The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-02
THE LAW OF SUFFRAGE.
THE ILLITERdTE fO BE GRtDUAL-
LY DISFRINCHTSED.
Under Provisions Adopted by south Caro-
Iina's Constitutional CoIsventton-No
Divorce Recognized.

ed in South Carolina for any cause SEM
ator Tillman did his best 10 have tho
divorce OF other States recognized IN
this state, but for once his appeals were
heard with deaf ear. The Bible was
quoted promiscuously during the debate.
The parliamentary clincher was put on
after the matter was adopted
Efforts 10 take "A recess failed.
The provisions relating to suffrage read
as follows:
Section 4 (a) The qualifications for
suffrage shall be as follows: a resident
In the State for two years, I'm the county
for one year. In the election district In
which the elector offers TO vote fou-
months. and the payment OF a poll-tax
six months before any election. provided.
however. that minister! OF the gospel IN
charge Of any organized church shall
be entitled TO vote after six months
residencey
Do Registration which shall provide
for the enrolment of every elector once
I'm ten years.
QUALIFICATIONS OF TLtcroR.
The persons applying Tor registration
must be able to read and write any sec
tion OF this constitution. asd must show
that he owns ot pays taxes on $500 worth
Of property I'm this state. provided that
az the first registration under this legis-
lation and up TO January ist. isss. all
male persons OF voting age who can
read n clause I'm this constitution or
understand and explain II when read TO
them by the registration officer shall
be entitled TO register and become cleo
tors
"A separate record OF all illterate per-
sons thus registered. sworn TO by the
registration office. shall be fled one copy
with the clerk OF the court and one In the
office Of the Secretary OF State. on or be-
fore January !. 1888, and such persons
snail remain during life qualinet electors
unless disqualified by the provisions OF
section of this article.
THE certificate Of the clerk Of the
court or OF the Secretary OF State shall
be sufficient evidence to establish the
right Of said class OF citizens 10 regissra-
ton and the franchise.
LIMITATION, OF THE ILLrrRnArr
cd Any person who shall apply for
registration after January l. 1898. IN other
wise qualified, may register. provided hc
can both read AID write any section OF
this Constitution or can show that he
owns or has paid taxes on property In
this State assessed Mt 500 or more
"(c) Managers of elections shall require
of every elector offering 10 vote at any
election. before allowing him 90 vote. proof
OF payment OF all taxes. including poll
tax. assessed against him for the previous
year.
20 Registration certificates. when lost
shall be renewed If applicant ~ qunllncI
| under these provisions OF this COnstitu-
tiOu. or If he has been registered as pro-
Vidcd In subsection q.
Section 3. Any person denied regisTa-
ton shall have the right 10 appeal 10
any and all courts Of this state 70 deter
rhine the question under the llmilatou8
imposed I'm this article, ana the General
Assembly shall provide by laws for the
! correction OF Illegal or fraudulent regis
| tration and the punishment Of the same.
THOSE DIsouALTrIrD.
"Section 6. The following persons are
| disqualified from being registered or yot-
| ing.
First Persons convicted OF burglary.
| theft arson. obtaining goods or money
| under false pretences. perjury, forgery,
| robbery, bribery, adultery, cmbezzlomeni,
| bigamy. or crimes against the election
| laws: Provided. that the pardon OF the
| Governor shall remove such disqualliica-
/ tons.
Second. Persons who are IDIOT. insane.
| paupers supported at the public expense.
and persons confined I'm any public prison
Section !. For the purpose Of voting
no person shall be deemed TO have gained
or lost a residence by reason of his pres
ence or absence while employed In the
service OF the United States, nor While
engaged in the navigation of the waters
OF th'a state or OF the United States.
or the high seas.
Section T. The General Assembly shall
provide by law for the registration OF
an qualified electors, and shah prescribe
the manner OF holding elections, provided
that each OF the two parties casting the
election shaft have representation on the
board Of managers al each precinct and
on the board Of county canyasscrs Ia
each county.
"Section - The several counties I'm the
state shall be- divided into election dis
fricts with one precinct In each OF the
same. al which alone the voter for that
presinct can cast his ballot; provided.
that "A voter may b9 transferred from
one election district 10 another.
lr0tLzrp rRiw,hifs.
"ssrti0n 1n The General Assembly shall
provide by law for The holding ot party
primary elections and Dunishing fraud at
the same =,
section n The registration books shall
close at least thirty days before an elec-
ton. AFTER which any registration shah
not be lesa, except as % persons DreoHi-
ing of age I'm the interim.
section r. Electors in municipal elec-
iions shall possess All the disquahhcauons
herein prescribed
section i3. AZ any special election in
Incorporated cities and towns )t ms
state for the u rpose Of bonding me same
of for raising GeKs sue. all resilient owners
Of prCportv I'M said citics ana towns OF tho
ass@ssed valre af $40, who mr." pnnlin.l
elc,tors Under this Constitution shall
alone boz entitled t0 vote. At ruch e.tc-
ton the voter shall produce receipt Tor
all taxes. ucOnfY state, ana mnnlclpoi,
for the previous years as eVd-hce OF DIS
flent 10 vote. . =.
Section ~. Electors shall IN All cases
except treason. felony. Or a breach o' tns
peace. De privileged from arrest on the
laws of elections during their Attendance
al the polls. and going TO and returning
therefrc m.
section II. No power. civil or military,
shall al any time interfere 20 rrrFent
tho free exercise % the right or spnraSf.
TIP Di-Prss,ny R0oL~N.
Tonight IN the convention the dlspcn-
sary problem was taken ~ on the motion
10 indefinitely postpone the clayton sub
stitute. which provided for tbe absolute
lncorpora ion OF the system into the Con-
stliutiOn.
A battle royal resulted. the advocates
OF the perpetuation Of the system al
most overriding the counsel earnestly
given by Senator Tillman as 10 the
effect of possible decision from the
United states Supreme Court that the
State could not do liquor business.
After an all-night night, during whfcn
amendment after amendment and sub
stitute after substitute were voted down
amid stormy votes. the section wao
amended BY senator Tllman to his way
OF thinking, and the section was adopted
AT II O'Clock in this shape, the parliament
airy cincher going on II.
on an amendment 10 prevent the state
from charging a profit. the vote stood:
Yeas. g.; nays, 81. On an amendment
TO strike out all reference 20 the dis
pensary system. only twenty-four voted
Tor the proposition.