; sc
opposed, No.
Each of these Joint Resolutions provides that
II n majority Of the qualified voters of the
State ?ote in favor of aay amGnlment So pro-
posed, ami TgO Mirls Of Of each branch ofthe
General Assembly shall, after such election,
and before another, ratify the sail amendment
by yeas and nays, ii shall be and form u
part 0fthc Constitution.
The first two amendments met with our most
cordial approval, rs we think they should the
approval f all citizens who wish to main-
tain the purity Of the elective franchise and
prevent the interference Of the Federal author
tiles with the election of our State and County
officers. AS the Federal authorizes cllim n su-
pervisury power over elections for Congressman
and Presidential electors, and place paid officials
at the ballot boxes when elections for those oil-
GERS are held, We think it right and jus, to our
selves that our State and County elections should
not be held ut the same. Upon that amendment
vote "Ycs."
The amendment to exclude from the ballot box
thieves, nurdercrs. perjurcrs, traitors and duel
ists-atter trial and conviction Of those offences
would be most salu,ary in its effects, ira lopted
1t would do more 10 prevent the committing OF
those crimes than any term in the rcniicntinry
or Jail has ever accomplished, and il would re.
ducc the expenses of our Courts amazingly
Upon that also vote .'Ics'
But we arc opposed to the amendment lntcn
ded to reduce the area srthc present Counties
and to form new Counties al! over the State
We can see but very little advantage TO be
gained hy it, except in the way Of convenience o
TO perhaps dozen jurymen and an uncertain
numte of witnesses at each Court. There GER
lainly will be no ecouemy in it, for every new
County would involve an additional xpcnse for
jurymcn. constabes Sc for its courts. b sides
the salary of an Auditor School commissioner, a
Board ofCOuaty commissioners with its clerk and
other necessary expenses, another Senator, and
Representatives in the Legislature and added le
oil these there will be the building Court iIous,
and Jail and the purchase of Il site and the build
ing OF n Poor House, with The salary Of super
iutenden;, and all this for the convenience o.
perhaps OF 8 out Of u panel of SO jurymen al
each court, and to save few miles of travel
In a po itica point ofview we are more opposed
10 1t than upon any other. Take the democrats
vote Of Gouieysvilc and Drayiousyilc Town
ships from Union proposed 10y our nei hbors
OF G"fmey City, and it would leave Union with
cOloi cd majority. And Union would not be
the only County affected in the same way. The
following extract from spuch delivered 10y
Senator Hart, of York County, explains how the
new County amendment would affe: that Counly y
and weaken the democ ratio vote in the s: S:ate n,
County election
An entcrprising railroad town, after acquiring
considerable population and business asplres
to become county seat. The territory on either
side vi ii, for die lance Of say miles IS cut
oil from other counties and annexed to it. Thi
will be done without regard 10 the complexion
TO the new county TO be established, or without
regard TO its effect upon the new or old counties
iii the election Oi members Of the General Assem-
bly, or county officers.
In illustration OF the force ofthe argument,
apply it 10 n proposed division Of York County,
which use only for illustration. We will say
the eastern section proposed the formation OF a
new county from the portions Of YORK, Chester
and Lancaster, with Rock Till as The county seat
Taking the township from those three counties
adjacent TO Rock llil, you will have, in four
hundred square miles, population Of a. G53
whites and 7, 943 colored. This new county
will be subject. unqueslionably, to the control
of the colored voters.
The people beyond Broad River also want a