Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-05
SOUTH CAROLINA.
The New State Constitution as Adopted
by the Convention.

The Charleston Courier, of Sept. 30, pub
fishes the complete revised Constitution of
South Carolina, as adopted by the State Con
ventions on the 9th ult. The following is a
summary of its provisions:
Representation is placed as heretofore,
upon the Joint basis of the amount Of all taxes
raised, whether direct or indirect, and the
number of white inhabitants in each election
district. This important change, however, is
made, that where, as all lands in the State,
except those in the cities, were assessed un-
der the old system, according to fixed, une
quail and arbitrary estimate. now the taxes
will be laid according to the actual value Of
the property. This is reform which has
long been needed, and is one strictly founded
in common right. 1t will prove great relief
to Charleston, which alone thus paid nearly
one-third of the impoSt in the State.
''One Senator is assigned to each judicial
district, except in the judicial district of
Charleston, which constitutes, under the pres
ent arrangement, two election districts The
city, composed Of the late parishes of st.
Phillips and st. Mchaers, forms one election
district with two senators, and the former par
ishes of Christ Church, st. Johns Berkeley,
St. Andrews, St. James Goose Creek, St.
Thomas and st. Denis, st. James Santee,
st. Stephens and st. Johns Colleton, consti-
tute another election district under the name
of the Election District of Berkeley, and are
entitled to one senator in the place of the eight
they were accustomed to when distinct election
districts.
'.The House of Representatives remains the
same in numbers, with the proviso that no one
election district shall be assigned more than
twelve representatives. The quota of Charles
ton heretofore was twenty In other respects
the provisions on this subject are substantially
the same.
The cica roce vote has been submitted in
the General Assembly for the suffrage by
ballot
''The office of Governor, which has in a
measure been nominal in its character, is in
vested with great power. The term is extend
ed to four years. He is to be elected by the
people, and in case of an equality of votes, he
is then to be chosen by the General Assembly.
The pardoning power is committed to his eX
ercise, but with the safeguard that he is to re-
port to the legislature all cases of amnesty
which have been granted by him, with full
statement of his reasons therefor.
I'm order to prevent hasty legislation, the
veto power is vested in him, subject to be
cverruled by majority of both branches of
the General Assembly.
''The Lieutenant Governor. also elected by
the people, becomes by virtue of his office the
President of the Senate, and succeeds to the
chair of state in case Of a vacancy.
''1he law is to be administered by superior
and inferior courts, to be directed and estab-
lished by the legislature. The judges of the
Superior Court to be elected by them for the
term of good behavior; those of the inferior
courts for four years. One of the latter to be
located in each judicial district, and to be
especially charged with the trial of all civil
causes wherein one or both of the parties are
persons of color, and of all criminal cases
wherein the accused is a person of color
''The freehold qualification for a seat in the
Senate or House of Representatives is dis
pensed with.
'The qualifications for suffrage are the same
as before, with an exception made in favor of
emigrants from Europe, who, in lieu of the
provision of two years previous citizenship,
must have declared their intention to become
a citizen of the United States according to the
Constitution and laws of the same. No estate
is made requisite.
''The Treasnrers Of the upper and lower dl-
visions are united into one, whose office will
be at Columbia.
''The clause in relation to involuntary SER
vitude asserts, first, that the slaves have been
emancipated by the action of the United States
authorities, and secondly, that except as a pun
ishment for crime upon due conviction, it shall
never be re-estabEshed.
"The election will take place on the 18th of
October ensuing, being the third Wednesday
in the month. y -.Ety