The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-05

poses the disfranchisement and disa-
bl!ltles-so that, in virtue of the high
authority mus invoked and exercised,
the loyal people of the State may be
completely rehabilitated; This result
is so necessary and wise that we must
soon witness its consummatidn. In
ehls event, Article III of the old Con-
stltution, will be substantially if not
literally restored.
Article IV-legislative department
has undergone several and consider
able changes. They are mainly the
results or incidents of the war, in the
midst of which the new Constitution
was proclaimed. Such us arise from
the disseverance of the Old Dominion:
and the abolition of slavery will
readily be understood. The Alexan-
dria Constitution declares that the
House of Delegates shall consist of
not less than eighty and not more
Imam one hundred and four members,
and the Senate of number not aess
than one-third and not more than one
half the number of the House. It
apportlons representation in the House
andsSenate among the counties and
cities, and provides for future reap
porhonment in. 1870 and decennially
thereafter, in an enumeration of the
inhabitants of the State. The Gene
ssl Assembly is to meet an nnually. In
this article, sections 10, 20 and 81
OF. the former Constitution, headed
''sla7es and free negroes have been
substituted in the now by sections
headed ''slavery or. freedom, =" declar-
Ing slavery abolished and forever pro-
mblted. Another section relates to
the public debt land fits apportionmenti
between Virginia and West Virginia.
1t declares that no ordinance Of the
Wheeling Convention adjusting the
debt between the two shall be binding
on this State. Another section of thie
article prohibits the Legislature from
paying any debt df obligation incurred
by the rebelious State authorities at
Richmond. It also forbids any county,
city or corporation to levy or collect
any tax to pay any debt created in aid
of the rebellion. The sinking fund
created and regulated by the 29th sec
ton of the former Constitution, ap-
pears to be entirely omitted from the
NV. Instead of that, the goth Sec
tion of the new Constitution provides
that no debt shall be contracted by the
State, except for casual deficits in the
revenue, or the discharge of q previ-
GUS liability, or for military purposes.
If the State become stockhoMer in
any internal improvement, the stock
shall be paid for at the time of sub
scription, or tax shall be levied for
the next year to pay the subscription
in full.
Article V, of the Executive Depart
ment, in the late Constitution, remaias
unchanged, except by this addition:
s'Until the members of the Board of
Public Works shall be elected by di-
rection of the Legislature and quail
fed, the authority. and duty Of the
Board are devolvA on the Governor,
Auditor and Tre4klrer of the Com
monwealth; and TIE Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall discharge the
duties of the. .clerk, of said Board"
Article VI relating to the Judi
oiary, Is very materially changed in
the new Constitution, The latter pro-
.vides for a Court Of Appeals, to con-
eSC "! IAIee JUDGES, 1oI ulSCrlcI courts,
and for sixteen circuit courts. The
judicial term is not changed, but the
mode of election or appointment is
radically, different from that lately in
force. It is provided that the judges
shall be chosen by the joint vote of
the two houses of the General Assem-
BY, from persons nominated by the
Governor. The several circuits and
districts are defined in the Constitu-
tlon. In other respects, the former
constitutional provisions on the judi
clary arecontinued unchanged. JUS
tlces ofsthe peace, besides their per
dae"s Tor court service, may by law be
allowed fees and emcluments for other
services.
In conclusion of our exhibit of the
Alexandria Constitution, in which we
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