The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-20
The Convention.
WHAT WILL TT DO FOB THE STATE?

The convention reassembles this morning
after an enjoyment Of two days Of rest and re-
creation. And we presume the surgeons Of
the body, having caucussed and consulted ovei
their patient, are prepared to diagnose his con-
dition and proceed to apply their bisters and
pills.
The chief misfortune which must necessari-
Iy attach to the action Of the convention, is o
lack Of experience with reference to the very
important subjects upon which the delegates
are to deliberate. The men sent here to rep
resent the sovereign power Of the people,
are not possessed Of the intelligence and legis-
lative ability required for the successful dispo-
sition of the vexed questions If the day. Few
among the delegates, as our readers may have
noticed on reading the resolutions offered,
are capable of writing either good Eng
lish or good sense, and with the ego
tsm Of ignorance, they Indignantly vot-
ed down proposition that two Of the So
ncitors Of the State should be invited TO super
wise and give proper form to the ordinances to
be adopted-a proceeding customary in the
General Assembly and former conventions.
Doubtless, after much discussion, they may, in
some roundabout manner, arrive st results;
but there is vast amount Of passion and
prejudice latent in the hearts OF many Of the
members, which if not checked will materially
detract from the value Of any real or imaginary
benefit they seek to bestow upon the State. II
this disposition be bridled-if the sixteen or
seventeen Northern men in the convention
use their endeavors to lead its action in con-
servatiye direction, and not with view to
personal aggrandizement-I the colored dele
gates will appreciate the peculiar dangers OF
their position, and the precarious tenure OF
their power-then South Carolina will prove
Iess unfortunate than her sisters OF the South.
The questions likely to occupy the imme-
diate attention of the convention are the
following. 1T may be added here that on
Saturday the important work Of arranging
the committees, who are to report upon
the various measures of legislation, was per-
formed in caucus, and the names will probably
be announced this morning.]
ELECTION OF sERaEANT-AT-ARMs.
This officer, whoever he may be, will necessa-
rily occupy a most important position. BE
controls the funds, pays the members, keeps
all the accounts of the convention, estimates
mileage, and when necessary, arrests delin-
ouents and absentees. In their ignorance the
convention elected colorsd man to the Office
on Wednesday last, who WAS almost immedi-
ately discovered and announced to be wholly
incompetent for the place. The next day he
was forced to send in his resignation, and a
committee was appointed to select suitable
man. That committee will probably report
this morning, and with his election and the
choice of q printer, the labor Of organiza-
ton will be completed.
ooNF1scATIoN AND DIsTRANoHIsEMENT.
The discussion Of this thread-bare theme is
undoubtedly part Of the programme for the
day. The proposition of L. 3. Langley, col
ored delegate from Beaufort, formerly Fed
eral soldier, and perhaps as bitter hater oi
our people as any man upon the foor-to aban-
don forever the consideration Of these ques-
tions, its subsequent disposition by tabling the
resolutions, the effort made to reconsider, and
the large vote opposed to this movement, has
brought out o feeling against confscation
which, it is said, will take shape in the form Of
properly drawn resolution fayoring the orr
ginal idea. Upon this the sense Of the conven.
ton will be formally taken. There seems to be
but little doubt that this measure will be
adopted.
Whether there is an equally moderate feel
ing on the subject of dishanchising citizens
remains to be seen. We look for more votes
in favor of further disfranchisement from
few Of the white men than the mass Of colorei
delegates. One of the latter-a man of intel
igence-has openly proclaimed that before tht
convention adjourns, it will even go 30 far al
to petition Congress to ,emove the existing
disability from large class of citizens, ant
thus make their experience available for thu
discharge Of such official duties as the wants
Of the State may exact. 1t is rumored, in thii
connection, that among the judiciary the name
of Judge Moses heads the list of those il
whose favor the convention will appeal. Al
extension Of franchise to all who may take al
oath to support the government, would com
port with the general sentiment Of the cou