The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-15
Everybody Votes.
The Registration Law Declar-
ed Unconstitutional.
Judge Golf Enjo1ns The Super
s, visor Of Registration.

V1SOI Oh 6t1Oue
As announced in s brief dispatch. re-
ceived just as the Waterman and
Southron was going to press last
Wednesday. Judge Golf rendered au
opinion that makes the Registration 10
operative and throws open the ballot
box to every man of the legal age who
is not disqualified from voting by crime.
The text Of his decision is given ia
full with the exception of a few authori-
ties which he quoted:
In the Circuit Court of the United
States for the District of South
Carolina.
Lawrence P. Mills VS.. w. Briggs
Green-In Equity.
o. the 10Th day Of April last, CD
consideration Of the bill in this cause. |
passed an order that the defendant. w.
Briggs Green, individually aud as
supervisor of registration for Richland
county, in the State of South Carolina.
be enjoined and restrained until the
further order Of this court from the
commission of the acts complained of in
compliments bill. and I directed that
said defendant show cause before me, if
any be could. at Columbia, S. c., on
Thursday, May 2. inst, why su,h order
should not be Continued. or some order
Of like purport aud effect be then grant.
ed. enjoining aud restraining him both
individually and as such supervisor Of
registration from the commission of
said acts, until the final hearing aud
determination Of this cause.
The plaintiff, a citizen Of the State of
South Carolina and of the United
States. brings his suit against ".
Briggs Green. a citizen of said State
and efthe United States. The plaintiff
EXHIBITS his bill in his OVID behalf aud
for all others. citizens of the county of
Richlaud, in the State of South Caro-
lima, circumstanced like him, who are
TOO numerous to be named and made
parties hereto. It is set forth in the
DILL that the plaintiff was 26 years of
age on the 9th day of February. 1895
that be is a resident Of Ward Four,
precinct of Columbia. 10 said county
and State !; that he is a male citizen OF
the United States: that be has resided
in the State of South Carolina for more
than ooe year preceding the last general
election 10 thas State, aud 10 the county
of Ricbland for more than sixty days
prior to said general election ; that be
is an elector of the State Of South Caro-
lima, possessing all Of the qualification
of ao elector Of the most numerou;
branch of the State. Legislature, and is
subject to pone Of the Disqualification
set forth in the Constitution of thai
State, and that be is under the Con.
stitution and laws Of the United States
duly qualified to vote at all Federal and
State elections held in said ward
county and State.
It is set forth in the bill that section
80 of the General Statutes of South Car
DINA of 1882 provides as follows: ''Al
electors Of the State shall be registered
as hereinafter provided aud no per.
son shall be allowed to vote at any cleo
ton hereafter to be held unless regis
tered as hereinafter required; that BY
section "a of said statutes it is provi.
ded: "When the said registration Gin
certain books to be provided for anc
made in the manner provided for in
section 93) shall have been completed
the books shall be closed and not open
ed for registration except for she pur
poses and as hereinafter mentioned
until after the next general election fo'
State officers. After the said mex
general election the books shall b'
opened for registration OF such persons
as shall thereafter become entitled tt
register, on the first Monday in each
month. to and until the first Monday
10 July. inclusive, preceding the fol
lowing general election, upon which las
named day the same shall be closed aue
not opened for registration until afte'
the said general e%lection and thas there
after the said books shall be opened fol-
the registration of such electors on the
DAYS aforementioned, until the frs
day of July preceding a general elction
when the same shall be closed as afore
said until the said general cleo
ton shall have taken place.
1hsasaip section 137 Of said Re