Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-09-28

retort the charge of madness upon; those
who reject it's claims. The sermon exhib-
'ited al the peculiar excelcncies Of Dr..
Palmer's pulpit oratory,-impassione
logic as the staple of the discourse. with
fervent appeals to the heart and the con.
science.
On Monday another election case came
up for discussion upon the report of a com
.nittee recommending Mr.. James G. Thorn.
son, Of St. Helena; as entitled to take his
seat in the Convention. The case differed
from that mentioned in my last, in the
fact that here there were no other LEGALLY
constituted manager in the pari h, and that
proper efforts seem to have been made but
without success to comply with the strict
forms Of law, and that the election was al
together fair and honest. Tho vote stood
s6 for admission, and SO against it.
A long discussion took place on Mon.
day, on a resolution authorizing the Pro-
visonal Governor to appoint an agent to
Washington to look after the abandoned
lands, and to aid the citizens of the State
in Obtaining pardon. Tho resolution WA.
finally adopted, with an amendment that
the term Of Office of the agent should not.
he continued beyond the next session of
the legislature.
A resolution fixing the pay Of mcmhers
of tue Convention at IS per diem, and 20
cts. mile, passed the body after some
discussion. A similar provision in rela
ton to the pay Of members of the legis
lature has been introduced into the new
constitution.
Mr.. d. F. Dunkin from the committee
to whom was referred the resolution di-
recting an inquiry as to ''what number of
representatives it will be proper, accord
ing to the presen. laws Of the United
| S. ates. that this State shall tender to the
| approaching Congress of the United States
| and which Committee was also authorized
'to construct the Congressional Districts
taccordiugly." reported that in Obedience to
the provisions of ths Constitution Of the
United States. q census was taken in 1860,
and by the Act OF Congress, passed March
4, 1869, the number of Representatives of
the Congress- Of the United S:a.es was
6xed st two hundred and forty onc-the
ratio of representation was one f,r one
hundred and twenty seven thousand. The
population Of South Carolina was $40 274,
| which entitled this State 10 four Represen-
| tatives, with a fraction Of 1924. Inclu.-
ding this traction i'll the apportionr.ent nf
four Representatives, each Congressional
| District shall consist Of about of l35,5Gs.
In constructing the Districts as required
| by the resolution, other considerations be-
sides equality Of population influenced the
actlan ot the COMMITTEE. They recon-
mend that the first Congressional District
he composed of the following Judicial Dis
tricts, viz: Lancaster, Chesterfield, Marl-
borough; Darlington, Marion, Horny,
Georgetown, Williamsburg, Sumter, Clar-
endon and Kershaw. ..
Second Congressional Distiet-Char
lesion, Coleton, Beaufort and Barnwell.
Third Congressional District-Orange
burg, Elgefield, Abbeville. Lexington,
Newberry, Rchl'nd md Fairfield.
Fourth Congressional District-An-
derson, Pickens, Greenville, Lautens, Spar.
tanburg, Union, York and Chester.
On Tuesday a spirited debate arose up
OH the report of the Committee on an or.
dinance to declare slavery abolished, in
which Messrs. Orr, MCGOWAN, Dawkins,
Dudley, Rion, Dunnovant. Conner, Frost,
| Lesesue. Bovce and Others participated.
The following amendment was finally aiop.
| ted: "Tne slaves in South Carolina -bav-
ing been emancpa:ed by the United States
authorities. neither slavery nor inyolun-
tary seIvitnde, except as punishment for
crime, whereof the party shall have. been
duly convicted, shall eyer be re- establish
ed in this State. Yeas es nays 8.
Tue committee on the Judiciary made a
fa9orahle reportupan the resolutions to al.
low colored persons to testify in cases
where their rights Of person and property
are invoked.
The. ;Parlsh system received its death
blow on. Wednesday by vote of OF to g.
on the proposition to substitute the oil Sec.
tion of the, Constitution Of 1851, instead
Of the Section reported by the Legislative
Committee, which gives to each Judicial
District one Senator" except Charleston,
which is entitled to two. There was a
long debate in which Messrs. Andrews, Orr
fsllman, Youmans, Aldrich and Ball wers
engaged. - /.
The following proviso was introduced By
Mr.. MCGOWAN !: Provided, Ao,ceuer, That in
case suit shall be brought upon any suc h
contracts or obligations, not BY their terms
payable 10 gold or in other specific man
ner, and entered into between the FIRST day
Of January, "A. D. s63, and the tenth
day of May. A. D. 1868, The measure, oi
secnrity. shall be the true value at. the time
Of triol Of property contracted for but ia
ascertaipipg this value, reference shali be
had TO the condition Of propertyAt the
time Of sontrset, and in all such cases,
ths;d defendant may shpw such value with
out speeially pleading The came. 81.
on Ebnssday a1res6iution by Mr.gAp
drevsS Saitniting debate TO rs ::n,iaptss to
each speech. !cxeepta with the soopSsnt oi
| the Convention, was adopted BY s.xots 81
IS yeas TO SO snays. ~,
i Thntsday and Friday were busy day.
with Che Convention, and much. wnfk xas
done ig rnatnring ths report ~ hss Com