The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-01-23
TIE GOVERNOR s MESSAGE

The past year has been momen-
tous one In the history of South Caro-
lima. Much has been done to the glory
and renown of the State, much has
been done that might we'll have been
left undone.
For the first time since 1868, your
deliberations will be governed by an
Under the act passed by your honor.
able body calling and providing for q
constitutional convention, delegates
were duly elected by tho people and
the convention assembled on the 10th
day of September and adjourned on
the 4th day OF December, A. D. 1896,
having framed the present constitution
which won't into effect on January 1st,
1896.
l deem it Unnecessary to give you
more than cursOry review Of the Of"
forts made by u few white mon and the
negroes to defeat the holding of this
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 G. But
Ter, ex United States Senator, against
w. Il. @. Bates and w. Fl. Ellerbe,
State treasurer and comptroller gen
eral, respectively, to enjoin the pay
mont Of the salaries due to the super
visors OF registration of the State upon
the ground that our election laws we're
unconstitutional, null and void. The
result was victory for the State but
the decision not coming in timo to suit
the plaintiffs, q now attack was taken
and case made against the supervisor
of Richlad county.
A ready tool was found in United
States Circuit Judge Golf, 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
ticers from executing them. While
this crisis confronted us I felt impelled
to issue an address to the people OF
the State preparing them for the
issues that might confront us and l
had no fears of their ability to meet
them.
In this address I gave pom portraits
of the judges and their co-conspirators
and 1t Is unnecessary TO portray them
here.
Fortunately, we were enabled to ap-
peal to the United States circuit court
Of appeals, in time to reverse Judges
GOff and Simonton and conduct our
election for delegates under the regis.
tration laws, now of force. In this
connection, l desire to express my
high appreciation of the ability dis
played by the attorney 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 was
unwilling to accept them gratis and
upon the request of the attorney
general 1 retained Messrs. McCrady
and Mower to assist in the manage
mont Of the cases. | trust that your
honorable body will grant thom such
remuneration as you may think just
and equitable.
In spite of all efforts to defeat it's ef-
forts, our convention has met and ad-
journed and given US q good constitu-
tion and we can we'll afford to let by
cones be bygones and deal with the
present as we find it.
our system of government and | feel
1t my duty to point out to you the most
important, as l deem them, for your
Immediate consideration and suggest
the legislation required Of you 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
riPht to register Is to be had, and Sec
ONT, it is of vital Importance that a
full registration of electors should be
hafNp.a n
The requirements of the constitution
are residence in the State two years,
In the county ono year and in the poll
Ing precinct in which the elector offers
to vote four months and the payment
six months before any election of any
poll tax then due and payable. Min
listers Of the Gospel and school teach
ers are entitled to vote after 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
mitted to them by the registration Of
ficers or understand and explain it
when read to them.
These are the requirements up to
January, 1893. After this time a per-
son applying for registration If other.
wise qualified must be able to both
read and write any section of the con-
stltution submitted to him by the reg.
1stration officer or can show that he
owns and has paid all taxes collectible
during the previous year on property
% IN the state assessed ut three hundred
($3O0l dollars or moro. The payment
OF all taxes, including poll tax, is q
pre.requisite to voting.
It will readily appear to you that
different Legislation is required for the
period up to January, 1888, from that
thereafter. l would suggest, however,
provisions of the constitution and your
legislation In reference thereto be
comprised IN one statute as it is OK.
thoroughly circulated among the
citizens OF the State. Designing de.
tho ears and heads of conf6;nr 90