The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-06
THE CONVENTION.
FoRTY-THIRD DAY.

The debates in the convention yesterday
were unusually heavy and protracted' Inc
great fight Of the day was upon the peunon
offered by F. L. Cardoz& and Beverly Nash
(botb Of whom have recently returned 1rom
Washington), praying Congress that certain
tracts Of land in the possession OF the United
States Tax Commissioners may be allotted TO
destitute citizens.
One party was lead BY Beaufort delegates,
and it was plainly evident that they regarded the
appropriation of these lands to the Port Royal
Railroad as being far more essential to the prac-
tical welfare of the State than if they were sold
for small sums to freedmen, and the aggregate
applied to educational purposes. The oppo-
site side, with equal vehemence, contenoed
that it was all-impoStant to the interests oil
education that the fund for public schools
should be Increased from every possible source
of revenue, and that no better means could be
adopted to confer double benefit upon the
impoverished freedmen and ignorant children
OF the State than by securing these lands from
Congress and selling them at low and remu-
nerative prices to the poor.
During the discussion, F. L. Cardoza stated
that having been in Washington he was advis-
ed to draw up andpresent such petition, and
he felt satisfied that it would be fayorably en-
tertained. The question was not decided until
the evening session, when Mr.. c. g. Bowen
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, to
whom the petition had been recommitted for
further consideration, made report, recon-
mending the adoption OF the following resolu-
tions:
1. RESOLVED, That this convention do recon-
mend to the Congress of the United States that
the PRAYER of F. L. CardoZa and w. b. Nash be
granted as set forth in the accompanying petl-
fion.
pray Congress that the proceeds OF the sale OF
lands within the State OF South Carolina for
taxes due the United States, or 80 much there
of as may now remain unappropriated, may be
granted to South Carolina for the support OF
the public schools OF the State, under such
regulations as the Congress OF the united
States may prescribe. 49,.
s. Resolred That copy of the petition
aforesaid. together with copy Of the torego-
ing resolutions, be forwarded at once by the
President of this convention to the President
Of the Senate and Speaker of the House OF Rep
resentatives.
A further attempt was made by L. s. Lang
ley, OF Beaufort, to postpone tho consideration
of the resolution until they could be printed,
but the usual amount Of ''fllib,ltering" fol-
lowed, and the report Of the committee was
adopted.
The consideration Of section of the Edu-
cational Article of the const tuition was resumed,
the question being on the motion Of B. F.
Randolph to strike out the proviso Of r. B.
Elliott, adopted yesterday, which reads as fol-
lows: provided that no person shall be de-
prived Of the right OF suffrage for the non
payment of his poll-tax" On the yeas and
nays being ordered, they were taken, and, by
vote OF eighty-one yeas to twenty nays, the
motion to strike out was not agreed to.
The section as amended was passed to its
third reading.
The following sections were likewise passed
to their third reading with little or no amond-
ment:
SEo 6. Within five years after the first regu-
lar session of the General Assembly, following
the adoption OF this constitution, it shall be the
duty OF the General Assembly to providefor the
establishment and support OF State Normal
School, which shall be open to all persons who
may wish to become teachers.
SEQ. Z. Institutions for the benefit of all the
insane, blind, and deaf and dumb, and such
other benevolent institutions as the public
good may require, shall be established and
supported by the State, subject to such regula-
tions az may be prescribed by law.
SEQ. 8. Provision shall be made by law, as
soon as practicable, for the establishment and
maintenance Of State Reform School for ju-
yenlle offenders.
SEQ. 9. The respective districts or counties
OF the State shall make provisions, as may be
determined by law, for all those inhabitants
who, by reason OF age and infirmities, or mis-
fortunes, may have claim upon the sympathy
and aid Of society.
Sec. 10. The General Assembly shall provide
for the maintenance Of the State University,
and, as soon as practicable, provide for the
establishment OF an agricultural college, and
shall apprupriate the land donated to this State
for the support of such college by the net OF
Congress, passed July Q, 1868, or the money or
scrip, as the case may be, arising from the sale
of said lands, or any lands which may here
after be granted or appropriated for such pur-
poses, for the support and maintenance Of
such college, and may make the same branch
of the State University, for instruction in agri-
culture, the mechanic arts, and the natural
sciences connected Herewith.
Sec 12. The proceeds of all lands that ha.ye
been or hereafter may be granted by the Urit-
ed States to this State, and not otherwise ap-
propriated by this State or the United States,
and of all lands or other property given by in
dividuals, or appropriated by the State for like |
purpose, and OF all estates of deceased persons |
who have died without leaving q will or heir, |
shall be securely invested and sacredly pre-.
served as a State school fund, and the annual |
interest and income of said fund, together with
such other means as the General Assembly |
may provide, shall be faithfully appropriated |
for the purpose OF establishing and maintain
ing rree public schools, and for no other pur-
poses or uses whatever.
Section II is as follows: "All the public
schools, colleges and universities of this State,
supported by the public funds, shall be free
and open to all the children and youths Of the
State, without regard to race or color"
On r6cpivinfy re r. T. !