The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-07

the United States Supreme Court. |
would not rise now If | honestly be-
lieved that the majority of the good
feeling gentlemen OF this convention
tolerated or believed what he states.
Because If they did there would be
but one thing to do, and that would
DC TO cXpel the two members to whom
ne refers, from this convention.
claim, sir, | nm elected here by hon
est legal votes, counted fairly and
honorably.
Mr.. Patton: l have not disputed
that.
Mr.. Smalls: addressing Mr.. patton)
l am as honorable in every particular
as the gentleman from Richland.
lLauShtcr.) stand here tonight as
the gentleman from Richland, with
nothing, sir, lgainst me. | was tried
in Richland court on q charge made
by thief-Josephus Woodruff, who
acknowledged that he had robbed the
State out Of $225,000, and he was
granted immunity by the State If he
would convict me.
He testified that of twenty checks
which he had given to leash +" or to
" bearer" one was given to Robert
Why SO?
Simply because they found that I
had deposited in tho banking and
trust company $1,000 on the 18th day
of January, 1873. But when they went
to examine the record they found that
the check wi.s drawn on the 10Th of
said month. On examining the calen-
dar they found that the 10Th day of
JanuMy was Sunday and that if the
check was given mo on that day l
could not bavo deposited it until the
10Th.
Tho case was appealed from court to
court and was dOcketed in the United
States Supreme Court under section
6oI Without my consent or knOwr-
edge the Governor sent me q free par
don to Beaufort. The Attorney Gen
eral went to the Supreme Court anu
asked that the case be thrown out on
account of it having been adjudicated
In this State. | tried my best to get u
hearing. Gentlemen just like this
gentleman tonight (Mr. Patton) have
caused more trouble in South Carolina
than anything that has ever hap
pcned. Those kind of speeches, those
lnucndocs have caused today all the
trouble we have had. 1t carried this
State into tne war. | tell him here
that | have never since | was born
I YER defrauded South Carolina out of
II penny.
Ar. IattOn l. have never charged
it.
Mr.. Sualls: Yes. you did am to-
night as clean Il citizen as you are, for
your own court gave up the case
against me, but thank God for South
convention, for whatever you offer
goes down Great laughter.)
Mr.. HaynswOrth said it seemed that
we are being fired on from two quar-
tors. First from Beaufort and then
from Richl nd. The gentleman from
Beaufort charges that there is q fraud
in this bill. They wont read this bill
section for section and say so. The
gentleman from Richland reads it and
reads between the lines and claims
there would be fraud.
The committee was actuated alone
by South Carolina's good. Our object
was to establish such system Of
elections as would be credit to her
and at the same time secure white
They who rule this land
and bought it by blood we're turned
over just after the war to the keeping
of their slaves. Wehad the supremacy
Of thieves and rogues, backed by black
votes and yet we are told it was not
negro supremacy. Years of bitter ex-
perience has taught us q lesson that
we Will never forget as long as the
sun shines. The negro forces can be
as long as matters stand
now as they do and the only thing
that stands between us and repeti-
tiOn of the scenes of corruption was
fraud and the shotgun. The commit
tee did not want to sect hat perpetual
cd and our object was 90 give the State
u clean and pure election law
Speaking of the general scheme, he
said it was the scheme to have a gen
eral registration OF those VINO can
read or write Or all who own $500 or
more Of property after 1898. The e.ec-
tlons are to be open and free. A
scheme more honest than this cannot
be devised.
Tho objection that white men will
be registered up to 1893 by fr'tud is
not correct. 1t is only q discr, nina
tlOn. MIR. Patton's intont is the same
rs ours and if fraud is in the intent of
ono 1t is no freer from it than another.
A man can be registered il he under
stands clause in the cons titution.
1t must not be all but only q clause.
We can't obtain white supremacy by
keeping our hands tied. Tho white
illiterates must be taught to master q
clause OF the constitution and under
this he will be entitled to vote. The
law is no subterfuge. It is plainly
written.
What are the objections to Mr.. Pat
tons plan? 1t is at variance with the
genius OF the American people. Not
Only is it Discrimination, but it is dis
crimina; ion that will bring down upon
us the wrath OF the Northern people,
the very thing he seeks to avoid. 1t is
class Legislation 1t MAKES class of
these gentlemen.
Mr.. Patton: is the ponsiou law
class legislation.
Mr.. Haynswcrth replied that tho pom
sion legislation was q reward for SER
vices. But this gives classs of citi-
zens rights and privileges that other
citizens do not enjoy.
MIR. Wigg: What Is tho difference
beLweun u man who steals q vote and
one who steals a d0ilar?"
Mr.. Haynsw0rth said that whatever
of fraud was committed in South
Carolina was occassioned by the very
race to which Mr.. Wigg belonged
They brought about IL period OF cor
rupt,on and fraud ur parAlleled in the
history of the world.
Mr.. Wigg: We admit our sins and
Dray the good Lord TO forgive us."