South Carolina

Population.

The population of South Carolina was 249,073 in 1790; 502,741 in 182o; 594,398 in 1840; 703,708 in 186o; 705,606 in 1870; 995,577 in 188o; 1,151,149 in 1890; 1,340,316 in 1900; 1,515,400 in 191o; 1,683,724 in 1920; and 1,738,765 in 1930, an increase of only 3.3% during the last decade as compared with 11.1% during the decade immediately preceding and 13.1% during the decade before that. In only one other State, Missis sippi, in 1920, did the negroes exceed the whites; in South Caro lina 51.4% of the total, or 864,719 were negroes, and 48.6% were whites. There has been a steady decline in the percentage of ne groes from the high point of 60.7% in 188o, until in 1930 the Cen sus revealed that they numbered only 45.6% of the whole, the negroes having decreased in number 8.2% in contrast with a gain of 15.3% for the whites during the decade 1920-30. In 5930 of the total population 99.4% were native-born. Density of population was 57.0 per square mile. The urban population was 21.3 % of the whole, as compared with 14.8% in 1910 and 17.5% in 1920.

Government.

South Carolina was governed from 1670 to 1719 under the provincial charter of 1665, from 1719 to 1775 under commissions and instructions from the Crown, and from 1776 under the Constitutions of 1776, 1778, 1790, 1865 and 1895. An amendment to the Constitution may be proposed in either house of the legislature. If approved by two-thirds of the mem bers elected to each it must be submitted to the people at the next election for members of the house of representatives. If it is ap proved by a majority of those voting upon it and subsequently by a majority vote in each house of the general assembly chosen at that election, it becomes a part of the Constitution. A convention to revise the Constitution may be called by a two-thirds vote in each house ratified by a majority of those voting for representa tives at the next election.

A voter must be 21 years old, a resident of the State two years, of the county one year, of the voting precinct four months and must obtain a certificate of registration conditioned on showing that he or she is able to read and write the Constitution or the past year paid taxes on property assessed at $300 or more. (Assess ments are usually at about one-fourth value.) Illiterates were allowed before 1898 to register for life by "understanding" the Constitution. Paupers, idiots, the insane, prisoners and persons ever convicted of certain crimes, unless pardoned, are disfran chised. As the democratic nomination is equivalent to election, more important is the rule confining voting in the party primary to white Democrats and a negligible number of negroes who can prove by ten white men that they have voted Democratic from 1876, the only other qualifications being those of citizenship, age and residence as stated in the Constitution.

Constitutional amendments changed the terms of the governor and other State officers from two to four years, beginning with those elected in 1926. The governor is ineligible for re-election. He may veto "any one or more of the items or sections contained in any bill," but may be overruled by a two-thirds majority of those voting in each house. In practice the item veto has been used only regarding appropriation bills. The general assembly, meeting annually, is composed of the senate (one member from each of the 46 counties elected for four years) and the house of representatives (124 members elected for two years from the counties in proportion to population). The State elects seven congressmen.

The five supreme court judges and the 14 circuit court judges are elected by the legislature for ten and four years respectively.

Magistrates (justices of the peace) are appointed by the governor with senate confirmation, although the recommendation of the senator from the county or of a primary election practically determines the selection. In a few counties a county court with an elected judge disposes of a large part of the lesser civil and crim inal cases elsewhere burdening the circuit courts. The probate judge in each county (elected) has also the duties of a juvenile court. The State is divided into two Federal court districts.

Local Government.

The unit of local government is the county. Counties are divided into townships, but there are no township governments, the township being hardly employed except for the assessment of taxes and the care of local roads. Although the forms of municipal government are prescribed under general statutes and enjoy certain constitutional rights, they are con siderably subject to State legislative authority. They may exempt new manufactories from taxes for five years, except for school purposes, provided a majority in a popular election approve.

The county is administered by a commission, almost always popularly elected. Road or hospital commissions, etc., are fre quently appointed by the governor, usually on recommendation of the county legislative delegation. The usual county officers are elected, except the auditor and treasurer, who are appointed by the governor with senate confirmation; however, the governor practically always names the successful primary election candi dates without question. There being no county legislature, the State legislature is oppressed with a mass of local legislation. It enacts usually without question whatever the senator and repre sentatives of the county concerned agree upon. These thus form in effect a county legislature. The senator, as controlling action by the senate, thus exercises an enormous extra-legal power.