Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-09
STATE In A FERMENT
South Carolina Laws Nulliaed by Col
and SimO1tcn.
DisrENsAnN SYSTEM SMASHED
ReEistrnuon Enactments Declared
Unconstitutional -- White suprr.
macy VIII he Maintained r,
Says Governor Evans.

macy VIII he Maintained. Though.
Says Governor Evans.
COLI MBlA. $. c.. May s.--The state
is ~ icrmcnt tonight. The United
states Circuit Court has come with its
strong aim and dealt che government OF
The state Of South Carolina two terrific
Vows. Many nave looked lightly upon
ne issues ;hat have b. en- pending In the
'ourt during the past week. hat those
issues nave been as momontous as any
that ever arose IN the old Palmetto State.
and IT is not within the power Of a
prophet or the son Of prophet to fore
cast the consequential events which Will
follow IN the next six months. At one
ioil-strokc the observation-disclosures Of the
state have been Knocked into cooked
hat throwing open lac ballot-box TO
everybody 60 vote without "a registration
eeruncaie--S onlething that Is likely 10
cause a struggle in IN election OF dele
satcs TO the constitutional convention.
something that reyo.uuonizes tho voting
system Of the State. for Tie Governor
declares that he viii not call the Lee
gislature together to enact a new law;
and the dispcnsary system has been prac-
ticaily killed. the law being nullincd IN
So far as the vitaily-important int rstate-
commerce feature is concerned. II now
being allowed any one TO bring liquors
into the State from wheresoever he
pleases. and he will be protected In the
possession thereof. These are the Two
matters that confront the present State
administration. and they arr grave ones.
notwithstanding this, Governor Evans is
declaring tina, he is going ahead with the
seizure Of liquors, 10 get the liquor-case
into the United States Supreme Court.
The question ~ every hour now might be
said to be. what next?'
And OF far greater importance than
anything else Is the mandate OF the
court Ia the registration cases. though,
perhaps, the practical nulhhcation Of the
disptnsary-.aW g. az more general In
terest TO the people OF the State itself
and those outside the state.
REGISTRATION CASES.
Judge Con rendered the decision in the
registration case The courtroom was
NfttfA 20 tiltl FtNAAllE ibNlil tohis siNN
be found. Scores OF negroes were present,
as were no end Of liQuor-men. The ne
gross when Judge Gon ended. murmured
their approval ana order had to be re-
stored. After recounting the provisions
OF the law. and the acts bearing thereon.
together with the facts OF the case he
traced the negroes career from the uine
OF slavery. gave the history Of the pas
sage Of the fourteenth and fifteenth
a a sfO,t that these
rights could not be abridged, held that the
law I'm this respect was unconstitutional,
and said the provisions OF the registration
laws seemed 10 him almost incredible
yet he thought them correct.
The statement this complaint makes Is
appalling the outrage stupendous, me re-
suit close on the border-ldnd that ulNiutS
outrage from crime
The constitutional convention act Cured
no defects The state frankly admitted
that the object was 10 disfranchise AZ
many negroes az possible He held thh'
the laws were unconstitutional IN tot9'
that the court had jurisdiction. etc. ne
held that certificates Of registration couln
not be demanded; that no onlcial OF any
state was above the law.
He remarked that inclination mingled
with duty IN this matter
SEVERE on THE STATE
He was severe on the position or the
state I'm regarding the court as a Foreign
Jurisdiction This position vas as sfahse
and wonderful 10 him as the story ne
had Just heard IN This case.
lie passed an order as prayer LOT, IT,
straining anl euio.nins the SUPERVISE
OF registration. as an oticiai anu mn
,.iaualy fro. the performance OF any
Of the acts mentioned ana complalieU '''
The injunction IS perpetual
Governor Evans declares that ne VIII
not call an extra session Of the beglsia-
turc. lie says the fight VIII nave 10 come
on a free ballot. and regards the sIlua-
ton as a grave crisis. Io-nieht ne Sdlu'
..You can say that / am wrought Up WIN
indignation and that we viii take the
deere. read IL carefully. and put our
reflections to the people Of the state IN
due season. II Is the gravest question
that ever confronted Us, and the people
may rest assured that We will take no
action without mature federation Inc
time has come now 10 act, ana nj the
proper time ! will act I'm manner that
no true South Carolinian can fail 20 up
hold. But they may rest assured that
white supremacy In South Carolina Will
be maintained"
DISPENSARY CASE.
Judge Simonton rendered the decision
in the dispensary case. which created
profound sensation IL was IN the
case from Charleston. After reviewing
the case and holding that the court had
jurisdiction. he said:
THE dispcnsary law declares that the
use and consumption az alcoholic liquors
In themselves are injurious 10 the morals.
good health. and safety 81 the State. or
Of her people. on the contrary. the dis
pcnsary law makes the most ample pro-
vision for the purchase OF alcoholic Ii
Quors IN this State and elsewhere. for
their distribution IN convenient packages.
within the reach OF nearly every person
4 throughout all portions Of the State. for
!. use and consumption by the people Of
the state, and in every way il encourages
Fl such use AMI consumption. Even in To-
81 cdlities 90 which the majority Of the in
81 hab'hnts refuse % have "a dlspensary
n provision is made for the procurement
~ alcoholic liquor by those persons with
4 in me locality who desire to use IT,"
Alcoholic liquor is declared TO be con-
traband ami against the morals good
health and safety OF the State. only when
IL Is not imported by the dispenser. or
is' no, IN his hands, or In the hands OF
some one with his permission. Alcoholic
liquors imported into this State and de-
c.are1 coniraband. and injurious 10 the
good health. morals and safety OF the
STATE. and 20 subject 10 seizure. just as
soon Ne they are seized and pass into
me hands Of the dispenser lose their in
.-fio-s qualities are put into the chan
h'.e NJ distribution. and are sold TO the
''nle - the State for their use and con-
sumption.
DISCRIMINATION
10 De- not necessary TO 20 into a minute
ana detailed examination OF all the pro-
VISIONS II The dispensary law, nor 10 de-
itr0ine whether all OF these provisions
aIc or ara not In the exercise Of the po-
ice power. II II sufficient for the purpose
oi thii case 10 say that. in go far as the
n.spersary law fcrbids Il citizen to pur-
chase ma other States and import into
th.s state alcoholic liquors. for his own
use and consumption. the products OF
other states. II discrlminatcs against the :
PRODUCTS Of other States. Such discrimi- |
nation cannot be made under the guise of |
the police power.
And further In 30 far as this act per- |
mlts the chief dispenser 10 purchase In |
cher States alcoholic liquors. and 70 i'm
port them into this state for the purpose |
u selling them. for use and consumption |
within the state and forCids all other per- |
sons from 50 purchasing and importing for !