Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-01-18

!, Is.s.s...s sCony ntion S5I
CONSIDERABLY s. SonS exists IA rc..
llanoe to the powers of the seconat.uotion
Convention: n Ss; Isl. $E
The following article from the s Charleston
sNews," indicates, in a nut shell the powt
ors with which this anomalous bodyI5is inves.s
tod, aud beyond which it cannotilegally go.33
&" Few persons secm to ! understand what
powers arc granted to tho convention Which
is ordered to assemble in this oity on the l4th
instent; and as natural consequence, nun.
Der Of alarming rumors arc already in circu.
lation. Ono of the mildest reports is that
tho Convention will dcpose all the judges in
the ,State with the exception Of two and
another points to more thorough reversal of
tho relations between the white andthc black
than has been attempted by the conventions,
Of either Louisiana or Georgia. IS,
There is but one way Of meeting the ru.
mors that have bccn concocted, and of ma
king harmless those that will be hatohcd as
the. day Of meeting draws near aud that way
is by knowing and comprchcnding what arc
tho powers Of tho con, ention, and what work
it is authorized to do.
The convention will assemble by order Of
the Gompnndns General, ip,confqr,nity with
the Reconstruction acts. These arc the source
Of the authority Of the convention, and they
define clearly what duties that body shall per-
form. The supplementary act says that the
convention shall I" frame a constitution and
civil government" This will bo tho one
great work Of the convention; and there is
no limitation as.to tho character Of the " oon-
stitution and civil government" except that
they shall be in conformity with, the Consti-
tuition Of the United States Bnt when tho
constitution is framed it has no immediate
force 1t must be ratified by tho registered
voters in tho State, and it must be submitted
to and approved by Congress, before it has
any binding power whatever.
The convention cannot lcgislatc it car
it can make no appointments beyond those of
officers of its own body; it cannot levy taxes
except for the one purpose of paying tho sala.
ries of its delegates, officers, and agents; it
can only frame constitution, which constitu-
ton will not in any way change our condition,
or affect our position, until it has bccn duly
accepted by Congress.
These are the powers of the convention un-
der existing orders and laws; md unless
these orders and laws arc modified or changed,
the convention cannot 90 beyond tho limits
which have been marked out for it by the acts
g ,;ol,
--------> >---
RECONSTRUCTION The Washington cor
respondent of the (" New York %Timcs," wri.
ting on the 7th, says:
"Thc country may confidently expect new
and important legislation on the reconstruc.
tion question at an carly day. The resolution
Of Mr.. Upson and tho significant amendment
construction Committee yesterday, indicate
that that Committee is in sympathy with the
objects of tho resolution. 1t now looks as
though bill would be reported creating one
grand military district of the ten Southern
States, with Gen. Grant in chief command,
giving him all power over the sub.miltary
district commanders, even to their appoint
mcnt and removal, as well as to tho revis.
ion or approval of their action. Some pro.
jcct of this character will unqucstionably be
agreed upon ns necessary to countcract tho
effect Of the interference by tho President,
heretofore and hereafter"
THE LABOR QUESTION The Columbus
(Ga.) "Sun" in an article on tho subject Of
" Hiring for the Next Year." says:
At this time last year, and during the
Christmas week Of 1865, g freedman could
not pass through our streets without being
asked every few yards Of his progress if he
wanted to hre;" planters, or ,hier agents
stood at tho corners and entered into lively
competition for the services of the freedmen
But now nothing of this sort is seen. Negroes
desirous Of hiring are to be seen congrcg,tcd