The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-09-25
COLUMBIA CORRESPONDENCE.
[rRoM OUR OWN conREspoyDENr.1

COLUMBIA, Sept. 90.
To-day the first and second clauses Of the first
article of the Constitution, as reported by the
Committee, were adopted by the Convention, and
became portion of the organic law Of this State
When the third clause came up for consideration.
which provides that every judicial district in the
State shall he election district, except Charles
ton, which shall be divided into two election dis
tricts, Mr.. ANDREWS moved to amend by dividing
Charleston into three election districts to be
known East Charleston, West Charleston, and
Washington. In Offering the amendment, he said
that he believed that this arrangement was not
only just, but would Scneit the State at large.
The arrangement of the Committee is purely arbi-
trary fixed by rule of property, wealth. or taxa
tion Charleston, by the last census, contained over
10000 population, and they propose to give the
ter, onc-sixtecnth, onc-tenth of her population.
With regard to taxes, she pays from &c to 33 per
cent. The principal enterprises in the State are
started there, and all parts of the state feel her
prosperity. He, however, left the matter to their
sense Of Justice and fair dealing.
Mr.. BOILING opposed the amendment on the
ground of inequality i'll tho Senate.
Gen. MCGOWAN was in favor OF giving Charles
Ton three Senator'S. Her white population was, by
census 29,136 Ten thousand whites was a large
average i'll the State for Senator. If We compare
her black population and her taxation with that of
other districts her claim is still greater He also
said that it had been the effort of his life to
break down the feeling between up and low-coun-
try. South Carolina is, after all, a small affair.
worth; 1t is no disgrace to the country to say
that Charleston is superior True, the appointment
of Senatorial districts is arbitrary; but in making
the rule, somo regard should be had to justice.
Mr.. TrIIiNAN delivered, on this subject, one OF
his characteristic speeches, in which he rallied at
ce dss wtS fnn ng ha its people sought
the cunning of the fox, and opposed the amend
ment.
Mr.. FARRow opposed the amendment on the
ground that o compact city did not require repre-
sentatiOn in proportion. to her population.
Mr.. YouMANs moved to amend this amendment
by inserting clause of the old Constitution, nnd in
a well considered speech before body whose
opinions were already fixed, he quoted an up-coun-
tryman Mr. Calhoun, in favor of the parish sys-
a certain purpose, and that the parish system was
not one OF the issues Of the war. He asked the
G 1ads e i was Go9S a faith destroy the
gloom called on different basis from any other
Convention, destroy tho compromised? First act Of
Legislation OF this kind in South Carolina.
MIR. ORR said that he would vndcate his re-
form Of government of South Carolina. ANY sys-
ly is unjust. Objection to parish system was that
parishes entitled, for years past, to rcpresen
taton to which they were neither entitled by taxa
tion or population The voice OF Pickens, in the
Senate, could be neutralized by the vote of the
small Parish Of st. Thomas and st. Dennis. Even
twenty years ago there was a larger population in
Fendeton alone than i'll all Of tho Parishes, ex-
cept Charleston.
:, For thirty years past bills have been passed by
Ine House., and defeated in the Senate, to give
election OF electors to the peoples defeated because
the parishes would have lost bower in casting the
vote. WV
The argument brought before the other Con-
Ventions was, that they would have no power be-
yond the object for which they were called and
Ihat IL Wonid not do i'll great emergencies to throw
an apple OF dseord. Never can We have an occa-
sion when action can SO appropriately be taken as
now. 80
In reply to the charge of onstitutionality
ne asked What Constitution have we now i'm this
state! Our Constitution of 1860 has been over
ruled, and do not know if we have Constitution
at all. If it were certain that VIC have, Chancellor
ordinance to retain the Constitution in force. We
could not have gotten two-third vote il tho
Legislature had been allC 'o1 to meet The Pre-
sident says that all of our ZION is void and he
has appointed temporary Governor, and author-
1Zed him 10 call Convention. We we're assembled
through Proclamation Of Provisional Governor:
without that VIC should not have been here
Quoted the Governors Proclamation; wanted the
convention to remodel the Constitution
DOCS not understand compromise perpetual;
nP-country did not get majority in House until
about 1870 changes which have taken place de-
ana inc changes $500, ,000, 900 property degtroyed;
relation OF negroes is changed whole Constitution
founded on slavery; that Being dead, should not
CONSTITUTION be remodelled2 2-If negro has been
represented as slave undor the Consfftntion what
propriety is there in continuing that now 9l 4 -
Inreply to Mr.. HUGIR, he said had he used tl1p
@ Woras unequal a9a unjust, he, Mr. H. swStld not
rest of the State, had honored him. He had mo no
feeling against them, butthe change ought TO he
made; He know no reason why nn3a nj r,;s,n o
should exist betH6en the up-countfy and t6e low
Mr.. aUazR folloiea In one Of bis eloqnnenat IN Il
-ljsB;.rh ,cso.