The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-18
vention to assemble at 8 o'clock this after

uOOus
The President-The chair is in very dis
agreeable position; but theconyention will per-
ceive that under it's own rule and action, he hal
but one way in which to proceed, and that i
| docking at his watch), when the hour OF L
o'clock arrives to declare the convention adjourn
ed sine die. If the President is now empowered
| by resolution to again convene the body, he vii
do 30: but it must be apparent that the only
way in which it can be done is to send sum
mons to every member OF the convention
some of whom have already left the city fol
their homes. It would not be just, fair, lega
| or constitutional to summon one portion ant
not the other, and the time required for thit
proceeding can be easily determined.
whether the subject matter before the house
is not the adoption Of the constitution as
| whole.
The President Certainly.
E. W. N. Mackey-Then ! hope that motion
will prevail, for cannot, for the life of me, see
any necessity OF waiting upon the Committee
on Revision and Consolidation. We have al
ready acted as committee Of the whole on
this subject The constitution has b.en care.
fully revised and it's several parts adjusted
and there is no use whatever in our risking
| the chances of being declared to have uncon-
stitutlonally acted by delaying the adjourn.
ment sine die single hour. therefore move
the previous question.
The call for the previous question was not
sustained by vote on division OF the house Of
| forty-three yeas and forty-nVe noes.
| Very great contusioIi.]
B. F. Randolph now move that the con.
vention rescind the resolution by which it
sgreed to adjourn at 12 o'clock to-day.
| The President-H the convention pursues
this course, and, by system Of parliamentary
tactics, to protract proceedings, the constitu-
ton is not adopted as whole by twelve
himself, when that hour arrives he will adjourn
the convention SINE die; and the constitution
not being adopted he will be compelled to
convene the body twenty days hence to COM
| plete its labors. It is the first time have had
occasion to appeal to the house, and adjure
the convention not to throw away, the result OF
| its labors by this unnecessary action. lime ls
O'Clock this body will have no legal existence.
B. F. Randolph would not have made the
motion had YOU not, a few minutes ago, stated
that it would be in order to make such
motion.
The President-Many things are in order
which are unconstitutional. l believe that the
result Of this motion, If decided afRrmatiyely,
would be Illegal, and it would make this con-
vention an illegal body.
B. F. Randolph do it With the best mo-
tives in the world.
The President believe I shall be sustained
BY any parliamentary lawyer that when the
house has agreed to adjourn at certain Pc
riod, and when that period arrives, it is not in
the power OF the house to change its decree.
Some of the members have retired; they can
not form portion of the prolonged session
without much delay, and may reasonably pro-
test against its subsequent action. In the best
light, therefore, in which tide subject can be
examined, such course would place the con-
vention in doubtful position. At present you
are body whose legality and constitutionality
cannot be questioned, and it is my fervent wish
that you shall 80 remain to the end.
Several voices-I move that the question be
indefinitely postponed.
The question was decided in the affirmative
with tumultuous shout, amid which the sharp
voice of Langley lifted itself above the wave OF
broken sound, crying out: '"Not ready, Mr..
PRESIDENT amt ready. Iwant my vote re-
corded "No!"
II was now twenty minutes to twelve.
The question REQUIRED on the adoption OF
the constitution as whole.
The President-Are you ready for the ques-
ton?
Profound silence, amid which the vote was
taken and announced in the affirmative with
out descent, amid enthusiastic applause.
The President las soon as order was restor-
ed)-I now announce that this instrument,
containing fifteen articles and two hundred
and thirteen sections, has been duly read three
times and adopted by this convention as the
organic law and constitution of the State, and
is now subject to the ratification OF the people
of South Carolina; and may God in His infinite
wisdom grant that it may work good to our
whole country.
The excitement of the convention at this
juncture broke through all bounds. They
cheered, hollered, cried, waved their handker-
chiefs and threw up their hats; Leslie seized
.te, = O1rAd n q froo
ner that threatened dislocation; and the big
delegation OF outside colored spectators Chin
ed in with righteousness that was not out
done by those within the bar.
As soon as order was restored on motion OF
T. ]. Robertson, T. j. Coghlan, of Sumter,
was called TO the chair, when Mr.. Robertson
offered the following resolution, which was
adopted:
tial discharge of the responsible and arduous
duties gratuitously performed while presiding
over the deliberations Of this body, and TOR the
uniform kindness and forbearance shown at al
times towards all Of its members, the THANKS
of this convention be rendered to Hon. A. &.
Mackey, our President.
The President responded as follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention: After an ardu-
ous labor of two months, we are, at last about
TO part, and the time has arrived which ad-
monishes US that, having accomplished to the
best of our abilities the duty which had been
imposed upon us by our constituents, nothing
is left for US to do but afec.ionatey to bid each
other farewell.
I look back as trust you all do, with much
self-gratulation upon the hours that We have
spent together. There are with Us no unp!ea-
SAINT "reminiscences Of those acrimonious bick-
erings which, in all deliberative assemblies, are
too often incidental to the excitement OF de-
bate and the attrltion OF antagonlstlc minds
Engaged in the consideration OF topics OF the
highest importance, differences Of opinion
have necessarily existed; but those differences,
although always boldly expressed and sturdily
maintained, have never been characterized
by the petuIance of personal retort. Indeed, l
am sure that the history parliamentary bodies
has never presented more uninterrupted e1-
ample Of the capacity Of men to differ widely
on certain subjects, and yet With friendly for
bearance to agree to differ. The members OF
this convention, on all occasions where there
has not been unanimity, may have been oppo-
nents in opinion, but have always been friends
in counsel
For myself, do not know that have ever
said one word to wound the feelings of dele
gate. If have done 30, the fault has been
unintentional, and has escaped my recollec-
ton. I am sure that no word has been utter
ed by any one of the members to me, which
the most exacting man would have wished un-
said. To me, as their presiding officer, the
delegates Of this convention have ever been
most kind, considerate and respectful, and for
these demonstrations Of your good Will am
moat profoundly grateful.
In my own course have endeavored to be
thoroughly impartial. Whatever have been
my private opinions on any Of the subjects
under dellberaton, have sought, and hope