The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-04-06
REDIsTRICTISG THE STATE.
Ia,er,te". with tome Leading Democrats.
,ar.e.te21cdc.ce Na,s..,--I 49,.

Of an extra session Of the LEGISLATURE 20
redis,ric. the Stale urder the new appor-
,ionmen: ac, Of Co,,r-. which gives
South Carolina Two add .5nai Congress
men our Representatives q. Washing
ION favor ,hi. policy, and the leading
public men in the Stale deem the situa.
zion 80 extraordinary e. 10 fully war
rant the Governor in calling the General
Assembly together again. The subject
was thoroughly discussed a; the meeting
o: The state Democratic Executive Com
uiit.ee last night, and the majority OF
that body. after TIE fullest and most
earnest consideration Of tl.e suhiect in
al IL bearins,, are Of opinion TIA. the
Governor should issue hi. PROCLAMATION
c0nvening the General 4 ,.erlbIy in
extra session. a, the meeting Of the
committee this morning resolution Was
adopted 10 the effect that IN extra session
Of the Legislature should Le held for the
purpose indicated. Tie committee did
no. deem j. hes, 10 make any formal re-
commeadatioa 10 the Governor 10 regard
10 The mater, bu. state that in their
judgmcu. il Is bes. lJr the welfare II the
Sta.e and the De>, interests oi tie party
that an extra session should be called At
as late q period a. possible during the
approaching summer as may b. deemed
cous;.ten. with the public GOOD
IL c.'ler tina, the iecp!e of he State
might oe Informed If so,ne Of the rca
sons why an extra session % the I.egi--
lature should be held. interviewed ser
era members of the Democratic Execu-
,lye Committee this morning upon the
subject
NJ l. t. Murray ,i .inier-,n aid ::
e" The question Of reconyening the Gene
raj Assembly for the purpose of redis-
,ricting the state ha- had my con.idera-
,ion only for a few days, bur have
arrived a. the conclusion tina, the best
interests Of the State will be sub.eryed
by such a course. The Congressional
Districts as now organized were made
By the Republicans, and for the past six
years we have been giving them battle
upon their own lines Of defence. We
have been able TO defea. them so far, but
it has required supreme effort TO DO 50,
and as now organized the temptation TO
the Republicans 10 repeatedly continue
the contest, because TIE negroes have n
nominal majority in n. least .hree out Of
our five districts is too great to be fore
gone by them. TO carry these districts
we have TO gain from one 10 four thou
sand negro votes in each of them. Now
the addition OF TWO Congressman from
the State at large makes i've out OF sever
Of our CoDgressmen doubtful, to say the
least Of it. Therefore the fighting chance
10 gain live Congressman from South
Carolina will, in my opinion, induce a
mos. vigorous fight from the Kepubli-
cans, and The National Republican party
Will furnish them an abundance Of money
and speakers, besides the tcrrors of Uni
ted States Court prosecutions in the
hands of partisan Federal officials to
enable them to succeed. When they put
their money here to affect the congress
ional races in five districts, they will.
with the Independents, run a most vigor-
| Gus State canvass. This would give us a
heated and expensive campaign, which
| would be injurious 10 the whole State.
On the other hard, by re,lis:ricting the
State so as to give the Republicans one,
or even two members, re would take the
temptation to engage in the election in
| the other FIVE or six districts away from
| the Republicans, and there would be nc
National committee funds at the com
mand of party TO run State ticket.
| We would also, by giving the assurance
of five or six Democratic Congressman,
| be able TO draw q reasonable amount OF
assistance in our behalf from the
National Democratic party. l do not
think, moreover, that the best interest OF
the State will be served by electing Con
gressmen from the State at large Smaller
constituencies can select men to repre-
sent all interests in the State better than
can be done by the whole State.
1T IS to be regretted that all extra ses-
| sion Of the General Assembly will be
ecessary to accollt 'sh this desirable
end, but il appears to me to be of suf-
| fcient importance to warrant the ex-
| pense and trouble incident to redistric
ting the State
Col. J. c. Haskell, of Richland Coun.
ty, said: II think we are bound 10 re.
district the State, because as it now
stands the Republican party will throw
money and influence into the State to
contest five Congressional! districts.
| When they do that they are bound to
foster and support any Greenback or In
dependent movement for the purpose of
breaking the autonomy OF the Demo
cratic party. The Importance, there
fore, OF redistricting the State is that
such course would secure the Demo
Gratis six Congressman. Republicans
will not make fight under these cir
cumstances. The redisiricting of the
State would work rs a relief to the
State elections by taking away from the
Republicans the temptation TO make a
| fight for Congressman. Ii the Repub
| licans come in and conclude TO make a
| fight for Congressman, they will make O
| fight for everything and press US nj every
point. agree in full wish the views
expressed by iir. Murray.
Mr.. j. C. Sheppard, of Edgefeld
said: II had not contemplated the
probability of q meeting of the Legisla.
ture for the purpose of redistrctiDg the
State, on account of the provision Of the
reapportionment Act authorizing the
election from the State ut large OF the
number of Congressman in excess Of the
number of Congressional districte, aud
on account Of q similar provision in the
eleclion-regis,ration law authorizing the
Governor To order an election from the
State at large for the additional Congress.
men allowed TO this State.
The political developments in The
State do not enable me now to form an
opinion rs to whether or not it will he
wise to convene the Legislature; in q
short time the Governor will be able to
| determine the question, and l do not
doubt that his conclusion will be righ,
and wise. l am perfectly willing 10
leave the entire matter with him."
Mr.. George Johnstone, of Newberry,
said: 81 am heartily in fayor OF redis.
tricting the STATE. think it would be
grave mistake in every conceivable
point Of view not to do SO. This opin.
ion xroc aptar4a;pa1 hx- r,a Gur;pr fb a