The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-15

books and the election, when their
names have been omitted on account
of absence, or other usually sufficient
reason Again, the applicant for
registration must make affidavit
setting forth his full name, age occu-
patton and residence at the time OF
the general registration in 1882, or
at the time thereafter when he be-
came entitled to register, and also
give the place or places Of his resi-
dence since the time when he became
entitled to register. This affidavit
must be supported by the affidavit Of
two respectable citizens who were
each of the age of 81 years on the
3Oth day of June, 1882, or at the
time the applicant became entitled
to register. Our most intelligent
voters would dread this ordeal, this
history of their movements for years,
this statement of the different places
at which they have lived, this secur-
ing of two reputable atlantis, who
must have been 81 years of age in
1882 or at the time the applicant
arrived at voting age. With what
crushing force, then, must it strike
the weaker race, which is thus made
to suffer by the stronger, how diff.
cult for them to thus write out the
books of their lives, and have all the
pages thereof attested by two wit
nesses, reputable in the estimation
of the registrar who is to Judge them.
In my opinion the fact that there
still remains several days-prior to
the election-during which the plain
':G may apply for registration does
not, in the light OF the allegations of
the bill. the proofs rendered and ad-
missions made prevent him from ask
ing for, nor the Court from granting
the relief prayed for.
1t was asked, in case any portion
of the said registration laws should
be found invalid, to eliminate the
part so found and decree hat the
remaining section should stand. |
have not been able to make the sepa-
ration, for | find it all so interviewer
as to render it impracticable. so far
as results are concerned, and ! eau
not winnow when there is no grain.
In behalf of those so treated all
interested in the welfare of their
country and DESTROYS of seeing it's
laws enforced should protest, in
order that public sentiment shonld
no longer be dormant, but may by
it's activity rouse the community that
has long suffered by such outrages
to a realization of their cause, and to
an appreciation Of the bene6eial re-
suits to be secured by the abolish
ment of the system that has caused
them
If we may Judge of what the in
tention Of the Legislature vas by the
inevitable result Of its enactment,
as we are assured we can, (Soon
Hing VS.. Crowley liz u. S.. 1903
Minnesota Vs.. Barber, 1856 U. S,
3I3,) then the one object that con-
trolled the minds Of those who
formulated the enactment have been
considering was how best to abridge
and destroy the greatest number OF
votes of the citizens of African des-
cent, while at the same time inter-
frring with as few as possible Of the
votes of the white race. The fact ia
that with a candor that was as frank
as it was amazing this was virtually
admitted during the argument of this
case. it is evident that the effect of
this registration system is to fear
fully impede the exercise Of the
right of suffrage by the colored
voters of the State of South Caro-.
lima. 1t to a great extent defeats
their constitutional right to vote,
and it seems to be its leading, |
must be permitted to say its only
object, the effort being to so legis-
late as to apparently respect con.
stitutional requirements, but at the
same time stab to the death the
rights and immunities guaranteed
by them.
Finding as l do that the registra.
ton laws Of South Carolina are un-
constitutional and that their. enforce
ment will deprive the plaintiff, a
citizen of the United States, of the
rights Of a citizen of the same,
conclude that this Court has jurisdic.
ton of this case, and that the same
is not a proceeding against the State
of South Carolina, prohibited by the
l1th amendment to the Constitution
of the United States: | find that
the bill does present a question
arising under the Constitution and
laws of the United States and that
the plaintiff has not a plain and