The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-09
NEW BALLOT LAW.
TILLAIAN WARNS THE CONVENTION
OF 4 GRAVE DANGER.


The Clause Giving Only One Party
Representation on BOards of Elec-
tiou managers and County Cam
vassing Boards May Act as =
BoOmerang-The senator Tells the
COnventiOn That the New Laws
Advocates May Live to See the Day
when They VIII Regret II.
Columbia, S. c., Nov S.-The conven-
ton was engaged all day to-day in
a lively dispensary debate, the issue be-
ing Mr. Pattons proposition TO prevent
the issuing of injuncuons by judges TO
prevent the commission of a crime. The
dispensary law permits a judge, upon al
ndavits to put man under a perpetual
injunction not TO sell liquor. The matter
was most exhaustively argued through
out, all the heavy Of the con-
vention taking a hand. George d. Till
man scathingly recounted the deeds done
under this provision of the dispensary
law. Senator Tillman defended the dis
pensary law in his most pronounced style.
The advocates Of Mr.. Patton's measure
argued for the preservation OF the estab-
nshed principle of the right OF trial by
jury for crime The measure was finally
killed by a vote OF 81 TO 80
At the night session the suffrage article
was called up for third reading, and the
most remarkable session since the Conven-
tOn convened ensued. After several III
significant amendments had been made,
Senator Iilman offered this amendment
to section /. Each of the two pOhticai
parties casting the highest number OF
votes at the preceding election shall have
representation ON the board of managers
of the election at each polling precinct,
ana on the board of county canvassers IN
d f.n Ha
he called the previous question on the
whole article. This was the measure that
had been stricken out before after big
fight. senator Tillman made the most re-
markable speech he ever made in his lire.
Senator 1illman said: "Mr. President,
| do not desire to make speech. 1 mere
ly wish to make a statement. The con-
vention viii remember that the article
as reported by the committee had this
identical provision in a different place
The other evening on the motion, / be-
lieve, of the gentleman from Marlboro
and with only one speech from the COM
mittee, the section was stricken out. The
committee met yesterday afternoon and
after careful consideration of the entire
subject. not only in connection with South
Carolina, but in connection with the mat
ter from a national standpoint, decided
that this convention cannot afford TO pu,
itself on record, the article having been
brought in here with this provision in it,
that it viii not keep II there, and the
committee.
are unanimous In the opinion that It
should be an integral part of the con-
stitution. But it is not only in Difference
to public opinion but from our own self
respect and protection that we desire to
put it back there. Such a provision is
in almost every constitution of the United
States north of Mason and DiXOn's line.
Every man who has been reading the
northern papers must realize that we are
being watched from one end of this coun-
try to another. We are already twitted
with proposing to perpetuate trickery and
fraud and to strike down free American
.fa,s, Heasaer hi
cry. We have openly avowed our pur-
pose to do certain things, but we cannot
openly avoW this purpose. We ask you
not TO stultify this body by putting il
on record that we propose to perpetuate
the conditions that have existed in the
past and we think you ought to
invite an attack from congress,
from the supreme court of the United
states, and from all the enemies of South
Carolina, and all the enemies of the
south, and all the friends of the negroes.
But there is another consideration. We
have been laboring 50 long under the in.
cubus OF negro domination that in our
efforts here to rectify our constitution
and throw a safeguard around our suff-
rage and the elections Of this country, we
have been Obvious to the fact that we
are making a constitution that is unalter-
able and we would leave it TO the hands
of every party in South Carolina that
might in the future, get possession of
the machinery to cheat white men-our
equals and our fellow citizens.
Il believe 1t Is almost inevitable, seeing
that men are born different, that they
look at things through different spec
tacles; we viii have devotion among the
whites in this state, as there is even here.
Elsewhere there is freedom, and in the
future we viii have it-white man against
white man-and the question, is are We
going to put it in the power of one set Of
white men to see that their votes are put
in the proper boxes, and that they are
honestly counted.
1--WE are here to-day with 10000 odd on
the one side and 5000 on the other, and
nothing but the patriotism of the one side
has kept Ii from appealing to those cor
rupt votes to overthrow us.
Cod forbid that we should so far divide
as to bring in this vote as a balance of
not be put in the power Of the party in of
flee. We have all the commissioners and
managers you may put the votes IN there,
but we win count them. Don't let us, VINO
of fortune are always turning that poll
tics are the most uncertain ground that
a man can walk upon. See the changes in
the north. only three years ago the DEM
ocratic party swept the country with an
oVerW helming ma iOrity ana now they are
covered with defeat and disgrace. We re
formers should put this clause here for
our own protection, for the day may come
when our own vote may be Jeopardlzed II
we do not provide for representation on the
board of supervisors and managers
A good many of his political friends
Jumped on him and despite a powerful
speech he made later on the convention
refused 20 do what he asked by vote OF
81 to a.
ed and sent beyond the conventions reach
bv a vote Of Il to A.. Thus II is seen that
It was by no means the unanimous vote or
the convention that adopted the scheme.