The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-08

operation With lHe Scnela' Nof AA>"' w. ~
sissippi has. -
->>o~>o~-->~~- 20.
The election for the Convention is over, ane
that important body will assemble on "ednes'
dav next 1t has serious work before it, anc
we nope its members are earnestly preparing
themselves by thought and study for wise dis
charge Of its duties. Tile great work before the
Convention may, 70 some extent, be estimated
by glance at the following obvious subjects
which will necessarily come before 1t:
1st There is the great work Of adopting Z
Constitution conforming to the necessities Of oul
condition, by prohibiting slavery. Few can ap
prec:ate this change, for it requires an intimate
knowledge Of our laws and History during all the
past of South Carolina, whether as Colony, Pro-
vince or State. as well as an acquaintance with
the agricultural pursuits and social domestic llle
of our people.
----e-'l-ssa ssader this -araat reanlatiaa nrnrisicu
must be- made, tosome extent by the ConreEtion'
and completed by tie Legislature, soon 10 as
semule to. protect the negro in the rights Sc
cured by the new Constitution, nnd TO preserve
society from the complete wreck likely to c"sne
from turning loose in our midst four hundred
thousand idle negroes, unpreparcd for freedom
The task is indeed Herculean, but lie necessity
is upon US and no man is worthy the nane ci
citizen who is not awake to the importance oi
the occasion.
Sd. There is nov no propricty in The preser-
vation OF the Parish System The system
never could have stood the test Of argument
save in convention with the conservatism desi-
raSle in view of slavery and states rights, now
"ratione cessante, cessGt ipsa lcx." The system
would have gone down long sincc, hut for the
middle country which stand as barrier between
the up-country and the parishes; now Of course
that help will be Withdrawn, and the parishes
cannot help themselves if they are opposed to
the change. Their preponderance was chiefly
in their senatorial presentation; that is lssl il'
the convention ); and the FIVE Districts which aHe
divided into parishes arc in woful minority.
This change will work a reduction ofthe Senate
from forty-six down to thirty members. It is
likely, however, that at an early day some Of
the larger Districts will be divided; so as to Sc
cure q larger Senate. Thirty is too small a
number for representative body which controls
the Legislation Of State.
4th. We presume it is settled question that
the election for Presidential electors aud prrooa
bly, for Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall
be given to the people," as it is expressed. -
We hope that when this is done the Legislature
will take upon themse!v's '!:e appointment q
court officers, as expevIc'.cc f"s f"''lr rr"v"n
that popular ty is YET" !"'.> s';un ol la: ;
Gcr Sheriff or Ordinary.
9th 1t will be necessary Sc tiAk for The
Convention to ordain tha4all acts Of The Legls-
lature, passed. during the war, and not incon-
sistent with the change of the constitution, Shall
be held valid-otherwise endless confusion aud
wide spread ruin will result.
6th It will be necessary to alter the proper
ty qualification for members Of the Senate and
House Of Observation-Disclosures the ruin
which has visited our State will disqual!fy large
numbers Of those best suited to serve the Peo-
pie.
These are few Of the obvious matters upon
which enactments must be had by the Conren-
lion. There are other matters of great public
policy upon which that body will express their
views, and probably in some Of them memorial
ize the United States Govern ment--such as tic
colonization Of the negroe, the pardon of ofJEFFEK
son DAVIS, &C., and probably the subject Of COM
pensation to the owners for the emaucipated ne
groes. ibis may be regarded as chimcrical, but
while We would counsel Our people to build nc
unwise hopes upon the suggestionssyet prece-
dent is allin favor of ofcompensation, while if the
South is ever to recover from her ruined condi-
ton, if our private dcuts are ever to be pals, il
we are ever to be Of any service in building up
again this great country, this relief must he Of.
tosded..