The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-22
" expressed at the ballot box can
govern in South Carolina.

Certain persons convicted of crime,
the insane. etc., are disqualified from
registering or voting. would respect
fully recommend that you provide for
lis, of all criminals 10 each county
to be filed in the Office of the supervisor
of registration and also with the CLERK
of court, in order that they may be
forever barred of the privilege of regis
tering or voting.
1t is incumbent upon you to prescribe
the manner Of holding elections aud OF
ascertaniug the results of the sane.
There is DO necessity for any change at
this time iu our law 10 this particular
Our people are accustomed to the eight
box law, and there can be no just or val
id objection to the manner Of obtaining
the results of elections. We have been
served with notice that this article In
our Constitution would be tested before
the United States supreme court; aud,
while | have 90 fears as to the result,
aud am folly convinced Of its constl'u-
tiouality, still should another Gotf come
along, whose '.inclinations made 1t his
duty TO set aside our registration the
day before election, 10 such au emer-
geocy our eight box law would be some
protection. I, therefore, would re-
spectfuIly recommend that you leave
this statute as it stands, aud in future.
when our status is thoroughly settled.
such action can be taken as may be
deemed expedient. The polling pre-
ciects Of the State must be changed
so as to make every incorporated town
separate polling precinct. This is neces-
sary for the following reason: Section
IL Of article II. provides that electors
in municipal elections shall possess the
qualifications and be subject to the dis
qualifications herein prescribed. The
production Of certificate of reglstEa-
tiou from the registration officers of the
county as an elector at precinct ln-
oluded in the incorporated city or town
10 which the voter desires to vote Is de-
clared condition prerequisite to bis
obtaining a certificate OF registration
for municipal elections, etc. There are
many incorporated towns in the State
that do not include polling precincts,
but are included within such precincts
1t is. therefore, necessary to have such
towns include such precinct in order
for the electors therein to vote IN NUM-
cipal elections.
"In all cases where a general law
can be made applicable, no special law
shall be enacted.
Let me commend this section to your
careful consideration. If you heed it,
there is 20 reason why your delibera-
tious should be prolonged beyond the
heretofore ordinary session. The curse
of the State bas been special legislation.
It's your duty to enact laws limiting
the nu mber of acres of land which any
alien or any corporation controlled BY
aliens may own within this State.
1t is within your province to provide
the executive With board of pardons,
to whom the governor may refer every
petition for pardon, which board shall
hear all such petitions, under such
rules and regulations as the general
assembly may provide.
The governor may adopt such recon-
mendations or reject them but in case
of rejection be shall present his reasons
to the general assembly. As you will
observe, there is nothing compulsory
IN the matter, and after all. the entire
responsibility is placed upon the go7-
ernor. | eau see no use, therefore, for
such board. But the matter is left
entirely to your wisdom aud good
Judgment. If a board is provided,
allow ue to suggest that it be composed
Of outside citizens. aod not oA5ceholders
aud politicians, who may possibly have
"azes to grind %
1t is your duty TO pToVloe geo-
eneral system for the assessment of
property for taxation, and this assess
ment shall be taken by all municipall-
ties aud other subdivisions of the State
as their basis for taxation. You are
authorized to impose graduated tax
upon incomes, aud liceOse on occupa-
tions and business. It is furthur made
your duty to pass laws making embez-
element of public funds felony. pun.
ishable by fine and Imprisonment and
propertioued to the amount of the de-
6oieucy or embezzlement, ,and for the for
feiture of the Office of the person found
guilty of such an offcnse. The legls-
lation under this article, with the ex-
ceptiou Of the punishment for embez'
element, may be continued until your
next session, except such as will here
after be called to your attention.
Upon my induction into Office the