The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-08-30
Suffrage In South Carolina.


The facts in the contested election
case of Lee against Richardson, as
gathered for the House Gpnmittee On
Elections, afford fine illustration q
the South Carolina plan of suppressing
the suffrage as it existed in 1880. The
capacity of Southern Damocfats and of
those who countenance their fraudulent
practices for denying facts Is something
prodigious, but there are at least three
things in connection with South Caro-
lima politics which even they cannot
deny. A considerable ma sority of the
citizens of that State are cotfed; these
colored citizens. having the proper quail
ifications as to age. sex and residence,
are entitled to Vote, ard nearly all of
them as voters are Republicans, while.
there is also a considefableaumber of
white Republicans IN the State. With
free ballot and a Ta;r count The Rep9R
icans would carry the State by large
majority. In the First Congressional
District the Republicans have a majority
of at Least 6.00Q but in 1880 the Slate
Board of CanSassers returned John II
Richardson, Ienftcrat, as, electB ,by
S,46S over ySanuei Lee. RepuBficp.
The subcommittee Of the House which
Investigated the sfcts WIS oblged.to'
leave out of consideration several Re-
publican precincts because the election
records were destroyed and evidence
was difficult to Gbtafn, and yet. It. finds,
in spiretof that omission, that ZEE -hath
majority of 284 of the votes actuaAy
cast.
The Democrats first succeeded in sup
suppressing thesRepublicah majority in
South Carolina by Violence apd IN
timidation of the most rutfiahly and
barbarous kind. There was time
when even this was denied, but no fact
in recent history is more fully estaDt
hsheI. and it would be hard to find any
one now with the ei1rontery to repeat
the denial. The cut-throat method of
suppressing voters was so hfdeous and
uncivilized that some Inilder substitute
had to be found, and fraud took the
place of violence. This reached its
fullest development in 1880. and Che
record of the First Congressional Dis
trict illustrates its character and extent.
1t shows an utter Lack of scruple< or Of
any sense of political ,ThecastAs
and counting of ballots wasseIsed Into,
farce. Taefs were Somss< yestiSHS
the old method, hand in D fs~ pres;9Sts
Repabricahs we're pf9yenteds frdrs zNof-
ing. but fhes nIan srefa6ce <kt on
that When nese tdTfots Sts $Susts m
| the boN at tfe. doSA Aof TIE bffls skah ehe
| numberuf naQ@ pa the ess,efr tfasrs
| the eyebsS ssakld Be w{eadsSFG Tnns
tnrnshed tue hass.Of tlrsf' SkeF SA FftS
for reersnatB fesut. In ahssy lte-
cincts wheresS1le Republicans Yere AA
ma orifY the Boxes we're 'stHffsif ugttk
Democratic tissue ballots. Some of these
were concealed in other afdIarger baa-
lots, and some were introduced in a mass,
before the voting began. In one case,
where all the Republicans refused to
vote, an excess of ballots produced by
this fraud was found. The excess be-
ing caused n this way, Republican bali
| lots, which could be easily distin-
| euished by their size and texture. were
Withdrawn and DESTROYED. There were
so many repetitions of this trick that 10
may be regarded as the prevailing style
of South Carolina fraud. Where it was
not used or was not thought to have
been carried far enough, the returns of
precincts were thrown out entirely by
/ the State BOARD of CanvasseF on a
variety of trivial pretexts- The Elec-
ton Managers being all ,xpr nearly all,
Democrats. it was easy f6 furnish these
pretexts to any extent that might be re-
| quired.
1t seems to be improbable to descent
on the infamy OF these practices. 1t is
useless to talk to South Carolina Bogrs
bons about the sacredness of the right
| of suffrage and the dangers of turning
popular elections into exhibitions of un-
scrupulous trfckery. Their consciences
are imperyions to every consideration
of decency and honor. They adopt
] these monstroGs devices deliberately,
and avow their purpose of maintaining
| their political control by %hatever
! method they may find necessary Even
Northern Democrats of sufficiept re.
spectahility,, 70 get into Congress
virtually defend their ACTION, and
sponsib1ity. But Congressional cleo
tons are not State matter only.
! The people of the whole coun-
try have a concern in. them in every dis
trict of every State, The party whose
voters are IN a majority in the greater
number of Congressional districts
throughout the country is entitled to
control in the House of Representatives,,
and it Is entitled to a Representative
from every district having such ma
| ority It is an injustice to the people
of every State in which fair elections are.
held to have any part of their represen-
/ tation IN Congress Offset by means of
fraud In another State, however remote
and however little its strictly local affairs
may interest them.
1t is not only the right, but it is. the
duty, of the House of Representatives to
examine every case of fraud in Congress
sional elections, and to right the wrong
that has been perpetrated The dispo-
| siticn to do this has had the effect of
ho C@,,fl, .~f
| 1880, and the politicians of that State
have been casting about for new one.
They have adopted new Registraton
and Election laws. the purpose of Which
! is hardly concealed. Thatuburpose Esto.
compel every man who caS1ot Td5d the
Labels on balIItboxes u lose his votes
| In other words; 1t is intended to dsfsaeA
| chise l;rge p;Trt of the colored vo4fS
uit ie Is e. idenp from the practices of
| the past ttsitif this does not Xreyeat
the majority from geEhng-fffeI notes,
into boxes &ffere' they are untitled, to
be counted, even under the preSehf.
( iniquifous krNv, the resourcBs OF ,fra.at
and violence which have become soFFs
Iniliap Will be stiu held in reserve The,
| minority is de+eVnined to rule, and il
one method of nlaint.inhfg their ask
| tendency does not sHcce6, another
will be resoHed to. Nov, what Is going
| to be done about Il? So far as National
| elections are concerned it is plain that
something can and ought to Be done.
The right of the House of Representa-
tives to Judge of the election of iS own
| members is not enough. The exercise
| of that right for the rectificatien of
!! wrong produced by fraud dePeRds upon
the majority in the House, and the
wrong wOuld be inst as GREAT if the
| rightfnl claimant for seat belonged
with the minority. Besides, the people
are entitled to the privilege of voting
and having their votes fairly counted
in the first instance. 1t is right which
the whole power OF the Government
should be exerted TO Protect. A vigor-
or,c o,conutior, of the National Elenfion