Judge Goff's Decision
May 18, 1895
Summary
An Appellate Court Judge declares the registration and dispensary laws unconstitutional, making it harder to disenfranchise black people.
Transcription
The action of Judge Goff of the United States Appellate Court, who in company with Judge Simonton declared the registration and dispensary laws unconstitutional is in keeping with right, and the dictates of conscience. We have never doubted but what a United States Court would so declare with reference to the dispensary laws if the questions could be gotten before it.
Interstate travellers and freight have some rights which the legislature of South Carolina is bound to respect. As to the decision of the court with reference to the registration laws, which essayed to absolutely disfranchise the American citizen of African decent and set up a government of the minority controlled by a ring, there has never been a question.
It was known to be repugnant to the constitution of the United States and its strongest supporters contented themselves with the declaration that the court had no jurisdiction, and if it had and the law was unconstitutional the state could not be enjoined or restrained from acting as it saw fit.
However, Gov. Evans, who declared that he would disregard the instructions of the court has not as yet taken any steps so to do.
Andrew Jackson had at one time to send notice to South Carolina that he would place national troops upon her soil and no one who knows Grover Cleveland or Attorney General Olney will doubt but what he would do to day as Andrew Jackson did more than forty years ago. A singular fact in the connection with this case may be noted when it is remembered that the better class of Democrats who had in years passed opposed the disfranchisement of the Negro were forward in demanding that he has his rights. The blighting effects of Tillmanism wrought this change, and smiles play upon the countenances of those who were most apprehensive. God brings all things right in his own time.
Interstate travellers and freight have some rights which the legislature of South Carolina is bound to respect. As to the decision of the court with reference to the registration laws, which essayed to absolutely disfranchise the American citizen of African decent and set up a government of the minority controlled by a ring, there has never been a question.
It was known to be repugnant to the constitution of the United States and its strongest supporters contented themselves with the declaration that the court had no jurisdiction, and if it had and the law was unconstitutional the state could not be enjoined or restrained from acting as it saw fit.
However, Gov. Evans, who declared that he would disregard the instructions of the court has not as yet taken any steps so to do.
Andrew Jackson had at one time to send notice to South Carolina that he would place national troops upon her soil and no one who knows Grover Cleveland or Attorney General Olney will doubt but what he would do to day as Andrew Jackson did more than forty years ago. A singular fact in the connection with this case may be noted when it is remembered that the better class of Democrats who had in years passed opposed the disfranchisement of the Negro were forward in demanding that he has his rights. The blighting effects of Tillmanism wrought this change, and smiles play upon the countenances of those who were most apprehensive. God brings all things right in his own time.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cord Fox
Citation
“Judge Goff's Decision,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 20, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1407.