Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-10-12
summary Of the Provisions Of
the New south Carolina state
Convention.

NEW York, October 3. The Charleston
Courier, of September 20, publishes the
complete revised Constitution of South
Carolina, as adopted by the State Conven-
ton on the 9th ult. The following is a sum
mary ofits provisions:
The representation is placed as hereto
fore upon the joint basis of the amount of
all taxes raised, whether direct or indirect,
and on the number of white people in each
election district. This important change,
however, is made that whereas, all lands in
the State, except those in cities, were as
sessed under the old system, according to q
fixed unequal 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 colonial rights. 1t will
prove great relief to Charleston, which
alone thus far paid nearly one third of the
imports of the State. One Senator is as
signed to each judicial district, except in the
judicial district of Charleston, which con-
stitutes, under the present arrangement,
two election districts. The city, composed
of the late Parishes of St. Phillips aud st.
Mchacls, forms one election district with
two Senators, and the former Parishes Of
Christ Church, St. Johns, Berkeley, st.
James, Goose Creek, st. Thomas and St.
Denis, st. James Santc, and st. Johns
Cotton constitute another election district
under the name of the Election District oi
Berkeley, and are entitled to one Senator il
the place of the eight they were accustomed
to when distinct election districts.
The House of Representatives remain.
the same, with the proviso that no one clec
ton district shall be assigned more thar
twelve Representatives. The quota o
Charleston heretofore was twenty; in othe
respects the provisions on this subject arr
substantially the same The rira roce vot,
has been substituted to the General As
sembly for the suffrage by ballot The of
flee of Governor, which has, in measure
! been nominal in its character, is invested
with great power. The term is extended t
four years he is to be elected by the peo
pie, and in case of an inequality of votes
he is then to be chosen by the General AS
sembly. The pardoning power is committed
to his exercise, but with the safeguard tina
he is to report to the Legislature all case
= of amnesty which have been granted by him
with a full statement Of his reasons there
for.
In order to prevent hasty legislation, tn
veto power is vested in him, subject to /
overruled by majority of both branches O
= the General Assembly. The Lieutenant
; Governor, also elected by the people, be
D comes, by virtue of his Office, the Presidcn
: of the Senate, and succeeds to the chair o
State in case of vacancy. The law is t.
n be administered by superior and inferio
r courts, directed and established by the leg
5 islature. The judges of the superior to b
t elected by them for the term of good be
havior. Those of inferior courts for tou
e ycars-onc of the latter to be located in cacl
c Judicial district, and to be especially charg
+ ed with the trial of all civil cases wherein
one or both of the parties are persons O
- color, and of all criminal cases wherein tn,
accused is person of color The frechol
9 qualification for II seat in the Senate o
r House of Representatives is dispense,
; with.
e The qualifications for suffrage are tn
e same as before, with an exception made i
It favor of emigrants from Europe, who, i
c lieu of the provision of two years previou
$ citizenship, must have declared their inter
G ton to become citizens of the United Statc'
g according to the Constitution and laws
$ the same. No estate is made requisite
y The Treasurers of the upper and lower d
visions are united into one, whose off,
II will be at Columbia. The clause relative
;, voluntary servtudc asserts, first, that Il
l. slaves have been emancipated by the actio
If of the United States authorities and, Sc
d oudly, except as ii punishment for erin
e upon conviction, it shall never be rc-esta
l. lishcd. The election will take place on Il
|. 18th of October ensuing, being the thil
,fI "Wednesday in the month.