The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-02-18
The Reeonstructiou Conventlon.

The debate Saturday developed the
ffaoD tnar the freedman is determined
to have land. If he cannot get it by
purchase with the public funds, he
will secure it by a system of taxation
80 onerous, That every implanted
acre must be sold by the sheriff.
A war of words occurred between
Leslie, Langley, Cardoza and others,
IN which personalities were freely
passed. Personality, gross inuendoes,
bitter prejudices, old memories, hate
full "reminiscences followed in quick
succession, and the chair was repeat
edly obliged to call the members to
order for transgressing the rules OF
decent debate.
Pillsbury likened him to the world,
the flesh and the devil, especially the
last named horned monster.
l.. S. Langley said if the delegate
from Barnwell, who had intruded so
much on the courtesy of the Conven-
ton, could not keep his seat, he ought
to be gagged.
The chair raped the belligerent
member from Beaufort to order, and
reminded him that language of that
sort must not be uttered upon the
floor.
Mr.. Leslie suggested to the delegate
that he had better attempt to per-
form that interesting ceremony out
of doors.
r. 3. Elliott, (colored,) from
Charleston, (but representing Edge
field described NIr. Leslie as being
non compos mentiS-said that she
must be lunatic, not to use n
stronger word"
The chair called the speaker to
order.
Elliot said he was sorry parliamen-
tary rules did not permit him to re-
tort as strongly as he desired. He
proceeded thereupon to discuss Mr..
Leslie in the capacity of an agent to
distribute corn for the poor.
Whipper called him to order for
assailing the private character of tie
gentleman. The chair sustained the
point made.
Langley rose to point of order,
and alleged that Mr.. Leslie had re-
marked he would not believe q GER
tain member of the Convention under
oath.
Whipper replied that the remark
was made in private conversation
was not in the purview of debate,
and had been simply overheard by
Langley.
The chair stated he had nothing to
do with matters not publicly dis
cussed.
Cardoza (colored) said he was very
sorry so much personality had be-
come mixed up in debate. It re-
minded him of the old proverb that
sit takes rogue to catch rogue. +"
He thereupon proceeded to call the
member from Barnwell ga cast-off
politician;" expressed his surprise ut
the "treachery" of the delegate from
Beaufort, wv. ). Whipper.)
The bone of contention, was q re.
solution offered by colored mem
Der, requesting Congress to make q
loan to the State of 81, ,OOO,OO for
the purpose of purchasing lands.
Leslie said the real question before
the house involved in the presenta-
lloD VI tno peGltlOn was not simply
whether Congress could, would or
should advance the loan of 81, 900, =
600; but how far the Republican
party of South Carolina would tole-
rate demagoguism, and how much
political capital was to be made out
of petition which the world knows
would never afford one dollar of re-
lief. The whole speech of the dele
gate from Charleston, yesterday, was
an appeal to the passions of the
colored people. He showed them
the probability of obtaining land; {;
told them they were entitled to it,
that it was but justice they should
have it, and appealed not to the Con-
vention, but to the audience of lis
teners without its bar, for which he
received the award of their applause.