Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-03-12
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE ........
RECONSTRUCTION CONVENTION.
FORTIETH DAY.

MONDAY, March 2.-Ihree clauses OF the Ar
tice on Education were passed to their third read
ing The first vests public instruction in q State
Superintendent of Educatation to be elected by the
people; the second provides for an election, bien
nially, in each county, of School Commissioner
said Commissioners to constitute State Board Of
Education, of which the State Superintendent il
to be chairman; the third provides for system o.
public schools and division of the State into schoo
districts; schools to be kept open at least siz
months in the year..
Section four provides for the compulsory atten
dance, at either public or private schools, of al
children between the ages of six and sixteen years
not disabled, for term equivalent to twenty-foul
months.
B. o. Duncan proposed to modify the phrase
compulsory" by saying, 1T shall be duty tc
enforce, as far as practicable, &c.
R. C.. DeLarge moved to strike out the wore
compulsory" -
Il. E. Hayne, of Marion, moved that the sec
ton be recommitted to the committee; and, aftel
debate, the consideration of the whole section was
postponed until tomorrow at II o'clock.
| The next business in order was the report OF the
Committee on Finance and Taxation"
The first six sections were passed without amend
ment They provide that the legislature shall ar
range uniform and equal rate of assessment and
taxation on oil property except such as may be ex
empted by law; that a poll tax may be imposed
for school purposes, but for no other object; that
the legislature may supply deficiency in the funds
raised one year, and that the Legislature may ex
empt from taxation public schools, colleges, &C.
all charitable institutions, public libraries, churches
and burying grounds: 49,,
On amsn5a ms Of by ba F. sr sd tns
ded, that this exemption shall not extend beyond
91tt ,-es.~ii5
such schools, colleges and institutions of learning
asylums, libraries, churches and burial grounds
although connected with charitable objects.
The reason assigned for the amendment wa.
that q large amount of property was owned in the
State by these charitable and religious institutions
in the shape of stores, warehouses and real estate
on which no taxes were paid.
Section 6 provides that the legislature shal
provide for the valuation and assessment of al
lands and improvements thereon before the yeal
1870 and thereafter every fifth year.
Section allows the State to contract public
debts and in the original text limited the amount
Mr.. j. D. Bell, of Beaufort, moved to strike out
the limitation
Mr.. N. &. Parker opposed the motion on the
ground that it would leave the matter indefinite,
and if the amount should be largely increased the
taxes upon the people would be uncomfortable.
L. S. Langley hoped the motion would prevail.
The legislature in all probability, would possess as
much sense and judgement as the convention, and
he was opposed to tying its hands.
Further debate followed, and the amendment
was finally agreed to.
Section s, on motion of Mr.. f. W. NJ Mackey,
was amended so as to read that the corporate
authorities of counties, townships, school districts,
cities, towns and villages, may be vested with pow
er to assess and collect taxes for corporate purpo-
ses; and the General Assembly shall require that
all the property within the limits of municipal cor
porations, except that heretofore exempted, shall
be taxed for the payment of debts contracted un-
der authority of the law.
Section 9, which provides that the credit of the
State shall not be granted to or in aid Of any per-
son, association or corporation, after debate, was
stricken out
The convention at one o'clock, adjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
The convention re-assembled at 3 P. NJ.
Mr.. J. NJ. Runion offered resolution that this
convention stand adjourned sine die on the llth Of
March.
The question was debated, and finally decided
in the negative, it being deemed best to progress
further with the business in hand before commit
ting the convention to any act dissoving the body
finally.