The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-27
THE RADICAL STATE CONVENTION
[FRoM OUR SPECIAL conREsPoNDE%.1

l FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
COLUMBIA, July 25.-The proceedings of tn
Convention to-day were interesting, and the al
tendance Of spectators unusually large. The Con
vention met at half-past ten, and after prayer b
the Rev. JAMES BROWN, the minutes OF the las
meeting were read.
Considerable but unimportant discussion en-
sued on the manner of appointing State E1ecu
tive Central Committee, and the subject wa
finally referred to Committee Of Three.
| Committee on Finance was appointed, con
| sisting Of j. P. NJ. EPPINa, and four Others
MIR. G. P. LESLIE, of Barnwell (white), offered q
resolution to the effect that the Convention re.
quired reorganization, notwithstanding its officers
had been chosen on the previous day. 1t was
| scarcely read before J. J. Wright, Of Beaufort
colored moved to lay it upon the table. The motion
was agreed to.
The next parliamentary action Of MIR. LESLIE
should have been to take his seat, but instead, he
took the foor with the view, it is said Of giving
vent to speech setting forth the necessity Of hav-
ing white man to preside over and direct the
deliberations of the Convention, on the ground
that it was in itself measure Of conciliation be-
tween the races in the State and Of practical I'M
portance to the success OF the party. But the
President shut down on MIR. LESLIE by calling him
to order. MIR. L. didn't see the point, and said {:
81 rise to question Of privilege"
Chair-Well, what is itP
MIR. LIN not bound to state question Of
privilege.
Chalr.-Then take your seat, sir!
Mr.. L.-Well, if you think you cln run this ma
chine by gagging debate you are very much mis-
taken, and for one
Chair.-The sergeants-at-arms will remove that
delegate from the Lall.
Mr.. LESLIE gave one furtive look behind him,
and as the colored officials advanced for the pur-
pose, quietly, but with some determination, OBJ
served, "Well, don't all come on at once; feel
kindly disposed to you all, but-but-I think I'd
rather take my hat and CO." Aud Mr.. L. departed
lsadder and, no doubt, wiser man.
The Committee on tho Platform and Resolutions
made their report. and Mr.. w. W. HERBERT, OF
Fairfield (white), made minority report. 1t now
became evident that the "gag" process was the
order Of the day, and that, between the unparlia-
nentary decisions of the President and motions
for the previous question, no discussion could be
had. The reading OF the minority report elected
great applause, at once showing that it carried
the sympathy Of the popular heart Of the Conyen-
ton for its mild and temperate tonc.
E. W. MAcKEY, (white), moved that the minority
ceport be laid on the table.
Randolph, (coored), DeLarge, (coiored,) and
Messrs. DUNCAN and HERBERT, friends Of the re-
port, fought the motions as we'll as they knew how,
but gag No. prevailed, and the unfortunate plat
form was laid upon the table.
The Convention proceeded to the consideration
Of the majority report by sections. Mr.. EPPMa
moved that the first section OF the minority leport
5o substituted for the first section Of the majority
report.
The Chair refused to entertain the motion.
MIR. EPPNa-Cant offer q substitute
Chair-No Sir, no part Of that minority report
,an be entertained.
This was Of course unparlamentary, but nobody
,aw fit to appeal from the decision Of the chair,
md the unfortunate platform saw light no more
until after every eection Of the majority report
lad been read and adopted.
Then, Rev. B. F. WHrTrEMoRE, with little e1-
libiGon Of triumpa, remarked that for the pur-
,ose of giving Mr.. HERBERT and his paper o
chance, itshould be taken from the table, Tbis s
he long debate that had attended the tinkering
lpon the other document, and it was voted down
without dissenting voice.
The platform, as adopted, is as follows:
/. That in order to make the labor Of all our
oyal felow-ctizens more efectual for carrying
out the provisions Of Congress for the restoration
of law and order in our State, as well as Tor the
ynf
people Of South Carolina, do form ourselves into
political organization, to be known as the Union
Republican party Of South Carolina.
g. That as republican institutions cannot be
among lcasses, We will favor uniform system
Of free schools and colleges, which shall be open
to all. 49,
g. That we will favor liberal system Of public
such as railroads, canals and
other works, and also such ssystem OF awarding
contracts for the same ss will give all our fellow
citizeus an equal and fair chance to share in
them.
4. That as large land monopolies tend only to
make the rich richer and the poor poorer, and are
ruinous to the agricultural commercial ana social
interests OF the State, the Legislature should
offer every practicable indncemsnt fr the division
and sale OF unocoupied lands among the po rer
classes, and as an encouragement TO immigrants
to settle in our State.
S. That the interests Of the State demand q re-
o. puo GuIut COuo VI lnWo uAo eao ASSA 6eAN
ton Of the courts. =,
6. That it is Just and proper that taxes should
be ad calorem and proportioned to the properly Oh
the citizecs.
Z. That the ballot being the surest safeguard OF
the rights Of the citizen, all executive and legs-
lative officers OF the State should be elected by the
people; therefore,
Resolped, That, in our opinion, purely repub-
lican government is maintained only by MAKING
rulers responsible directly to tine people Pn by
the people themselves; therefore,
Rescued, That the delegates we shatl send 70
the Constitutional Convention about to be calico
by the Commar ding Gene1al, be instructed to SO
Council, Senators and Representatives OF the State
Legislature, and all subordinate officers, except
those of tho Judiciary Department, be chosen by
the people, to hold their respective Offices not 1or
two years, but for one year. And that IN the eiec
ton of President and Vce-President OF the United
States, chosen every four years, the electors, as
they are now in every other State OF the Union,
shall Be chosen by tho ptop.e dr ccdy, and not oy
the members of the Legislature.
8. That the poor and destitute, those agea anu
infirm people, houseless and homeless, and past
labor who have none to care for them, should pe
provided lor at the expense OF the States ana that;
in the reconstruction Of our Government we VIII
see to it that they not neglected and forgotten
9. That the unhappy policy pursued by Andrew amor w
Johnson is in it's effects upon the loyal peopo OF
the South, unjust, oppressive and lntoleraple
and accor iingly, however ardently we desire U
see our Stae once more restored to its proper po-
sition M in the Union, we would deplore restoration
on any other conditions than those prescribed by
the forticth Congress, to which We give our cor
dial and entire sanction, believing the prlncipies
enunciated by the Republican party, through lna'
Congress, 70 be Just and wise.
III That the adverse discrimination toward the
acli uitural iaborers of the Southern States, as
manifested by the enormous tax on cotton, Is ali
just and oppressive, and should be abrogated at
the earliese practicable moment.
II. That We sincerely exult III the fact that, as
nation, We are now absolutely nation Of freemen
and that from the st. Lawrence to tho Rio Grande,
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the sun no
longer shines upon the b row Of slave.
T. That wise care for the public safety some
times renders it necessary that those who have
sought resolutey to overthrow Government
should not hastily be restored to the privileges OF
which they have deprived themselves by their