Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-12

Editor Morning NetrS: Your comments
on the late county election were well
Hmed and to the point. 1t is time, full
time, to speak out, and as a citizen who
hates corruption in every form and shape
phase and expression, must speak out
in defense Of law and good morals.
The law Of Georgia is plain and pointed
as regards buying or selling votes, and
tine times now demand that that law shall
be enforced. The law was not enacted as
a scaTecrOW, but as demanded by princi.
pie and sound policy. When virtue or
morality, social or political, is cold, in
different and non-aggressive, vice and
corruption puts on q bold face, and laughs
at legal enactments. Shall such things
continue? God forbid.
Chatham county is not the only county
cursed with ignorant negroes who sell
their votes, and who look upon elections
as a peculiar blessing to them. whereby
they may make a few dollars. Negro
suffrage is acurse viewed from any stand
point, and when made a source of cor
rlptiOn it Is a most damnable curse.
lie was the result of vapid Federal
constitution and sectional hate. 1t has
been turned to curse the OriginatOrs, so
far as controlling il. But il is a curse to
US as a people. who know and feel that
when bought it is the source of the great
est corruption, and he who seeks negro
votes does not represent the voice of an in
telligent people.
To the point and to be plain. writer
from Madison, Ga, to the Atlanta Journal
has this to say about the late county cleo
tiOn in Morgan county:
MADIsON, GA, Jan. The election for
county officers here to-day was the most dis
graceful affair of the kind that was ever wit
messed in Morgan county. Whisky and ne
grOes were the ruling factors. 1t Is too early
10 announce the result. but whoever is elected
is indebted chiefly TO the above factors for sue
cess.
At . o'clock the city came near being the
scene OF a bloody riot. Negroes, maddened
with whisky furnished by candidates or their
friends, attempted to rescue one of their color
who was arrested for violation OF an Ordi-
nance. and but for the cool, timely address
made to them by Rev. Bradley. cOlOred Meth
Odist preacher, many lives would have been
lost and the town sacked.
The very devil was in many negroes, and
am sorry to say one white man was trying to
incite them
A strong police force in our city is our
security, but in the towns there is need of
few. What is due ourselves ?-thOse who
have the good Of society at heart and the
purity Of the ballot box as a true express
sion of the voice Of the people.
Organized society is dependent on the
moral courage of the majority of the
members; and where there is a regard
for public virtue vice is held in check.
When moral courage declines below the
dominating point society ceases to be and
anarchy ensues. The great menace Ia
society in this age is the Sinking of
bOunden duty by the individual and pub
lie officers. Instead Of enforcing good
laws we see them openly, shamelessly
and insultingly disObeyed and disre-
regarded, upon the plea that all do it.
We elect magistrates and peace officers
and then wash our hands of all response
bility for the violation of law happening
under our very eyes.
At the late election there were negroes
openly saying, "YOu cannot get my vote
for less than 81. and there is no use talk
ing" They got their price and voted for
the party who bought them. Those ne
grOes should have been arrested and the
men who bought them. and they should
have been tried and fined or imprisoned
according to law. Our grand jury should
take this matter in hand, and go about il
seriously, and in such manner that il
will never be said that men openly bought
votes.
What man of any self-respect desires to
run for any Office if the negro vote, cor
rupt as it is, is to be bought and used
against him? Let the good men, the true
men. the brave men speak out in future
and mark those men who think that money
must decide an election. X. Nj. y.