The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-18
THE CONVENTION.
CONVENTION HELD BY AUTHORITY OF THE
RECONSTRUCTION LAWS OF CONGRESS,
TO FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.

wholly in the discussion of the vexed question
''shall We petition Congress for million o
dollars 2" There was quite as much reason il
debating the propriety of offering the Lords
prayer; for, as Rev. R. Il. Cain observed, tht
right of petition is secured to everybody, enc
there certainly could be no harm in sending
the document to Washington.
AL the new candidates for Congress, how
ever, desired to "say their say" and the body
was treated to the most unmitigated eloquenct
from. eleven until half-past two In point o.
merit, the speeches were above the average
standard, admirably adapted to the stump
and would have made durable and profitable
reputation for either of the orators at big
barbecue just before election.
PROCEED ,NGS OF THE CONVENTION.
| TwENTY-EdHTH DAY.
The convention assembled at the usual hour.
| PRAYER by the Rev. B. Burt II (colored). The
roll was called aud journal read
The Committee on Miscellaneous Provisions
reported series of sections for incorporation
in tho constitution. Most OF the provisions
refer to them when they come up for consi-
deratlon.
The debate was resumed on the report Of
| The Committee on Petitions, recommending a
petition to Congress for loan OF one million OF
dollars.
MIR. N. G.. Parker was entitled TO the floor,
and made o long, earnest and forci6le speech
| in opposition to the report. He reviewed tho
arguments of the several speakers on Friday
and Saturday, and argued that the petition, il
sent to Congress- would weaken the cause OF
Republicanism, and damage the interests OF
the party, without at1ording the relief sought.
Mr. D. II. Chamberlain regretted, exceeding
", to observe the exhibition Of acrimory and
use of pers onalities in debate, especially upon
a subject which should unite every man in the
conycntion-namely, that Of relief He WAS
opposed to reputation, and to every measure
which looked that way; but when question OF
pure relief to the people, irrespective OF race
or color, came up, he was compelled TO give II
his hearty support. He claimed that the frced-
men of the South were entitled to some con-
sideration as we'll Us the whites, and if even an
example of SUCCESS could be afforded as the
result of this application to Congress: 1t would
strengthen the cause OF reconstruction more
than any other measure that could be adopted.
r. 81. Cain, the mover of the original resolt-
ton and petition, spoke at length, ana MADE
an argument which evidently told with effect
m tne members of the convention. He denied
that he was Influenced by motives of person
al character, or that his design was to deceive.
On tho contrary he felt satisfied that if the
petition should be favorably received by Con-
cress, the result would be to supply 125,O0O
people with homes, and relievo the freedmens
Bureau from the present necessity OF supply
ing the wants of G vas. number OF the pcnni-
less and nccdy He was unqualihedly opposed
to the taxation Of lands tor the purpose OF
forcing them into market; but, at the same
time believed it would bo mercy to the large
landholders il they could be relieved from q
portion of their possessions and recelvo III hen
therefor greenbacks, which would enable them
to embark in other pursuits.
II + Moses, Jr., OF Sumter, followed, and
made tho best and most reasonable speech TINT
hug been delivered in favor OF the petition
He claimed that to bestcw relief upon the
freedpeople was part Of the theory OF recon-
struction, and, consequently part OF tho Dusi-
ness of tho conventions; that the lrccapcople
were entitled TO consideration from tue TACT
TINT during the war they had behaved Ill the
most exemplary manner while their masters
were absent in the field, and since the war mad
exhibited degree OF patience and docillty
which entitled them to conslderatlo }. AS
reward for this quiescence they Should DC sup,
Piled with tho means OF sclt-sustcnance, anu
he was in favor of any system, except that OF
robbery. which would secure to every head or
d family the opportunity OF making his daily
bread. His CHIEF objection to tho report OF tho
committee was that instead OF recommending
one million of dollars it did not call for five VI
ten millions. The money would not como out
OF the pockets OF the taxpayers hereafter. II
was already iu the possession OF The Freed
mans Bureau, and could readily be devoted to
the purpose in view. Every man in the con-
yention who did not vote i'll favor OF the propo-
sition would be held to Il strict accountability.
He would be obliged to stand up i'll the pres
ence of his ,nstitucnts and declare why
he had proved recreant to the pledges
made to them before coming 10 the conven-
ton, and for one hc would accept no
such issue. A part of his duty in that body
consisted in suppolt ting measures OF relief, anu
no threats of consequences, public or private,
could make him swcrve from his purpose. Ihe
Gentleman from Barnwell (Alr. LESLEY would
no doubt refer to his past record. He desired
to confess that as an officer OF the State he had
raised the fag of Sou h Carolina ovor tho d.
lapidated walls of Fort Sumter i'll 1861, but an
tecedents were not to be remembered against
n man in these times. AS n member OF the
Republican party his eyes wee now forward
and not to the rear, and as Republican he
had no other wish than the reconstruction OF
the State on such principles as would give
equal and exact justice to all men.
Mr.. B. +. Whittemore, OF Darlington, closed
the debate He said lie was i'll favor OF the
spirit of the petition, desired as much as any
man to see relief afforded, and differed from
others only as TO the means by which the bcn-
eft was to be secured Ho wished before act
ine upon the subject that the convention would
cndeavor to ascertain if even larger amount
than million OF dollars could not be obtained
and to this end suggested the following rcsolu-
ton:
r. solued, That the President Of the Convon-
ton be authorized to telegraph 20 tho Presi-
dent of the Senate and Speaker OF the House OF
Representatives, and request them to present
before their respective branches tho great need
Of our people, and their homeless aud landlcss
condition, with the view of securing On carly
expression from the government as to whether
petition signed by every member OF this con-
Yention would be productive OF loan from the
national treasury, to enable her large farming
population to acquire lard, and II so, how large
an amount should be petitioned for.
Mr. Whittemore said that he believed tho
adoption Of this resolution would cover all the
differences OF opinion existing on tho floor, and
would also satisfy them as to the probability OF
any action in tho premises by Congress.
The resolution was not agreed to.
The previous question was now called fcr
and sustained and, the main question beng
put, tho report of the committee wa adopted
with only about six or seven dissenting voices.
1t being the hour Of adjournment, the COLI
| vention then dissolved.
..@....z.zsE@~
REVIVAL OF SHIPBUnDING.-Among recent
signs Of improvement is disposition among
1,t1ur,