The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-21
THE CONVENTION.
CONVENTION HELD BY AUTHORITY OF THE
RECONSTRUCTION LAWS OF CONGRESS,
TO FRAME A STATE CONSTITUTION
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.

said upon the Hoor by one or the delegates
the members appeared to have left their schoo
books behind them and were, therefore, un
prepared to recite their lessons 1t was ex
pected that the judiciary report would elicit NJ
little discussion as important changes were tt
be suggested, but owing to the fact that tht
printed copies heretofore distributed had beer
sent to an admiring constituency or retained
at home, the majority Of the body were utterly
benighted as to the wisdom of the Legislation
proposed. Something like five hundred dollars
worth of time was consumed in debating wha
to do, and finally it was agreed to do nothing
until the printer could furnish fresh material
The first reading was given to sundry new
articles, and the convention went to dinner q
an earlier hour than usual.
PROCEED iNGS OF THE CONVENTION.
TH1RTY-FIRsT DAY.
The convention assembled at the usual hour
Mr.. G. 9. Bowen offered O resolution that the
General Assembly, at its first session hereaf
ter, shall ratify ;he 14th article of the corstitu
ton known as the constitutional amendment
and it Was referred To committee for further
| consideration.
Mr.. r. G. Holmes, of Beaufort, introduced
the following ordinance, which was referred tc
a special committee OF five.
| In offering the resolution he said: 81 hold
in nv hand proposition which wish to pre-
sent to the consideration of this body, and
hope it will be referred to special committee
and that it will be adopted by this convention
| and engrafted into this constitution. For, in
it We see not only all the practical relief con-
templated in that impractical measure SO
earnestly advocated on this floor for three
days, but we will find in this measure in
which every inhabitant of this State is most
deeply interested-a measure which, in its re-
suits, will not only furnish the relief contem-
plated by so many, but will also furnish reve-
nue. which will pay off the entire debt of this
State:"
SECTION l. 1t shall be the duty of the legis-
lature to provide for the establishment of q
board to lie known and designated as Com
missioners OF Public Lands, of which board
the Comptroller-General of the State shall be
member; and to define the powers and dn-
ties of said board, and fix the compensation
OF the members thereof; and to provide for
the current expenses thereof.
Sec g. The Commissioners Of Public Lands
shall have authority, under regulations pro-
vided by law, to purchase at public sales i'm
proved and unimproved real estate within this
State which, in the judgment of such commits
sioners, shall be suitable for the purposes in
tended by the 4th section of this article. Pro-
oided, That the aggregate amount of pur-
chases made in any fiscal year, shall not ex-
ceed the par value Of the public stock OF this
State created and appropriated by the legisla-
ture for the purposes contemplated in the
fourth section OF this article for such fiscal
year; And prouided, also, That the rate OF
which any such purchase shall be made shall
not exceed seventy-fve per cent. Of the value
Of the land so purchased, including the i'm
provements thereon, such valuation to be as
certained in the manner hereinafter provided
for by law.
Sec. 8. The legislature shall have authority
to issue to said commissioners, public stock of
this State to such amount as 1t may deem ex-
pedient, which stock, or the proceeds thereof,
the commissioners shall have authority to mp.
ply in accordance with the second section OF
this article. Prouaded, That such public stock
shall not be negotiated ut rate less than the
par value thereof.
SEC. 4. The said commissioners shall have
authority, under such regulations as shall be
established by the Legislature, to cause the
said lands to be surveyed and laid off in suita-
BILE tracts, to be sold to actual settlers, subject
to the condition that one-haT thereof shall be
put under cultivation within three years from
the date OF any such purchase; and that the
purchaser thereof shall annually pay interest
upon the amount of such purchase money re-
naming unpaid, at the rate of seven per cent.
per annum; and also all taxes imposed thereon
BY or under the authority OF the United States,
or of this Slate, and in addition thereto, shall,
in every year after the third from the date OF
said purchase, pay such proportion of the
principal OF said purchase, as shall be required
by the legislature. The title of said lands
shall remain IN the State until the amount of
said purchase shall be paid, principal and in
terest. But certificate of such purchase shall
be issued to the purchaser, which, subject to
NJ nl,nC uo ha Nc
signable after three years from the date thereof
SEC. 5. All lands purchased by said commits
sioners, or tho proceeds OF the sales thereof
shall be and remain pledged for the rcdemp-
ton of the public stock, issued under section
Sd of thus article. But the legislature shall
have authority, subject to such lien and
pledge, to mako upon the faith and credit of
said fund, further Issues of public stock, but
the stock issued as last aforesaid and the pro-
ceeds thereof shall be used exclusively for the
redemption of The public debt of the State, out
standing ut tho date of such issue, and which
shall not be funded.
Sec. 6. The legislature shall provide by law
for the security OF the funds in the hands OF
the commissioners of public lands and for the
accountability of such officers, and shall re-
quire bonds to Le given therefor.
MIR. Z. w. NJ. Mackcy offered q resolution
requesting General Candy to remove the pres
ent superintendent of the State Pcnitentiary,
aud appoint in his place VIM. L. Rose, the
delegate from York District. Mr. NJ. stated
that petition 20 that effect had been signed
by every member Of the convention.
The resolution was adopted.
On motion OF J. w. Allen, of Groenville, the
President of the convention was requested to
draw $4,000 from the State treasury in bills
receivable, to pay the per diem Of members On
the 22d inst.
Mr.. J. a. jerks, oil Berkeley, offered the fol-
lowing:
Whereas, we regard il to be the duty and
true policy OF the General Government TO lius.
band, encourage and protect the agricultural
resources Of the several StItcs, and whereas
the cuture of rice forms one of the principal
resources of the State of South Carolina, be il
Resoiued That We petition the Congress ol
the United States to take no action looking to.
wards the reduction or repeal of the present
import duty on rice, believing that any abate.
ment of the present tariff will render the cul.
ture OF that staple Improbable, and thereby
deprive the State of one of its chief resources
and the inhabitants thereof of one OF its prin
cipal sources of subsistence Referred to the
Committee on Petitions.
Mr.. N. G. Parker offered resolution tina
no member shall speak more than fifteen min
utes upon prv subject and only once unless b!
the una consent OF the convention
Adopted.
The convention proceeded to the considcra
tion of the unfinished business, which was th'
| section 36 of tho legislative part of the cOnSti