The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-06-29

counties Dy townships as take ~ iOr
granted we will dol then registration be-
comes absolutely necessary in order TO
keep the residents Of one township land
of necessity OF one Congressional district)
from voting in another township and for
Congressional candidate for whom they
would have no right to vote. But have
said enough on this point to indicate my
opinion. AS TO the separate polling
place feature Of the law, and by that i
mean the law which separates the Con-
gressional and electors box from the
other boxes: TO have separate boxes for
the various candidates is only Il return 10
the old law as it stood prior to recon
structioD, but to separate the polling
places is an innovation on the old law
| very much fear it will seriously jeop-
ardize the election Of your CoDgressmcn
as well az the electoral ticket. fear
great many of our people after voting for
the local candidates will care little or
nothing about the election Of men with
whom they may have no personal ac-
quaintance, and in whom they feel no
personal interest, and will not trouble
themselves to go to separate polling
place in order to vote for them. do
not see that we gain any real advantage
by separating these polling places from
all the State or local boxes In my judg-
ment we will not get rid thereby of Fed
erai interference or supervision if we
did, and it were deemed necessary for the
interest Of the State that we should get
rid Of them, for one | have nothing to
say. trust / am too true and good
the interest of the State for any advan-
fnf hot iol,t tn tJ,o nol
Congressional ticket"
CONGRESSMAN EviNs
was interviewed as follows:
"Thc News and Courier would like to
know what you mink Of the adyisability
Of any changes in the election laws by
the Legislature at its approaching scs
sion"
81 am not fond" said he, "of being
put in the attitude of critic or an ad.
wiser, but the matter you inquire about is
Of such grave importance that am will
! ing to give you my views for whatever
they are worth. What special points of
the law do you inquire about?"
81 suppose there are two-thc first re.
ating to registration, and the second to
the double-precinct feature. What do
you think of them ?"
"Wcll, as to registration 1 have de.
| sired for years to see such law put in
force and given fair trial. Although
| the Republicans made provision for it in
the Constitution which they framed for
us, they declined as long as they were in
power to enforce it by proper legislation,
and was glad when saw that our Leg
islature Mt its last session had determined
to try what could be done by this Con-
stitutionni method to secure the ends of
good government. | regret to hear that
the law has encountered the prejudices
of considerable number Of our white
citizens who don't like the idea of being
compelled to carry pass or certificate
Of registration. suppose it would strike
n good many at frs, as cncompassing the
right to vote with too many difficulties,
but | hoped that when they considered
how serious were the difficulties which
hedgcd us about in any effort to secure
so priceless boon as an honest govern
ment for our State, these feelings and
prejudices would soon disappear. still
hope that there may be no occasion 10
repeal the law but if the failure from
any cause on the part of the intelligent
voters TO register puts in peril the control
of the State Government by those who
|
and intelligence 10 rule. the law should
be repealed, and re.enacted as soon rs
cur people can be educated up to the
point Of getting rid of those notions and
feelings which took such fast hold of
them when our political relations and
conditions were 50 very different from
those in which we find ourselves to day.
GAS to tho double precinct feature
have very decided convictions that it
ought to be stricken out of the law, and
have taken the liberty of suggesting such
n change to few members OF the Legis-
lature to whom had occasion to write
concerning other matters. If it is ad-
mitted-as think it must be-that little,
if anything, is gained in the way Of get.
ting rid Of Federal sup' rvision by having
two separate polling places with two sets
of managers to receive the votes for
State aud County and for Federal officers,
then the reasons for doing away with the
separate poll for United States officers
are so apparent that l will not do the
readers of your paper the injustice of
supposing that they cannot see them rs
readily us can. If the Constitution
could be 80 changed as to have the elec-
tion for State and Federal officers on diff
ferent days, the object aimed at by our
Legislature would be attained but l
think there are very strong grounds for
the belief which l entertain that the
large loss of Democratic votes at the box
set apart for Federal officers, by reason
of its being separated from the polling
place for State and county officials, will
not be compensated for by any possible
advantage gained in the way Of exemp-
tion from the insolent interference Of the
host of United States officials who gather
about the polls, not in the interest of a
fair election, but to use the power their
official position gives them solely for the
benefit of the party they represent. But
have said enough to indicate what my
opinions are, and will say nothing
further, as feel sure our Legislators have
already considered these matters and will
act wisely in whatever they may do or
leave undone."
CONGRESsMAN TILLMAN
said that he was opposed to registration
on principle. Georgia had no registra-
tion law and half of her districts had q
negro majority, yet no Georgia Repre-.
sentatives' seat was ever contested by the
Republicans. South Carolina could do
as we'll without registration. Still, as
the law was already in force, he was will.
ing 10 give it trial; but to make it at
all effective the separate State and Fed.
eral boxes should be placed together
otherwise the Congressional elections
would be lost. N. G. G.
Killed by lightning.