The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-26
THE CANDY REGISTRATION.
And the Beautiful Manner in Which the Elec'
ton Was Conducted.

To the Editor: While the question ~
franchise is the absorbing toplc of the
day and is causing our Republican friends
so much concern lest some one should
be deprived of his privilege to vote. re-
CARELESS of right and qualification, it may
be both refreshing and instructive to re-
call a bit of history covering a period
when that party was Gin the saddle and
had absolute control of affairs political in
this State
Our older citizens remember, and the
Younger ones have heard of what is
known as the "Canby Election of 1868,
directed and controlled by General CanDy
from Headquarters Second Military DIS
trict, Charleston, s. c."
This election was entirely under the
control of Republican carpet-baggers'
scallawags and renegades of the worst
type, and at my voting place every one
of the election officers were members OF
a secret political organization known al
first as Red Strings" but later on as
Barn Burners" Every negro belonged
to the organization and the few white
Republicans likewise. They held secret
meetings at night and had public parade
every Saturday, and as they marched
through town almost covered with regaia,
sashes and streamers it might truly bo
said Solomon was not arrayed like one
of them"
The election lasted for three CD days,
the poll-holders taking the boxes (Which
were not fastened in any way, books,
etc. home with them each night. AT the
end of three days "the polls were de-
clared closed"
After the local election officers had
doctored the returns to their own salts
faction the ballot boxes, registration
books, etc, were forwarded to General
Candy at Charleston, s. c., and the vote
of the State was counted and the result
declared from that city
1t will be remembered that at this
election no person who had at any time
of his life held any office and afterwards
gave aid to or sympathized with the ere
bellion' was allowed to vote. 1t will
readily be seen that this sweeping pro-
vision dsfranchiscd n very large per
cent of the whole vote as there were but
few persons of mature age who had not
held some position of trust, either civil
or in the old militia.
At my voting place l am the only white
person of the name on that registration,
and upon the top of my one vote was
deposited eight by the negroes of Our
family. My father who was in the min
istry for more than fifty years and spent
his entire life on the farm YVES els
franchised because he happened to be
member of the Legislature in 1894 and in
1876 had two sons in the Confederate
army and also helped to provide and care
for the families of his neighhOfs who
Wero in the army.
One of the prominent families of our
community was that of Lands. Willis
and Claude Lands were brothers and both
had represented Johnston county in Tie
Legislature. They were both dis
franchised and l have just counted on the
registration book fifty go names
of the Lands negroes who voted.
The above facts will give some idea as
to how this election was conducted and
how our best people were Inundated and
deprived of their rights as citizens. Any
one wishing information on this subject
md the facts as to their own community
can obtain the same by reference to
The Candy Registration, 1868"
J. C. ELLINGTON
Raleigh, n. c., June %, 1900.