The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-14
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
TWENTY-FIVE DAY.

The convention assembled at half-past ten
and after prayer, the call of the roll and read
ing of thejournal, resumed the consideration
offhe Bill Of Rights. >,
With slight verbal changes, the. following
sections we're passed to third reading with
out much debate.
necessary for sn election to or the holding OF
nny Office. and no office shall be created, the
onnointment 20 which shall be for longer
time than good behavior. After the adoption
of this constitution, any person who shall
fight duel, OF send or accept challenge Tor
chat purpose, Or be an alder or abetter in fight
ing n duel, Shall be deprived of holding any
Office of honor or trust in this State, and
shall be otherwise punished as the law shull
SEU. SIS. The right of suffrage shall be pro-
tectevd by laws regulating elections, and pro-
hibiting, under adequate penalties, all undue
influences from power, bribery, tumult or I'M
proper conduct.
SEo. 36. Representation shall be apportioned
according to population, and no person in this
State shall be disfranchised or deprived Of any
of the rights or privileges now enjoyed, except
by the law of the land or the judgment Of his
peers.
SEC. 81. Temporary absence from the State
shall not forfeit residence once obtained.
SEC. 38. All property subject to taxation
ought to be taxed in proportion to its value.
Each individual of society has right to be
protected in the enjoyment OF life, pr perty
and liberty, according to standing laws. Ho
should, therefore, contribute his share to the
expense Of his protection, and give his per-
solal service when necessary.
SEC. SO. No subsidy, charge. lmpost tax or
duties ought to be established, fixed, laid or
levied, under any prets1t whatsoever, without
the consent of the people or their representa-
tiyes lawfully assembled.
SEC. 40. Excessive fines shall not be imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishment mhcted,
nor shall witnesses be unreasonably detained.
Section Al received its second reading as
follows: No title of nobility or distinction, or
hereditary emolument shall ever be granted
B. F. Randolph (colored), offered the follow.
| ing amendment distinction on account OF
race or color in any case whatever shall be
prohibited, and all classes of citizens, irrcspec-
| tive of race and color, shall enjoy all common,
equal and political privileges
The delegate said that it was doubtless the
impression of the members Of the convention
| that the Bill of Rights as it stood, secures
perfect political and legal equality to all the
people Of South Carolina. 1t was q fact how
ever, that no where was it laid down in the
instrument, emphatically and definitely that
ali the people of the State, irrespective Of race
and color, shall enjoy equal privileges. Our
| forefathers were no doubt anti-slavery men,
and they intended that slavery should die out
| Consequently the word color is not to be found
| in the Constitution or Declaration OF lndepcn-
dence. On the contrary it is stated distinctly,
t.All men are created free and equal But
| that was too general, too comprehensive, and
our forefatheIs made mistake, the result OF
which was that the land had been drenchcd IN
blood to perputuate slavery. The Constitution
Of the United States was too vaguoi 1t was mis-
interpreted. On the one hand the ablest states
men OF England and America had pronounced
it anti-slavery; on the other, equally aDio
minds regarded 1t as pfo-slavery Ill ltS chur-
acter.
In our Bill of Rights, he (tho speakEH
wanted to sottle the question foreveieIby
making the meaning so plain that ''wayfar-
ing man, though fool" could not misunder-
stand It, The majority of the people OF South
Carolina, who are rapidly becoming property
holders, are colored citZens-the descendants
of the African race who had been ground down
by three hundred years OF degradation, and
row that the opportunity was afforded, let
them bo protected in their political rights.
| The words proposed as an amendment wero
not calculated to create distinction, but to de-
stroy distinction; and since the Bill OF lights
did not declare equality, irrespective OF race OF
color, it was important that they should be i'll
serted. Hcrc he would say that all of his rad
1calism consisted il believing one thing, name
Iy-that all men are created OF one blood; that
':God created all nations to dwell upon the
earth"
G. P. Leslie (whito)-I would ask The dele
gate if it wouldn't have bccn little better for
his theory if the Scriptures lad / added with,
out distinction OF race or COLOR" daughter }
B. 4. Randolph-If the gentleman will tell
me why Congress saw tit to say ''ali men ore
born FREQ and equal, may answer his qucs-
C c. P Leslie-I can't tell VIII Congress did
this or that. They do great many curious
things, but ii, does strike e, me that COD IN IN
this business as Congress.
B. r Randolph (ThC is nd mnister1l list ~, Il, will Il
To nrenare such laws as we may adapt to the
condition Of society," saS it becomes as to US s
circnmstances and vet not conflict with them
A. J. Ransier, colored, favored the spirit d
the amend l. ent, but wished to see the clause
inserted in some other portion Of the Bill O
Rights.
B. F. Whittemore said that the whole subjec
was covered by previous sections, and it was