The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1865-09-13


ton who has held Office under the so-callcd Con-
federate Government, or under any rebel!lous
State Governments or who has been member oe
the so-callcd Confederate Congress, or a member
of anv State Legislature in rebellion against the
authority Of the United States, excepting there
from county officers" This prescription and i'm
practicable rule will doubtless, be eXpunged at
an carly day. 1t is impossible to continue such
provision among the people who are recognized
as loyal, and who claim. j Republican Govern
ment. The reason and necessity OF such a pro-
scription, if ever Of sufficient c0gency, have Who'll
ly ceased; and the Executive and the Legislature
have united in commencing and promoting its
abrogation. The Legislature, at the extra ses-
sion aforementioned, by an Act passed on the
2lst day Of June, 1865, entitled IAN Act to pro-
vide for the amendment Of the third article Of
the Constitution" invested the Governor with
discretion to ascertain the sense OF the qualified
voters on the proposition to empower the next
General Assembly to- amend The third article Of
the constitutional which imposes the disran-
chisement and diSabiiites-so that, in virtue OF
the high authority thus invoked and exercised,
the loyal people Of the State may be completely
rehabilitated This results so necessary and wise
that we must soon witness its c0nsulnmatien. In
this event Article III Of the old Constitution,
will be substantially ifnot literally restored.
Article IF-legiSative department has under
gone several and considerable changes. They
are mainly the results or incidents Of the war,
in the midst of which the new ConstitutioRss5Yas
proclained. Such as arise from the disseyerance
of the Old Dominion and the abolition Of slavery
will be readily understood. The Alexandria Con-
stitution declares that the House Of Delegates
shall consist Of not less than eighty and not more
than one hundred and four members, and2 the
Senate of a number not less than one-third snd
not more than one-haH tie number Of the House.
It apportons representation in the House and
Senate among the counties and citicsJ ID pro-.
YideS forfuture rc-ApportioHment in 1870, and
deeennially thereafter, in an enumeration of the
inhabitants of the State. The c. Assembly
is to meet annually. In this an ctions 10,
90 and 81 of the former Cons h, headed
."s!aves and free negroes" have been substituted
in the new by sections headed" slavery or free
dom," declaring slavery abolished and forever
prohibited. Another section relatSs to the pub
lie debt andSits apportiopWeut between, Virginia
and West Virginia. 1t declares that no ordi-
nance Of the Wheeling Convention adjusting the
debt between the two shall be binding, on this;
State. Another section Of this article, prohibits
the Legislature from paying any debt or obliga-
ton. incurred by the rebellious State authorities
at Richmond Italso forbids any county, city
or corporation to levy or collect any tax to pay
any debts created in aid of the rebellion. The
sinking fund created and regulated by the 29th
section of the former Constitution, appears to be
entirely omitted from the new. Instead Of that,
the 29li section of the new Constitution provides
that no debt shall be contracted by the State, c&
eept fsr casual deficits in the revenue, or the
discharge Of previous liability, or for military
purposes If the State become a stoekholder in.
any internal improvement, the stock shall be
paid for at the time OF subscription, or a tax shall
be levied for the next year to pay the subscription
in full. s., : >,7-.- T.. p -.
s Article V. of the Executive Department, in
the late Constitution, remains unchanged, except
by this addition :: Until the members Of. the
Board of Public Works shall be elected by direc-
ton of the Legislature and qualified, the authority
and dutysof the Board are devolVed on the Gov
ernor, Auditor and Treasurer of the Common
wealth; and the Secretary of the he2Commonwealth,
shall discharge the. duties Of the clerk Of
said Board" So, =.
Article ", relating to the Judiciary, is very
materially changed in the new Constitution.
The latter provides for court of Appeals, to
consist Of three judges, for district courts, and
for sixteen circuit courts The Judicial term is
not changed, but the mode Of election Or appoint
ment is radically different from that lately in
force. Tits provided that the judges shall be
chosen by the joint. vote of the two houses of
the General Assembly, from persons nominated
by the Governor The Several circuits, and dis
tricts are defined in the Constitution. In other
respects, the former constitutional provisions on
the judiciary are continued unchanged. Justices
of the peace, besides their per diem for court
service may by law be allowed fees and emolu,
ments for other services.
~ In conclusion of our exhibit of the Alexandria
Constitution, in which we have stated all iulPor-.
tant changes, and emitting only the minor and
trivial ones, We may remark that the body 5ftke
instrument mother matters isa transcript OF the
former Constitution. Inrespect to the;judiciafy,
the change is at most but of debatable pFopriety.
TT involves an abandonmcut Of popular election
Of Judges and adopts a mode Of appointment
somewhat resembling that IN the Constitution Of
the United States. The change is not Of 4 char,
aeter to. excite much, if any, repr6batiens; to
many it will be preferable to the superseded
mode. The inhibition of an appropriation to iil
ternal Improvements is a change OF great conse-
cuence It iswell calculated to elicit discussion !;
but at present, when our public debt aud other
burdens, are so heavy y.as to- be truly oppressive,
there would be scarcely any disposition to aug
ment hem, independentcof of this Inhibition. For
thepresent, therefore, our poverty and sexhaus:
tionsmay rrconcileuS to the provision so coGsis-
tent with them The abolition and Introduction
Of slayeryscontained in the new Constitution are
but the irreyerSible fiat of this generation, ren-
.derinr discussion of the subject wholly sGperdd-
Eoussaflit u1pFo6table The disfranehis and
disabilities Inflicted by the new tuition have
IN part been, and WILSON in whole be pun
ged, and be: substituted by such enlightened and
liberal provisions as viii remove all Just com,
plants and sadss = sound public sentiment. a5
Should these expectations be realized, we:
Shall find the Alexandria Constitutiorrmpch more
cndarable than many may have inaSiled ed.-IfTcas=
Sao@ll1ID -. - E4
.s~,S z'--ss
MAILS FOR COUNTY SEATS -.Ffh he following
communication IN referenee to mail communi-
cation with county seats or "Court houses"
will be found important:
. POST 0FFICEDEPARTMBNT, !
WAsHISGroN, August Sd, 1865. =
SIR: With view to furnishing mail facitl-
ties at the earliest practicable moment, topper,
sons residngIat and near. County seats in the