The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-01-24
read and write any Section of the Con-
stitution submitted to him by the reg

owns and has paid all taxes collectnbie
during the previous year on property
in the State assessed Mt three hundred
$500 dollars or more. The payment
Of all taxes including poll tax, IS u pre-
requisite to voting.
1t will readily appear 10 you ,hat
different legislation is required FOR the
period up to 1898, from that thereafter.
l would suggest, however, 20 your
honorable body that all the provisions
Of the Constitution and your legisla-
, ton in reference thereto be comprised
! n one statute, as it liz exceedingly de-
sirable that it should be thoroughly
circulated among the citizens of the
State. Designing demagognes are a.
ready n: work filling the ears and
heads OF confding constituents with
false impressions concerning the pro-
visions OF tho Constitution, and there
is no safer plan to set at nsught such
falsehoods than by allowing the peo-
pie TO see and read for themselves.
1t ~ your duty to provide for nc !s-
suing 10 each duly registered elector &
certificate Of registration, ana tor the
renewal thereof, when lost, mCtilGteG
or destroyed. l am satisfied YOU can
DO no better than to adopt The cid
form Of registration certificate and the
provisions Of the statute law now ot
force regulating the same. e&pTpS!ug
such provisions as confic: with Tho
new Constitution, which VII readily
present themselves tc you. This, how
ever, IL q matter for yorr cwr good
Judgment and wisdom. Any person
denied registration shall have tGeright
Of appeal to tho Court OF Common
Pleas or any Judge thereof, ard thence
to the Supreme Court. i :s made
your duty to provide by law io- such
appea! and for the correction o! Illegal
and fraudulent registration. voting and
all other crimes against TIE election
lave. ! would suggest tina: Gs little
red tape rs possible he placed around
this right of appeal. and tia: voU shall
amply provide against defeating !: by
technicalities. There should be also
as little expense attached 70 the right
ar possible. Under the provisions
governing this right oi sppesl t. the
Supreme Court now existing n civil
cases, ! fear very few cases O, denied
registration would ever reach this
stage if the same were made applicable.
The person complaining Il sCch cases
must necessarily bo o. tho poorer AID
less intelligent classes, but this =
sacred right undei uuT form Q: govern
ment. and they are entitled - every
test allowed undc- the Constitution.
consistent with the rule OF intelligence,
without unnecessary hardship or .X
pense. The severcst prnishm crt should
be prescribed by your honorable body
for frauds n registration o. voting.
There was u time when the ends woT!d
seen to j:stify the means Il :Eis par
ticular, but the necessity nU longer
exists, and the day ~ past when any
thing but tho will Of the Intelligent
majority freely and honestly expressed
nt the ballot box eEL govern - SoGth
Carolina.
Certain persoLs con Vlc!eG {: crime,
tie insane, etc, are disqualified from
registering or voting. ! wo..u re-
speotfully recommend TIA: yoE provide
for n liz! g MI -rimirals II each
County, 70 be filed IL tie of c, ot the
Supervisor {! Registration aEG also
with the ClorK Of the CuH-.. l. order
that they may TO forever barred L: ;Ee
prlviicg, o. registering e voting.
tits incumbent upoL yCr &c present. &
IL, manner ot holding elections ard
C ascertninIpg the results e :lc sane
Their, ~ no necessity e.: arv change
Il: .his time il ou- .Gw L Us nay
ticu!a,. Oar peor.e a.. accustomed
tc IL, .irL. box law, arG there car
h, nc ms. Cr valid ob,,c,!uL 20 :Le
manner {. Obtaining h. results ps
elections We have teeL served
with notice ma. this Article = our
Constitution woull he tested before .he
United States Supreme Cc3r;; AID
while nave no tears ns :o The result,