The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-20

ly distributed according to the public neces
sites.
The convention refused almost unanmousl
to suspend the rules to consider resolution
asking the Federal authorities to make ad
vances for the payment Of the convention e1
penses; also tabled resolution to appoint
committee Of three delegates to examine tn
State treasury. Sections eight and nirse Of tn
bill of rights Of the old constitution wer
adopted. One delegate gave another the lii
during to-day's session, the quarrel arising
out of non receipt of pay. Both caught III
their chairs, but violence was ayerted, and mu
tual apologies we're made.
| MISSISSIPPI.
JACKSON, January 1S.-The convention to
day adopted resolution commencing tht
United States Senate for their action in rein
stating Stanton.
A resolution was passed enacting that there
shall be no enforcement for the collection O.
any debt contracted prior to the 1st Of January
| 1861, and that all such debts be suspended
until the year 1900.
An ordinance was passed invalidating al
| transactions Of executors, administrators ano
guardians for widows and orphans where Con-
federate securities was the consid Iteration
granting the right to parties thus wronged to
seek redress through the courts. That the
State take possession Of ali lands and tene-
ments disposed Of as above, and that Alright Of
action shall lie at law against such executors,
administrators, and guardians, or tteir secu-
rites, for damages.
An ordinance was passed levying tax on all
property of the State to defray the expenses Of
the convention.
A resolution was passed to memorinlize Con-
gress that at least one-fourth Of the tax COL
lected on cotton in 1867 be expended through
the Freedmen's Bureau to feed the hungry, and
clothe the naked without regard to color.
LOUISIANA.
NEW ORLEANS, January 18.-In the conven-
ton, Cromwell (colored) said he was opposed
to any steps looking towards speedy compile
ton of the business of the convention, and
opposed permanent adjournment until the
question OF funds had been definitely settled.
communication was received from General
Hancock, stating that he had ordered the pay
ment of the Commissioners Of Election out OF
the reconstruction fund. A communication
was read from General Hancock to the COM
mittee appointed to confer with him relative
to the collection OF the tax levied by the con-
vention. General Hancock says: s'By the ordi-
nance levying the tax, the convention pre-
scribed the mode OF its collection. That ordi-
nance makes it the duty Of the auditor to di-
rect the sheriffs and tax collectors to enforce
the payment Should any such persons be
forcibly resisted, the Major-General Command"
ing. will promptly use the military power to
maintain the supremacy of the laws. To this
extent he has authority to act; but it is not
his province to interfere in the matter in any
other way"
LArER.-Judge Cooley having addressed a
note to General Hancock inquiring whether
he would enforce any ordinance which the
convention may adopt staying executions on all
judgments by the State courts until the LIST
January, 1870, except judgments for taxes and
wages for laborers. /. The General, in reply,
calls attention to the fourth and eighth Sec
tions Of the act Of March Sd, 1857, defining the
power of the conventions, and says: "fom
these provisions it is clear the convention is
clothed with the extraordinary power Of franz
ing q constitutional aud civil government, and
that it possesses no authority to deal with SUBJ
iects of ordinary legislation except to levy
taxes to compensate its members, officers, etc.;
and, as the ordinance to which you refer in
your letter is entirely foreign to tie framing of
Of constitution and civil government, it ap-
pears to the Major comm anding that
such an ordinance, If passed by the conven-
ton, would he without any validity"
The State Auditor addressed q oommunica-
tion to General Hancock. stating that the taxes
imposed by the Constitutional Convention can-
not be collected through the ordinary process
Of collecting the State tax; and that the tax
collectors Of the Parishes Of Jefferson and Or
leans, report that the taxpayers have generally
refused to pay tax. He refers tie whole mat
ter to General Hancock for his action. General
Hancock in reply, refers the Auditor to an ordi-
nance OF the convention, making it his duty to
superintend the collection Of the tax, and says
it does not appear from the Auditors statement
that any process for the collection Of the tax
has been issued or any steps taken, except by
the notice in the newspapers, and demand
for payment, which is refused. He says that
no resort has been had to coer,ive measures
to enforce the payment Of taxes, as pointed out
by the laws, which it is the Auditors duty to
direct the tax collectors to do; that when this
is done, If forcible resistance be made, the
Major-General Commanding will, upon it's
being reported to him, take prompt measures
to vindicate the supremacy Of tile law.