The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-01-22
From the caarleston Courier
Reconstruction Convention.
FIRST DAY.


visions of the Reconstruction Acts OF Con
gress assembled at the Club House, Meet
ing-street, in this city, at II M. yesterday
-. The space set apart for spectators was
Sdensely crowded by colored visitors, not
more than five or six whites being i'll at
tendance.
The Convention was called to order by
Mr.. Timothy Hurley, delegate from
Berkeley District, who moved that i. j.
Robertson, of Richland, be requested to
act as temporary Chairman.
The motion was carried with but one
dissenting voice.
Mr. Robertson, on taking the Chair, adj
dressed the Convention as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: We,
the delegates of the loyal people of South
Carolina, are assembled here for the pur-
nose of restoring our State to her proper
relations in the Federal Union.
1t becomes, us to- frame Il just aud liber.
s al Constitution that will guarantee equal
rights 10 all, regardless of race, color or
previous condtion-a Constitution which
will comply with the Reconstruction Acts
of Congress, thereby insuring our speedy
admission into the Union.
trust there will be no class legislation
; here: Ihope we will act harmoniously..
iudiciously and,in such manner AS Will
reflect credit on ourselves, aud secure the
confidence of the people of the State,
whom We represent. BY your kind assis=
j. tanceI hope to speedily organize this Con
yention.
The President announced the next bust
ness in order to be the appointment OF a
temporary Secretary. :, -, =
MIR Parker nominated Mr. Z. W. NJ.
Mackey, of Charleston
Mr.. Whittemore nominated ". J. Nc.
,K,nlay, (colorel, } of Orsngeburg, who WAS
unanimously elected.
The Secretary then read the official Or
der of General Candy calling the Conren-
tion together in this city on Tuesday, l4th
January, 1868.
The roll of the Delegates was called by
Districts, when ninety-two delegates har-
ing answered, the President aillonnced a
quorum present, and the Convention ready
for business.
Mr.. Whittemore moved that they pro,
reed to q permanent organization, and that
= Committee OF Seven be appointed blythe
. Chair, to retire and report the names OF
candidates to be submitted to'the &onven-
tion ready for permanent officers.
II. G. DeI,arse rose to point OF ORDER
and asked how they were 10 know whetn-
er those answering to names when caiico
were the men elected and entitled to their
seats, AID whether the officers elected by
them would be entitled to act as the lega!
officers of the Convention. lie thought
the first thing in order was the appoint
ment of . Committee on Credentials, TO
examine and report.
The President decided that the posses
sion of the military order was the best
evidence of.nemberslip, and ninety-two
members having responded, 1t WAS not ne
cessary to go into any further investiga-
tion.
bfr. b. Odell Duncan said he did not
think the members of the Convention pre-
pared to 90 into an election for permanent
officers They had met for the first time
together, did not know each other, ana
were acting in Ignorance OF who were
members of the Convention A short time
for a few caucusses would make them bet
fer acquainted and better able to decide
ON the person best fitted for the position
of. President. He thought 1t better to
POSTPONE the permanent organization for
two or three days until they had some
better knowledge of the members OF the
Convention. Much of the success OF their
. work. he thought, would depend on the
person selected for their permanent lresl,
dent. If they made Il failure IN that all
their business might 60 wrong. The per
nanent President ould have the appoint
,nent Of. the Committees, and upon then
also would depend, in great measure
the success or failure of the Convention
He hoped they would not 90 into tho
matter blindly. A majority of the mem
bers were not prepared to vote lnteiil$eh' NJ
ly on the question, and he moved 'nere
fore. as an amendment. that the perhil
nent organization he postponed until /.
o'clock Thursday.
+. S. Langley thought some further ac
tion necessary to the identity of the per
sons who answered to their names. Any
one there might answer to another's name
and the Convention not know whether o
mo the answer came from the person ciec
1ed. He was opposed, therefore, To- @oins
INTO a ner,nancnt organization until the,
con]d determine whether the pcrs ms IN
swerino were those elected. lie was Il
favor Of the appointment OF COMMITTEE
on Credentials. -.
Mr.. Duncan mentioned that III the Heor
ia Convention cases had occurred OF mem
bers answering for absent parties, thinkln:
thew could do it with impunlty, and In I'm
was kept up until finally discovered. n
oniy way was for members 10 SHOW thel
credentials. ),
The question recurring on the amend
nent, of Mr.. Duncan to postpone.
Mr Parknr moved to amend by snbst