The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-06

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1865.
South Carolina.
TnE NEW STATE CoNsTtTCTI0N As ADOPTED ~
THE CONVENTION

TnE NEW STATE CoNsTuCTI0N As ADOPTED ~
THE CONVENTION
The Charleston Courier of September
9th publ shes the compltt revised Con
stltution of South Carolina, as adopted
| by the State Convention on the 9th ult.
The following Is q summary Of its pro-
Visions
! Representation is placed, as hereto
fore, upon The joint basis of the amount
ot all taxes raised, whether direct or in
direct, and the number OF white inhabi-
| tohts in each election district. This inn
| rortant change, however, is made, that
| whereas all lands in the State, except
those in the cities, We're assessed, under
/ the old systen, according toa fixed, un~
| equal and arbitrary estimate. now the
taxes will he laid aceordingto the actual
value Of the property. This Is q reform
which has long been needed, and is one
strictly found in common right. II will
prove . great relief to Charleston, which
aione thus paid nearly oneethirl Of the
| iinpost in the state.
"One Senator is assigned 10 each IudI-
cial district, except In the judicial dis
WV VI tffidtiOcApU, W tilt;h CONSTITUTES,
under the present arrangement, two
4. election districts. Tho city, composed
OF the late parishes Of St. Phillips aud
St. Michael's, forms one election dis
trict with TWO Senators, and the
former parishes Of Christ Church st,
Johns, Berkeley, st. Andrews. St.
James Goose Greek, st. Thomas and
st. Denis, st. James Santee, st. Ste
phen's and st. Johns Coleton, censti-
tute another election distriet under the
name Of the Election District of Ecrke-
ley, aud are entitled to one Senator in
place OF tho eight they were accustomed
TO when distinct election districts.
"lhe House of Representatives re-
main the same in numbers, with the
! proViso that no one election district shall
| be assigned more than twelve repfesen-
tatives. The quota of Charleston here
tofore was twenty. In other respects
the provisions on this subject ARE sub
stantialIy the same.
! The RIA p0ce vote has been substitu,
/ ted IN the General Assembly for the suf-
! ffa8e by ballot.
1.-The office Of governor, which has in
a measure been nominal in its character,
Is invested with great power Thetcfm
Is extended to four years. He is 10 be
! elected by the people, and in case of An
equality Of votes, he is then to be chosen
by the General Assembly. The pardon
| ipg power is committed to his exercise,
I hut with the safeguard that he is TO re.
| port to the Legislature all eases OF am
nesty which have been granted by him
with n full statement Of his reason
therefor.
t"In order to prevent hasty Legislation
the veto power is vested in him, subjec
TO be ovcrruled by majority Of bolt
branches of the General Assembly.
"Thc ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, also elect
ed by The people, becomes by virtue o
| his office the President of the Senate
and succeeds to the chaicpf State in case
| Of It vacancy.
| 1.-THE law ia TO be administered by supc-
rior and inferior courts, to be directed
and established 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 the term
of four years. One Of the latter 10 he To-
Gated in each judicial district, and 10 be
especially charged with The trial of all
civil causes wherein one on both cf the
parties are persons Of color, and Of all
criminal cases wherein the accused Is q
person of color.
"The freehold qualification for seat
in the Senate or House of Representa-.
tives is dispensed with.
THE qualifications for suffrage Is the
same as before, with an exception made
IN favor of enIigrantS from Europe,
who, III lieu of The provision of two
years previous citizenship, must have
declared their intention To become q elti.
zen Of the United States, according to
the constitution and laws OF the same.
No estate 10 made requisite.
"rhe TreasureIs of the upper and low
cr divisions are united into one, whose
Office will be Mt Columbia.
"l'he clause in relation TO involuntary
seryiiude asserts, first, that the slaves
have been emancipated by the action of
the United States authorities: and, Sc
condly, that, except as punishment for
crime upon due conviction, it shall never
be re-estnblished.
''1he election will take place on the
18th Of October ensuing, being the third
IVa1nncInS- i'm tho t,1ppti, -