The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-07
THURSDAY, NOV. .ER Z, 1859.
QUALIFICATION Oh. VOTERS


The Constitutional Convention
last Friday fixed the qualification
of voters and took recess until
Tuesday. The 4th section of the suf-
frage plan was tho bone of conten-
tlon and over it tho greatest battle
of the convention has been fought,
resulting in q victory for tho COM
mlttee, of which Senator Tillman
was chairman. The attack on tho
plan was against the property and
educational qualification features
and against what is known, as tho
understanding clause, which is tho
loop hole to lot IN the old soldiers.
In this issue of the JOURNAL is
published what is conceded to be
the best speeches made during tho
session of tho convention. Sena-
tor Tillman's speech is described
as most powerful and eloquent,
and the most complete and logi-
cal made on the floor of the con-
vontion.
The vote on tho final adoption
of the lth section Of the suffrage
plan was taken and resulted az fol-
lows: Yoas, So; nays, 81. DIR.
Field and MIR. Bowon voted for the
adoption, and DR.. Smith voted
against it. This section roads rs
follows:
The qualilica ton for suffrage
shall be as follows:
(a) Residence in the State for
two years, in tho county ono yoar,
IN the election district in which
tho elector oll'ors to vote four
months and the payment six
months before an election of any
poll tax then due and payable:
Provided, however, that ministers
III charge OF an organized church
and teachers Of public schools
shall he ontitlod to vote aftor six
months residence in the State if
otherwise qualified.
(b) Registration which shall
provide for tho enrolment of ovcry
elcctor once in ton years, and also
an enrolment during each and cv-
cry year of every clector not Dro-
viously registered undor tho pro-
visions Of this article.
(e) Up to January I, 1898, all
male persons of voting ago apply
ing Tor registration, who can read
amy section in this Constitution or
understand and explain it whom
read to thom by tho registration
officer, shall be entitled to register
and bocomc an olcctor. A separ-
ate record Of all persons registered |
before January 1, 1898, sworn to
~, sa1he ,G!,cIgsistratlon officer, shall1
laI |lssS! Co. Is
be filed, one copy with tifstlS
of Court and one in tho Office of
the Secretary Of State, on or before
February I, 1898, and such persons
shall remain during life qualified
electors unless disqualified by the
other provisions Of this article.
The certificate Of tho Clerk of Court
or Secretary Of State shall he suf-
icient evidence to establish the
right of said citizens to any future
registration and tho franchise un-
der the limitations herein imposed.
(d) Any person who shall apply
for registration after January |,
1898, if otherwise qualified shall be
registered: Provided, that he can
both read and writo any section of
this Constitution or can show that
he owns and has paid all taxes col
lectable during the previous year
on property in this State assessed
at $500 or moro. The certificate or
receipt of the officer authorized to
collect such taxes shall be conclu-
sive proof of the payment thereof.
(o) The managers Of election
shall require of every elector offer
ing to vote at any election before
allowing him to vote proof of pay
ment Of all taxes, including poll |
tax, assessed against him and col.
lectible for the previous year.
f) The General Assembly shall |
provide for issuing to each duly reg
istered elector certificate of regis
tration, and shall provide for the
renewal of such certificate when |
lost, mutilated or destroyed if the
applicant is still aqualified elector
under the provisions of this Con-
stitution, or if he has been regis
tered as provided in section G.
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1t is said that a paper for the
new county Of Saluda, will make