The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-01-22

ton and the Needs OF the State Govern
ment.
The annual message of Governor
John Gary Evans was read to the
Senate and the House OF Representa-
tives, at the opening of the present
session, as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL AS
sEMPLY: The past year has been mo-
mentous one in the history OF South
Carolina. Much has been done to the
glory and renown of the State, and
much has been done that might well
have been left undone.
For the first time since 1S6 your
deliberations will be governed by an
organic law framed by our own peo-
ple. Under the Act passed by Your
honorable body calling and providing
for a Constitutional Convention, dele
gates were duly elected by the people,
and the Convention assembled on the
10th day of September, aud adjourned
on the 4th day of December A. D.
1895, having framed the present Con-
sitution, whicn went into effect on
January 1, 1896.
deem it unnecessary to give you
more than cursory review OF the ef-
forts made by a few whiteSmen and
the negroes to defeat the holding OF
this Convention, and but for the sake
of history should not do so at all.
After the primary elections for State
and county officers last summer an
action was brought by Matthew T..
Butler, ex-United States Senator,
against W. T. G. Bates and w. Il.
Ellerbee, State Treasurer and Compt-
roller-Gene respectively, to eaJoln
the payment of the salaries due to the
Supervisors of Registration OF the
State upon the ground that our elec,
ton laws were unconstitutional, null
and void. The result was victory
for the State, but the decision not no
coming in time to suit the plalntlft, S
a new tack was taken, and case made
against the Supervisor OF Richlano
county.
A ready tool was found in United
States Circuit Judge Gof, Repuoh-
can 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 enjoln the
officers from executing them: While
this crisis confronted US felt impell.
ed to issue an address to the people OF
the State preparing them for the issues
that might confront us, and had no
fears of their ability to meet them.
In this address I gave pen portraits OF
the iudeS and their co consplrators
and it is unnecessary to portray tnem
here. -----------
Fortunately, we are enabled to ap-
peal to the United State Circuit Court
oi Appeals in time to reverse Judge
Gof and conduct our election for del
egates under the registration law now
of force. In this connection desire
to express my high appreciation of the
ability displayed by the Attorney
General and his assistant and the val
liable services of MeSsrs. McCrady,
Barnwell and Mower. These gentle
men voluntarily offered their services
to the State in over throwing the tyr
any of Judge Golf, but was unwlil-
ing to accept them gratis, and upon the
request Of the Attorney-General re-
taine6 Messrs. McCrady and Mower 70
assist in the management OF the cases:
I trust that your honorable body Will
grant them such remuneration as you
may think just aud equitable.
In spite of all efforts to defeatlt, our
Convention has met and ad journed
and given US good Constitution, and
we.can well afford to let bygones be
bygones and deal with the present as
we find it.
Many changes have been made IN
our system of government, and | 1eel
it nv duty to point out toyou the most
important, as deem them, for your
immediate consideration and suggest
the legislation required OF you to make
them effective.
RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
The most important Article com
mcA5ing your attention is that OF the
"highsi Of Suffrage. This matter
should be given the right of way, and
letit be the first law enacted by your
honorable body. There are many
reasons for this. First, the people are
anxious to know how and when the
right to register is to be had; second Ii
is of vital importance that q full regis,
tration of electors should be had be-
fore 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
inp precincts in which the elector Oh
fers to vote four months, and the pay
ment six months before any election
OF any poll tax due and payable;
Ministers of the Gospel and schoo!
teachers are entitled to vote after sly
months residence in the state.
(b) Registration which shall provide
for the enrolment OF every electol
once in ten years and also and enroll
ment during each and every year OF
every elector not previously register
ed.
(c) All male persons of voting age
applying for registration who can
read any Section of the Constitution
submitted to them by the registration
officers, understand and explain II
when read to them.
These are the requirements up to
January, 1898. After this time per
son applying for registration, il 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 show that he
owns and has paid all taxes collect,
hle during the previous year on prop