The Charleston Daily News

How the Right of Suffrage Works in Georgia.

The Savannah Advertiser relates the following incident which occurred in that city on Thursday and which shows the rascality practiced by Bradley and his crew, who seem determined to have everything their own way. Two negroes, belonging in the city, who did not affiliate with the Bradley party went up to vote, and in the exercise of that privilege, took the undoubted right to vote as they thought best. As they came to the Court House door, one of them named Green Hayes, was approached by one of Bradley's followers, who demanded a sight of his ticket, which happened to be a conservative one. The negro who demanded the ticket tore it up and gave Hayes another one, ordering him to vote that or none. Hayes attempted to remonstrate, but was told that such were the orders of Mr. Clift, that they all must vote the regular Bradley and Clift ticket. This guardian of the polls next approached Thomas Manning, who refused to show his ticket, and endeavored to pass in to the voting place, when he was stopped by a body of negroes armed with sticks, who refused to let him pass unless he would vote as they desired. Manning therefore, finding he would not be let in turned away. He is an aged and respectable man, well known to many of our citizens, and now desires to ask if Mr. Clift is the commander of Savannah. He says, 'I was raised in Savannah, have lived here many years, and know who my friends are. I don't want any six months resident to rule me. I will not vote for any man who comes here with nothing but a carpet bag and an overcoat. This is the first time I have cast a vote, and I want to vote for men that I know, men who have property here and can represent the county properly.' He very naturally felt quite indignant at this interference with his rights.