The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-01-21
TILE GOVERNOR 5 MESSAGE

tops one In the history of South Care
& lima Much has been done to the glor
and renown of the State, much ha
been done that might we'll have bee
left undone.
For the first time since 1868, you
deliberations will be governed by q
organic law framed by our own people
Under the act passed by your honor
able body calling and providing for
constitutional convention, delegate
were duly elected by the people an,
the convention assembled ON the 1Otl
day OF September and adjourned O,
the 4th day of December, A. ID. 1896
having framed the present constitution
which went into effect on january 1st
1896.
deem 1t unnecessary to give yo,
more than q cursOry review of the of
forts made by few white men and the
negroes to defeat the holding of this
convention and but for the sake OF his
tory, should not do so at all.
After the primary elections for State
and county officers last summer, an ac-
tiOn was brought by Matthew q. But
ler, OK United States Senator, against
w. L. @. Bates and w. III. Ellerbe,
State treasurer and comptroller gem
eral, respectively, to enjoin the roy
mont Of the salaries due to the super
visors OF registration of the State upon
the ground that our election laws were
unconstitutional, null and void. The
result was victory for the State but
the decision not coming in time to suit
the plaintiffs, a nav attack was taken
and case made against the supervisor
of Richlad county.
a ready tool was found in United
States Circuit Judge Goff, Republican,
from West Virginia, and one to use
his own words who felt that duty
mingled with inclination" compelled
him to declare our registration laws
unconstitutional and to enjoin the Of
ficers from executing them. While
this crisis confronted us felt impelled
to issue an address to the pcop.~
the State preparing them for the
issues that might confront US and I
had no fears OF their ability to meet
them.
In this address / gave pom portraits
of the judges and their co-conspirators
and it is unnecessary 10 portray them
Lere.
Fortunately, we were enabled to ap-
peal to the United States circuit court
Of appeals, in time to reverse Judges
Gof and Simonton and conduct our
election for delegates under the regis
tration laws, now of force. In this
connection, | desire to express my
high appreciation Of the ability dis
played by the attornc Y general and the
valuable assistant services of Messrs.
McCrady, Barnwell and Mower. These
gentlemen voluntarily offered their
services to the State in overthrowing
the tyranny of Judge Golf, but I was
unwilling to accept them gratis and
upon the request of the attorney
general [ retained Messrs. McCrady
and Mower to assist in the manage
ment of the cases. | trust that your
honorabfe body will grant them such
remuneration as you may think just
and equitable.
In spite of all efforts to defeat its eff
forts, our convention has met and ad-
journed and given us q good constitu-
cones be bygones and deal with the
present as we find it.
Many changes have been made in
our system OF government and L feel
it my duty to point out to you the most
important, as L deem them, for your
consideration and suggest
the legislation required fyou to make
them effective.
RIGHT OF SURFACE.
The most important article COM
manding your attention Is that OF the
: Right of Suffrage" This matter
should be given the right of way and
let 1t be the first law enacted by your
honorable body. There are many rea-
sons for this: First, the people are
anxious to know how and when the
right to register IL to be had, and sec
ond, 1t Is of vital Importance that a
had before the next general election.
The requirements OF the constitution
are residence in the State two years,
In the county one year and in the poll
ing precinct in which the elector offers
to vote four months and the payment
ak months before any election of any
poll tax then due and payable. Min
isters of the Gospel and school teach
ers are entitled to vote alter six
months residence in the State"
(b) Registration which shall pro-
vide for the enrolment Of every cleo
tor once In ten years and also an en-
rollment during each and every year
OF every elector not previously regis
tered.
(c) All male persons of voting age
applying for registration who can read
any section of the constitution sub
mitted to them by the registration of
flcers or understand and explain 1t
when read to them.
These are the, requirements up to
January, 1893. After this time per-
son applying for registration Ii other
wise qualified must be able to both
read and write any section of the con-
stitution submitted to him by the reg
istration officer or can chow that he
owns and has paid all taxes oellectible
during the previous year on property
In tho State assessed ut three hundred
($300) dollars or more. The payment
Of oil taxes, including poll tax, is q
prerequisite to voting.
1t will readily appear to you that
different Legislation is required for the
period up to January, 1898, from that
thereafter. would suggest, however,
to your honorable body that all the
provisions Of the constitution and your
legislation Ia reference thereto be
comprised in one statute as 1t is ex-
ceedingly desirable that 1t should be
thoroughly circulated among the
citizens OF the State. Designing de-
magogues are already at work filing
the ears and heads of confiding con.
stituents with false Impressions con
cerning the provisions of the constitu.
tlon, and,there is no saier plan to get al
naught such fasehoods than by allow
ing the people to see and read foi
themselves.
1t Ia your duty to provide for the is
suing to each duly registered electol
certificate OF registration and for the
renewal thereof wheh lost, mutiiatet
or destroyed. / am satified you Cal
do no better thar tol adopt the ole