The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-04-24
Evans Explains.
His Position on the Agree
ment Matter.

dis IOSltlOu Ou CuS ASL6O-
ment Matter.
Governor Evans was yesterday asked
for a plain statement as to his position
with regard to the agreement made
between himself aud Governor Tillman
and Messrs. Barnwell, Sloan, Hemphill
and Others. Here is what the Cover
DOR had to say Il don't want it to be
understood for one moment that | have
rcceded che particle from my agreement
with the gentlemen of South Carolina
who have been willing to cooperate
with Us 10 the effort to secure white
supremacy and a Constitution made By
the decent white people.
1T is absolutely necessary that the
pledges laid down by the conference
should be made, and we will Insist upon
it on the stump. There is no compro-
mise about it, bu: simply the basic
principles of a white mans Constitution,
and unless candidates pledge themselves
on this line the people will not vote for
them. This is nothing new. We have
all had to pledge ourselves CD the
stump to carry out the demands of the
people and they will not surrender
themselves and their sovereignty to
men who think more of their Individual
opinions and so-called consciences than
they do of the will Of the people. 1t
makes no difference to the people who
are the instruments to execute their
will, SO long as it is faithfully exc
cuted."
AS TO JUDGE GoFF's ORDER.
While in Charleston. Governor Evans
had the following to say 10 regard to
Judge COTS order 10 the registration
matter /:
$50 far the injunction is exparte and
is no expression Of opinion as far as the
merits of the case are concerned. The
Constitution Ct South Carolina provides
that no qualification on account Of race,
color previous condition Of servitude
shall ever be enacted, and also provide
that the Legislature shall provide for
the proper registration Of the qualified
electors of the State
"There is no restriction whatever
upon the Legislature as to the form Of
registration. It thus became the duty
of the Legislature to provide some sys-
tenn of registration. Without express
iug an opinion as to the old law. there
is no unconstitutional provision what
ever in the act Of '94 providing for the
registration Of electors qualified to vote
for delegates to the Constitutional Con-
vention.
This is a separate and ,sinct stat
ute for a special election, a. stands on
its OWE bottom. Every citizen in the
State heretofore existing under any dis
ability by reason Of previous laws was
given an opportunity to remove the
same under conditions which are rea-
sonaole and not repugnaut to the Con-
stitution of the State or of the United
States. Such persons still have an op-
portunity of becoming qualified voters
by taking advantage of the registration
act. 1t is an absurdity to argue that
because the system is cumbersome it
is unconstitutional. There are no two
electors who will agree possibly as to
this feature of the law, and i: was for
this reason that the Legislature vas
left entirely untrammeled as to the sys-
TEN to be adopted.
1T is simply an effort to gain a little
cheap noto.iety by some briefess bar
rissers. who have lately enigrated from
this State to the capital OF the nation.
We might as we'll let these people Tn
derstaud that we intend to have a Con-
stisutioual Convention. Constitution or
no Constitution. and the power is in my
hand to thwart the efforts Of these M
worthy sous and their Republican SYM
pathizers in their appeal to a predjudized
tribunal.
II am glad to see that DO respectable
attorney in South Carolina has been Sc
cured, aud take it as an evidence thar
our people are a unit as TO the neces
sity of a Constitution made by our own
people. without reference to f%ac'ional
predjudices. We still claim the rights
Of a sovereign State, recognizing the
Constitution Of the United States, aud
interference with the attempt of an
honest Legislature to protect toe rights
of citizens, without reference to race,
color or previous condition of servitude,
and the perpetuatioo of good govern
ment will meet a prompt resistance by
IL 6