Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-09

and the people OF ibis State never ueieRa-
ted to the convention framing the same
the power to impose constitution upon.
them without referring it hack to them
The provisions of the act OF assembly Of
South Carolina approved March 5th, 1895,
the qualifications for the right
Of suffrage (Which said provisions of said
act are in conflict with the provisions Of
the constitution of South Carolina Of 1858,
respecting the right Of sutfage and there
fore null and void) refused to allow q
large number of citizens Of this state,
to-wit, more than 1900 to vote at
said election of November 3rd, 1885, in
said district, for representative to the
Fifty-fifth congress, and rejected the ball
lots of said citizens, who were qualified
and entitled under the constitution OF this
state of 1883, to vote in said district at said
for said representative, and who
If they had been allowed to vote would
have voted for contestant.
Fifth. That all provisions Of the con-
Of South Carolina of 1895, for
the registration Of voters prior to jan
uary /, 1893, and all laws of this state
passed % carry out said provisions, and
the act Of assembly Of March
9Th, 1895, are in conflict with the four
teenth amendment and other articles Of
the constitution of the United States and
null and void in that said constitution OF
South Carolina Of 1895 and said act OF
provide for the formation Of
class of voters who are given the right Of
registration upon different qualifications
from those required of citizens who apply
for registration after January /, 1893, and
that all who are registered
prior to January l, 1893, shall be for life
entitled to the right Of suffrage, thereby
creating class of citizens within the state
with rights and privileges not possessed
by other classes and thus discriminating
against the latter classes and denying to
these the equal protection OF laws, and
that the boards Of registration Of the var
ious counties in said district, claiming TO
act under the said provisions Of the said
constitution Of South Carolina of 1895 and
the said act of assembly Of 1896. refused
this state, to-wit, more than 10000, who
were qualified and entitled to register for
and vote at said election Of November 8,
1896, in said district, for representative to
the Fifty fifth congress, and who, II they
had been allowed to register, would have
registered and would have voted for con-
testant.
Sixth. That the boards of managers Of
the various polling precincts in said dis
trict, claiming to act under provisions Of
the constitution of South Carolina Of 1895
and the act of assembly of South Caroli-
ma, approved March 5th, 1895, prescribing
the qualification for electors in said state
prior to January 1st, 1893 (which said pro-
visions Of said constitution and said act
of assembly, are in conflict with the four
teenth amendment and other articles of
the constitution of the United States, and
null and void, in that they provide for the
formation of class of voters, who are
given the right of suffrage upon different
qualifications from those required Of those
who, shall register after January lst, 1893,
and, providing, that all, who are register
ed prior TO January fst, 1888, Shall be for
life entitled to the right of suffage, there
by creating class Of citizens within the
state with rights and privileges not pos
sessed by other classes. and discrimina-
ting against the latter classes and deny
ing to them the equal protection of the
law refused to allow large number OF
citizens Of this state, to-wit,' more than
6, 900, to vote at said election of Novem-
ber 3rd, 1896, in said district, for repre-
register the ballots of the said citizens,
who were qualified and entitled to vote at
said election, in said district, for said rep
and who, If they had been
allowed to vote, would have voted for
Seventh. That by the constitution Of
South Carolina of 1895, it is provided that
prior to January lst, 1893, every male citi-
zen of this state twenty-one years old and
possessing the other qualifications pre-
scribed by the constitution and who can
read any section of said constitution sub
mitted to him by the registration officer or
officers, can understand and explain It
when read to him by the registration off,
Ger, or officers shall upon applying for reg
istration be entitled to register and become
an elector," and that the boards of regis
tration in examining applicants for reg
istration for the election of November 3rd,
1896, for representatives from the Fifth
district to the 55th congress, were gross
ly unfair and partial, and illegally regis
tered a large number of Democrats, to-
wit, more than nine thousand, without
any examination as to their qualification,
and without requiring them either to read
or explain any section Of said constitu-
ton, and in many instances without an
application by the person registered, and
that of this number so illegally registered,
a large number, to wit, more than eight
were permitted by the boards
of managers of the various polling pre-
ClllCIS Sdiu ul~lllCt, w Suoe ehOAl NoeOS oo
said election for conteStee, T. j. Strait,
and the said votes so illegally cast were
counted for the said contestee, T. j. Strait.
Eighth. That both at said election Of
November 8, 1896, and in the registration
therefor, contestant complained that there
were many frauds perpetrated, and many
occurred, and many unlaw-
ful means used, and many cases Of vio-
lence and intimidation, by which many
thousands of Republican. electors, who
were qualified and entitled to vote at said
election in said district for representative
to the Fifty fifth congress, were prevent
ed from registering and from exercising
their right of suffrage, who, if they had
been allowed to cast their ballots, would
have cast them for contestant and thereby
would have increased the vote for contes-
tant so greatly that there would have
been large majority in his behalf.
Ninth. That the present election laws
of South Carolina were passed for the
purpose Of suppressing large number Of
qualified voters in this state, and the said
laws have been executed and enforced
with so much unfairness and such gross
partiality and partisanship, and such a
large majority Of the voters in this state
and particularly in said Fifth district,
have been deprived of the right of suf-
frage, that it is impossible at any election
held under said laws to obtain a fair ex-
preston of the will Of the people, so that
there is no longer Republican form OF
government in said state or dlstrlct.